Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 costs just RM912 more than the RM367,888 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, yet changes the ownership brief completely. Its 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km EV range and 205-kW DC charging suit Malaysians with dependable charging access, while its 6.0-second century sprint beats 7.5 seconds. The E-Class fights back with a 540-litre boot, 66-litre fuel tank, 240-km/h top speed and four-year warranty. Choose the i5 for electric running and richer cabin hardware; choose the E-Class if long trips and luggage matter more than plugging in.
Pick the BMW i5 if you can charge regularly and want 627 km of claimed EV range, 205-kW DC charging and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class if you want a 66-litre fuel tank, a larger 540-litre boot and a four-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Mercedes-Benz E-Class RM367,888.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW i5 6.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 7.5 seconds.
- Energy storage/range: BMW i5 83.9-kWh battery and 627 km EV range; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 66-litre fuel tank and no EV range figure.
- Boot space: BMW i5 490 litres; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 540 litres.
- Kerb weight: BMW i5 2,205 kg; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1,825 kg.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW i5 two years; Mercedes-Benz E-Class four years.
i5
- 627-km EV range with 205-kW DC and 22-kW AC charging
- Quicker 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- Head-up display, panoramic glass roof and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio
- 490-litre boot is 50 litres smaller
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is half the E-Class term
- Heavier at 2,205 kg versus 1,825 kg
E-Class
- 540-litre boot and 66-litre fuel tank
- Four-year manufacturer warranty
- More airbags, including driver's knee and rear-side airbags
- Slower 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- No head-up display or fixed panoramic glass roof
- Seven-speaker audio trails the i5's 18-speaker 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 | 3 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 charging, with 627 km of EV range and a 6.0-second sprint. The E-Class is better for buyers wanting a 66-litre tank, 540-litre boot and four-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i5 costs RM912 more than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That is a small gap, so charging access and the i5's EV range matter far more than the purchase-price difference.
Which has more luggage space?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the larger boot at 540 litres, 50 litres more than the BMW i5's 490 litres. Both are five-seat, four-door executive sedans with 60:40 split-folding rear seats.