Mercedes-Benz EQE vs BMW i3

The Mercedes-Benz EQE starts from $149,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW i3 opens at $109,900. 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 $164,890 and $120,890 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 Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i3 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 9 in the Mercedes-Benz EQE and 6 in the BMW i3. The Mercedes-Benz EQE adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW i3 misses.

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

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

The Mercedes-Benz EQE uses a Electric producing 215kW and 565Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds.

The BMW i3 responds with a Electric making 250kW and 430Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 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: 90.6kWh (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 83kWh (BMW i3), giving WLTP ranges of 571km and 460km. DC fast charging peaks at 170kW (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 50kW (BMW i3).

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

Boot space is 430L in the Mercedes-Benz EQE and 260L in the BMW i3, 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 (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i3). Both match on warranty length.