Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs BMW i5

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts from $278,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW i5 opens at $155,900. That makes the BMW i5 the more affordable entry point by $123,000.

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 $171,490 respectively.

The BMW i5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW i5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

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 S-Class and 6 in the BMW i5.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 S-Class stands out with ventilated seats, Burmester audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW i5. The BMW i5 counters with power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class uses a Petrol producing 320kW and 520Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 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 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has the clear power advantage at 320kW vs 250kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is 0.8s 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, 119mm longer than the BMW i5 at 5,060mm (2,995mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 500L in the BMW i5, giving the Mercedes-Benz S-Class a 10L 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.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz S-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i5). Both match on warranty length.