Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 costs RM912 more than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but its 335 hp, 430 Nm rear motor cuts the 0-100 km/h run to 6.0 seconds and brings a claimed 627 km EV range from an 83.9 kWh battery. That suits Malaysians able to use 22 kW AC or 205 kW DC charging. The E-Class counters with a 540-litre boot, 66-litre fuel tank and 4-year manufacturer warranty, versus 490 litres and two years for the BMW. Choose based on charging access, not the small price gap.
i5
Pick the BMW i5 if you can charge regularly and want 627 km EV range, 335 hp and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
E-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class if you need its 540-litre boot, 66-litre petrol tank and 4-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Mercedes-Benz E-Class RM367,888.
- Performance: BMW i5 335 hp and 430 Nm motor, 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 201 hp and 320 Nm engine plus 23 hp and 205 Nm motor, 0-100 km/h…
- Energy and range: BMW i5 has an 83.9 kWh battery and 627 km EV range; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a 66-litre fuel tank and no EV range stated.
- Charging: BMW i5 supports 22 kW AC and 205 kW DC charging; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has no charging rates stated.
- Practicality: BMW i5 has a 490-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a 540-litre boot.
- Warranty: BMW i5 has a 2-year manufacturer warranty and 5-year extended warranty; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a 4-year manufacturer warranty.
i5
- 627 km EV range from an 83.9 kWh battery.
- 335 hp, 430 Nm and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 205 kW DC charging, head-up display and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio.
- 490-litre boot is 50 litres smaller than the E-Class' 540 litres.
- 2-year manufacturer warranty is shorter than the E-Class' 4 years.
- At 2,205 kg, it is 380 kg heavier than the E-Class.
E-Class
- 540-litre boot and 66-litre fuel tank.
- 4-year manufacturer warranty.
- Driver's knee and rear side airbags, plus a 240 km/h top speed.
- Its 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.5 seconds slower than the i5's.
- No EV range or AC/DC charging capability is stated, unlike the i5's 627 km range and 22 kW/205 kW charging.
- It lacks the i5's head-up display, panoramic glass roof and 18-speaker audio system.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800 | RM367,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395 | 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 | — | 201 hp |
| Torque | — | 320 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 335 hp✓ | 23 hp |
| Motor Torque | 430 Nm✓ | 205 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 627 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 205 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | — | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Daimler AG |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds✓ | 7.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 193 km/h | 240 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,949 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,880 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,468 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,961 mm |
| Weight | 2,205 kg | 1,825 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 66 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 540 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R20 | 245/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R20 | 275/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Elekt | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| 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 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | Reflector LED with Adaptive High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Driver Side Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades | Rear 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) | 14.4" MBUX Multimedia with Online Music Streaming, AI functionality built-in, Seven Speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Boot Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 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 |
| 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 | — |
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 & E-Class for sale
i5 vs E-Class FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class better?
The BMW i5 is the better pick for regular EV charging, with 627 km range and a 6.0-second sprint. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is better if you prioritise a 540-litre boot, 66-litre tank and 4-year manufacturer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i5 costs RM368,800 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class costs RM367,888. The BMW is RM912 more expensive.
Which is quicker, the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The BMW i5 is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds versus 7.5 seconds for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The E-Class has the higher top speed, at 240 km/h against 193 km/h.