BMW i7 vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The BMW i7 starts from $319,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class opens at $278,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the more affordable entry point by $41,000.

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 $351,890 and $306,790 respectively.

The BMW i7 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BMW i7 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BMW i7 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the BMW i7 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The BMW i7 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets a 12.8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i7 stands out with power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class counters with Burmester audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i7 uses a Electric producing 400kW and 745Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class responds with a Petrol making 320kW and 520Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The BMW i7 has the clear power advantage at 400kW vs 320kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i7 is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW i7 measures 5,391mm long on a 3,215mm wheelbase, 212mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at 5,179mm (3,106mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW i7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the BMW i7 and 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz S-Class a 10L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class leads with a 2,100kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 100kg 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 i7) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz S-Class). Both match on warranty length.