BMW M5 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The BMW M5 starts from $259,900 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 $154,000.

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 $285,890 and $116,490 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz E-Class by roughly $5,415 in fuel alone.

Both the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW M5 and 92% for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BMW M5 packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW M5 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The BMW M5 adds a 360-degree camera that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class misses.

The BMW M5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets a 14.4-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW M5 stands out with heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW M5 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 535kW and 1000Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.5 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 BMW M5 has the clear power advantage at 535kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW M5 is 4.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW M5 measures 5,096mm long on a 3,006mm wheelbase, 147mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at 4,949mm (2,961mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW M5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 530L in the BMW M5 and 540L in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz E-Class a 10L 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 $2,879/year for the BMW M5 and $1,796/year for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That is a $1,083 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,879 (BMW M5) vs $1,796 (Mercedes-Benz E-Class). The Mercedes-Benz E-Class saves you roughly $1,083 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW M5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz E-Class). Both match on warranty length.