Mercedes-Benz EQE vs BMW i5

The Mercedes-Benz EQE starts from $149,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW i5 opens at $155,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz EQE the more affordable entry point by $6,000.

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 $171,490 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 i5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 95% for the Mercedes-Benz EQE and 89% for the BMW i5.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 7 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

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 i5.

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

The Mercedes-Benz EQE stands out with Burmester audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW i5. The BMW i5 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 i5 responds with a Electric making 250kW and 430Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

The BMW i5 has the clear power advantage at 250kW vs 215kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i5 is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 90.6kWh (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 84kWh (BMW i5), giving WLTP ranges of 571km and 557km. DC fast charging peaks at 170kW (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 205kW (BMW i5).

The Mercedes-Benz EQE measures 4,946mm long on a 3,120mm wheelbase, 114mm shorter than the BMW i5 at 5,060mm (2,995mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQE generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 430L in the Mercedes-Benz EQE and 500L in the BMW i5, giving the BMW i5 a 70L advantage.

For towing, the BMW i5 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 (Mercedes-Benz EQE) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i5). Both match on warranty length.