BMW i5 vs Mercedes-Benz EQS

The BMW i5 starts from $155,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS opens at $209,900. That makes the BMW i5 the more affordable entry point by $54,000.

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 $171,490 and $230,890 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 i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQS hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW i5 and 96% for the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Mercedes-Benz EQS packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the BMW i5.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW i5 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

The BMW i5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS gets a 12.8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i5 stands out with Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The Mercedes-Benz EQS counters with ventilated seats, Burmester audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i5 uses a Electric producing 250kW and 430Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS responds with a Electric making 245kW and 568Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds.

The BMW i5 has the clear power advantage at 250kW vs 245kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i5 is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 84kWh (BMW i5) vs 107.8kWh (Mercedes-Benz EQS), giving WLTP ranges of 557km and 708km. DC fast charging peaks at 205kW (BMW i5) vs 200kW (Mercedes-Benz EQS).

The BMW i5 measures 5,060mm long on a 2,995mm wheelbase, 156mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQS at 5,216mm (3,210mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQS generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the BMW i5 and 610L in the Mercedes-Benz EQS, giving the Mercedes-Benz EQS a 110L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz EQS leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 0kg 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 i5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz EQS). Both match on warranty length.