Verdict
The BMW i4 M50 costs RM88,088 less at RM430,800 and turns that saving into a very different daily proposition: 537 hp, 795 Nm, a 83.9-kWh battery and 510 km of EV range. Its 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time also puts clear daylight between it and the CLE’s 6.2 seconds. The Mercedes-Benz CLE counters with a 250 km/h top speed, a four-year factory warranty and more front-seat comfort kit, but its RM518,888 price buys a two-door, four-seat coupe with a 460-litre boot. For a Malaysian buyer needing rear-seat access and electric driving, the BMW is the rational choice.
Pick the BMW i4 M50 if you want 510 km of electric range, five doors and 537 hp for RM88,088 less.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLE if you prefer a two-door coupe, 250 km/h top speed, ventilated front seats and a longer four-year factory warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i4 M50 RM430,800; Mercedes-Benz CLE RM518,888.
- Power and torque: BMW i4 M50 has 537 hp and 795 Nm from two motors; Mercedes-Benz CLE has a 255-hp 1,999-cc engine plus a 23-hp, 205-Nm motor.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW i4 M50 3.9 seconds; Mercedes-Benz CLE 6.2 seconds.
- EV range: BMW i4 M50 510 km from an 83.9-kWh battery; Mercedes-Benz CLE has no stated EV range or battery capacity.
- Practicality: BMW i4 M50 has five doors, five seats and a 470-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz CLE has two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot.
- Warranty: BMW i4 M50 gets two years factory warranty; Mercedes-Benz CLE gets four years.
i4 M50
- RM88,088 lower purchase price
- 537 hp, 795 Nm and 3.9-second 0-100 km/h
- Five doors, five seats and 510 km EV range
- 225 km/h top speed versus the CLE's 250 km/h
- Two-year factory warranty versus four years
- No front-seat ventilation or head-up display
CLE
- 250 km/h top speed
- Front seats have memory, heating and ventilation
- Four-year factory warranty and head-up display
- RM88,088 more expensive
- 6.2-second 0-100 km/h is 2.3 seconds slower
- Two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot versus the BMW's five doors, five seats and 470 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM430,800✓ | RM518,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,065 | RM380✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 255 hp |
| Torque | — | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 537 hp✓ | 23 hp |
| Motor Torque | 795 Nm✓ | 205 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 510 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11.0 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 200.0 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | eDrive | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 1 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BMW AG | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.9 seconds✓ | 6.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 225 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,783 mm | 4,850 mm |
| Width | 1,852 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,856 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 2,290 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 470 litres✓ | 460 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/35R20 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R20 | 275/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multilink | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Cross Traffic Detection (5 km/h to 250 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Exterior Loudspeaker for Pedestrians, Active Protection | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive Laser High Beam | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Boot, 1 Front USB, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (6 Colours) | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW IconicSounds Electric | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | 6 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 6-year/100,000 km Free Service Package, 8-year/100,000 km Battery Warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used i4 M50 & CLE for sale
i4 M50 vs CLE FAQ
Is the BMW i4 M50 or Mercedes-Benz CLE better?
The BMW i4 M50 is better for performance, practicality and electric range: it has 537 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, carries five people and claims 510 km. Choose the CLE for its coupe layout, 250 km/h top speed and longer factory warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE costs RM518,888, which is RM88,088 more than the BMW i4 M50 at RM430,800.
Which has the better rear-seat and boot practicality?
The BMW i4 M50 does. It has five doors, five seats, a 40:20:40 split-folding rear bench and a 470-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz CLE has two doors, four seats, a 60:40 split-folding rear seat and a 460-litre boot.