Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs BMW i7

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts from $278,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW i7 opens at $319,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the more affordable entry point by $41,000.

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 $351,890 respectively.

The BMW i7 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 i7 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BMW i7 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

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 8 in the BMW i7.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class features a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while the BMW i7 gets a 14.9-inch display. 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 i7. The BMW i7 counters with power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins 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 i7 responds with a Electric making 400kW and 745Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

The BMW i7 has the clear power advantage at 400kW vs 320kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i7 is 0.2s 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 i7 at 5,391mm (3,215mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW i7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 500L in the BMW i7, 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 i7). Both match on warranty length.