BMW 5 Series vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The BMW 5 Series starts from $114,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class opens at $105,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the more affordable entry point by $9,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $126,390 and $116,490 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW 5 Series and 92% for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW 5 Series and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The BMW 5 Series features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets a 14.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW 5 Series stands out with heated front seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class counters with ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW 5 Series gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers synthetic leather.

The BMW 5 Series uses a Petrol producing 140kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class responds with a Petrol making 150kW and 320Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the clear power advantage at 150kW vs 140kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW 5 Series is 2.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW 5 Series measures 5,060mm long on a 2,995mm wheelbase, 111mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at 4,949mm (2,961mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 5 Series generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 520L in the BMW 5 Series and 540L in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz E-Class a 20L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class leads with a 2,100kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,938/year for the BMW 5 Series and $2,052/year for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That is a $114 annual difference in favour of the BMW 5 Series.

Estimated annual total: $1,938 (BMW 5 Series) vs $2,052 (Mercedes-Benz E-Class). The BMW 5 Series saves you roughly $114 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 5 Series) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz E-Class). Both match on warranty length.