BMW i3 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE

The BMW i3 starts from $109,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz EQE opens at $149,900. That makes the BMW i3 the more affordable entry point by $40,000.

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 $120,890 and $164,890 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz EQE hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Mercedes-Benz EQE packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the BMW i3.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW i3 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The Mercedes-Benz EQE adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW i3 misses.

The BMW i3 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz EQE gets a 12.8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i3 stands out with Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The Mercedes-Benz EQE counters with panoramic roof, Burmester audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i3 uses a Electric producing 250kW and 430Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz EQE responds with a Electric making 215kW and 565Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

The BMW i3 has the clear power advantage at 250kW vs 215kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz EQE is 1.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 83kWh (BMW i3) vs 90.6kWh (Mercedes-Benz EQE), giving WLTP ranges of 460km and 571km. DC fast charging peaks at 50kW (BMW i3) vs 170kW (Mercedes-Benz EQE).

The BMW i3 measures 4,709mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 237mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQE at 4,946mm (3,120mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQE generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 260L in the BMW i3 and 430L in the Mercedes-Benz EQE, giving the Mercedes-Benz EQE a 170L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz EQE leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i3) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz EQE). Both match on warranty length.