Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 costs RM281,088 less than the RM649,888 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE, while its annual road tax is only RM395 against RM1,640. It also goes farther on paper, at 627 km from an 83.9-kWh battery versus 527 km from 90.6 kWh, and accepts 22-kW AC charging. The AMG EQE is the outright performance choice: 617 hp, 950 Nm, all-wheel drive and 3.5 seconds to 100 km/h make the i5’s 335 hp, rear-drive six-second sprint look restrained. For most Malaysian executive-sedan buyers, the BMW is the rational call.
i5
Pick the BMW i5 if you want 627 km of range, 22-kW AC charging, a 490-litre boot and a far lower RM395 annual road-tax bill.
AMG EQE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE if 617 hp, 950 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than range and cost.
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 and 83.9 kWh; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 527 km and 90.6 kWh.
- Drive and acceleration: BMW i5 rear-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE all-wheel drive, 3.5 seconds.
- Charging: BMW i5 22-kW AC and 205-kW DC; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 11-kW AC and 200-kW DC.
- Boot and road tax: BMW i5 490 litres and RM395/year; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 430 litres and RM1,640/year.
i5
- 627-km claimed EV range.
- 22-kW AC and 205-kW DC charging.
- 490-litre boot and lower annual road tax.
- 335 hp and 430 Nm trail the AMG EQE’s 617 hp and 950 Nm.
- Rear-wheel drive and a 6.0-second sprint are much slower than the AMG EQE’s all-wheel-drive 3.5 seconds.
- Its 2,995-mm wheelbase is 125 mm shorter.
AMG EQE
- 617 hp, 950 Nm and all-wheel drive.
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h acceleration and 220-km/h top speed.
- AIRMATIC air suspension, 17.7-inch OLED central screen and 15-speaker 710-watt audio.
- 527-km range is 100 km shorter despite the larger 90.6-kWh battery.
- 11-kW AC charging is half the BMW’s 22-kW rate.
- 430-litre boot is 60 litres smaller, while annual road tax is RM1,245 higher.
| 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 | 3 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 lower ownership costs, 627 km of claimed range, faster AC charging and luggage space. The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE is better if performance is the priority, with 617 hp, all-wheel drive and 3.5-second acceleration.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE costs RM281,088 more than the BMW i5. Its annual road tax is also RM1,640, compared with RM395 for the BMW.
Which one has the longer EV range and faster charging?
The BMW i5 has the longer claimed range at 627 km versus 527 km. It also supports 22-kW AC and 205-kW DC charging, against the AMG EQE’s 11-kW AC and 200-kW DC rates.