Verdict
The BMW i5 is the rational Malaysian executive EV here: at RM368,800 versus RM649,888, the RM281,088 gap is vast, while its 627 km range, 22 kW AC charging and 490-litre boot better suit long commutes and family duty. Its RM395 annual road tax also undercuts the AMG EQE’s RM1,640 bill. The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE answers with serious pace—617 hp, 950 Nm and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h—plus all-wheel drive and air suspension. Buy the AMG only if that performance and hardware matter more than range and running costs.
i5
Pick the BMW i5 if you want 627 km of range, a 490-litre boot and much lower ownership outlay.
AMG EQE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE if 617 hp, all-wheel drive and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time are non-negotiable.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE RM649,888.
- Power and torque: BMW i5 335 hp and 430 Nm; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 617 hp and 950 Nm.
- Range and battery: BMW i5 627 km from 83.9 kWh; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 527 km from 90.6 kWh.
- Charging: BMW i5 22 kW AC and 205 kW DC; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 11 kW AC and 200 kW DC.
- Performance and drive: BMW i5 rear-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE all-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds.
- Practicality: BMW i5 490-litre boot and 2,995 mm wheelbase; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 430-litre boot and 3,120 mm wheelbase.
i5
- 627 km range and 22 kW AC charging.
- 490-litre boot, 60:40 rear seat and rear sunshades.
- Lower RM395 annual road tax.
- 335 hp and 430 Nm leave it well behind the AMG EQE’s 617 hp and 950 Nm.
- Rear-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive.
- Eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty is shorter than the Mercedes-Benz’s 10-year/250,000-km cover.
AMG EQE
- 617 hp, 950 Nm and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h acceleration.
- All-wheel drive and AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping.
- 10-year/250,000-km battery warranty.
- 527 km range is 100 km short of the BMW i5’s 627 km.
- 11 kW AC charging is half the BMW i5’s 22 kW rate.
- 430-litre boot is 60 litres smaller, while annual road tax is RM1,640 against RM395.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800✓ | RM649,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395✓ | RM1,640 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 400V architecture |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | 335 hp | 617 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 430 Nm | 950 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | 90.6 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 627 km✓ | 527 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW✓ | 11.0 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 205 kW✓ | 200 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 3.5 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 193 km/h | 220 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,946 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,961 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,510 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 3,120 mm |
| Weight | 2,205 kg | 2,540 kg |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres✓ | 430 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R20 | 265/35R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R20 | 295/30R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Elekt | Bridgestone Turanza T005 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS Plus) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three Point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on outer rear seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Heating and Memory Functions |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear | 1 Front, 6 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System (655W) | 17.7" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 12.3" OLED Touchscreen for Front Passenger; 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D Surround Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | 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 | — | Front MBUX Interior Assistant, Fingerprint Scanner, Front Qi Wireless Charger, Front Wireless Headset |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Years/ 160,000 km Warranty for EV Battery | 10-year/250,000-km Warranty for EV Battery |
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 i5 & AMG EQE for sale
i5 vs AMG EQE FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE better?
The BMW i5 is better for most buyers because it has 627 km range, 22 kW AC charging, a 490-litre boot and far lower road tax. The AMG EQE is better if its 617 hp, all-wheel drive and 3.5-second sprint are your priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE costs RM281,088 more than the BMW i5. That buys 282 hp more, 520 Nm more torque, all-wheel drive, air suspension and a longer battery warranty, but not more range or boot space.
Which has the better battery warranty?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE has the longer battery cover at 10 years or 250,000 km. The BMW i5 battery warranty runs for eight years or 160,000 km.