BMW i5 comparison. Mercedes-Benz EQE

The new BMW 5 Series is not only available as a petrol, diesel and as a plug-in unit, but also as an all-electric i5. In this form, the car is not a competitor to the regular Mercedes E-class, but to the Mercedes-Benz EQE.

We’ve already roughly compared the new BMW 5 Series to its dead historic rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It also just so happens to be updated, so that’s lucky. However, now that BMW has also introduced an all-electric BMW i5, the same model now has two competitors at Mercedes. After all, unlike BMW, this brand doesn’t usually supply all-electric powertrains on current models—although that’s secretly the case with the EQA and EQB. However, the EQE is a very different car from the E-Class, sharing only its class styling and saloon with that car.

7 versions

This means we can also compare i5 and EQE on paper. We hit a spot right away, because Mercedes supplies the EQE with an unprecedented number of versions for an EV. It’s available in the 245-hp EQE 300, 292-hp EQE 350, the powerful, but somewhat more economical EQE 350+, the EQE 350 4Matic with all-wheel drive, and the 408-hp EQE 500 and two AMG flavors, namely the 43 with 476 and the 53 with no less than 625 hp. The latter is also available with the Dynamic Plus package with 687 hp and 1,000 Nm. This brings the total number of EQE engine versions to an almost unbelievable 7.

At BMW they can’t compete with that at the moment, even though there were two versions of the i5 from the start. The base interim version is the eDrive40 with 340 hp, and on top is the all-wheel drive M60 with 601 hp. In order not to make this story too confusing, we compare the base and higher versions here. So we assume the BMW i5 eDrive40 and Mercedes-Benz EQE 300, but we’re also looking at the BMW i5 M60 and Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4Matic+. By the way, without the Dynamic Plus package, because with its 625 hp this version is better suited to the M60. Do you prefer a different version? Don’t worry: in our Carbase-Car Comparator, you can add and remove versions and model variants to your heart’s content for your own unique personal comparison.

Technical and performance

BMW is more economical

What is remarkable about studying this data? Well, first of all, BMW hasn’t yet gotten to the EQE battery power. It has no less than 89 kWh on board and the BMW goes with 81.2 kWh. However, in the same class, we must also conclude that BMW is more energy efficient on paper, which can be called remarkable due to the streamlined EQE body developed specifically for the EV. Price-wise, the EQE has the advantage for now, but there’s a good chance BMW will later add a variant to the lower end of the range. With 340 horsepower, the entry-level temporary model is much more powerful than the EQE 300. The EQE 350 would be adequate in that regard, even if it had a more powerful i5.

Dimensions and weights

Dimensions then: BMW is clearly a little longer and higher than Mercedes, but also narrower. Moreover, Mercedes is ahead of it when it comes to wheelbase. That might give it an edge when it comes to rear seat space, but the BMW has more trunk space. Remarkable: BMW is allowed to tow much more with a maximum limit of 2,000 kg (M60) than Mercedes, which makes it weigh 750 kg.

Obvious: This will be an exciting double test once the i5 is really available. Today we can still cling to theory, feeling, and appearances. Of course we’re also curious about which model and edition you prefer, so let us hear from you!

the prices