Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs BMW 7 Series

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts from $278,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW 7 Series opens at $279,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

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 $306,790 and $307,890 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

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

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW 7 Series gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class stands out with Burmester audio that you will not find on the BMW 7 Series. The BMW 7 Series counters with power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets nappa leather upholstery while the BMW 7 Series offers vernasca leather.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class uses a Petrol producing 280kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.

The BMW 7 Series responds with a Petrol making 280kW and 540Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class measures 5,179mm long on a 3,106mm wheelbase, 212mm shorter than the BMW 7 Series at 5,391mm (3,215mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 7 Series generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 540L in the BMW 7 Series, giving the BMW 7 Series a 30L 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.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,394/year for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and $2,252/year for the BMW 7 Series. That is a $142 annual difference in favour of the BMW 7 Series.

Estimated annual total: $2,394 (Mercedes-Benz S-Class) vs $2,252 (BMW 7 Series). The BMW 7 Series saves you roughly $142 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz S-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 7 Series). Both match on warranty length.