BMW X5 M vs Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The BMW X5 M starts from $247,800 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class opens at $214,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz G-Class the more affordable entry point by $32,900.

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 $272,580 and $236,390 respectively.

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

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The BMW X5 M features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW X5 M stands out with panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class counters with Burmester audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW X5 M gets merino leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class offers nappa leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the BMW X5 M and 3-zone in the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

The BMW X5 M uses a Petrol producing 460kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class responds with a Diesel making 270kW and 750Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The BMW X5 M has the clear power advantage at 460kW vs 270kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X5 M is 1.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW X5 M measures 4,948mm long on a 2,972mm wheelbase, 123mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at 4,825mm (2,890mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X5 M generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 650L in the BMW X5 M and 480L in the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, giving the BMW X5 M a 170L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,563/year for the BMW X5 M and $2,480/year for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That is a $1,083 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Estimated annual total: $3,563 (BMW X5 M) vs $2,480 (Mercedes-Benz G-Class). The Mercedes-Benz G-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 X5 M) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz G-Class). Both match on warranty length.