Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 is only RM912 dearer than the RM367,888 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, yet it brings an 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km EV range and 205-kW DC charging. Its 335-hp, 430-Nm motor also cuts the 0-100 km/h run to 6.0 seconds, against 7.5 seconds. The Mercedes counters with a 540-litre boot, nine airbags and a four-year manufacturer warranty, versus 490 litres, six airbags and two years. For a Malaysian buyer with dependable charging, the i5’s electric range and stronger performance make the sharper choice; take the E-Class if boot space and longer standard cover matter more.
Pick the BMW i5 if you can charge regularly and want 627 km of EV range, 205-kW DC charging and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class if you prioritise its 540-litre boot, nine airbags and four-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Mercedes-Benz E-Class RM367,888.
- Powertrain: BMW i5 has one 335-hp, 430-Nm electric motor and an 83.
- Performance: BMW i5 does 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and reaches 193 km/h; Mercedes-Benz E-Class takes 7.5 seconds and reaches 240 km/h.
- EV capability: BMW i5 has 627 km of range, 22-kW AC and 205-kW DC charging; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has no EV range, AC charging or DC charging figure.
- Practicality: BMW i5 has a 490-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a 540-litre boot.
- Safety and warranty: BMW i5 has six airbags and a two-year warranty; Mercedes-Benz E-Class has nine airbags and a four-year warranty.
i5
- 627-km EV range from an 83.9-kWh battery.
- Faster 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.
- 2,205 kg kerb weight is 380 kg higher.
- Six airbags and two-year warranty trail the E-Class.
E-Class
- 540-litre boot and 1,825-kg kerb weight.
- Nine airbags and a four-year manufacturer warranty.
- 240-km/h top speed.
- 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.5 seconds slower.
- No stated EV range or AC/DC charging capability.
- Seven-speaker audio trails the i5's 18-speaker system.
What the i5 has over the E-Class
What the E-Class has over the i5
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
Boot space favours the E-Class: 540 litres against 490.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800 | RM367,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395 | RM380✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,765/mo | RM3,755/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM9,837✓ | RM9,878 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,189 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM5.95 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM57,103 | — |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 3.8 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 30 min | — |
| 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 at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | — | 320 Nm at 2,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 83 mm × 92.4 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 |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 26 inch | 22 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 19 inch | 22 inch |
| 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 | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 9 (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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used i5 & E-Class for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW i5
i5 vs E-Class FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class better?
The BMW i5 is the better pick for drivers able to charge at home or work, thanks to its 627-km EV range, 205-kW DC charging and quicker 6.0-second sprint. Choose the E-Class for its larger 540-litre boot, nine airbags and four-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i5 costs RM912 more than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class: RM368,800 versus RM367,888.
Which is faster, the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The BMW i5 is quicker from 0-100 km/h, taking 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.
How long does charging take?
The i5's 83.9 kWh battery takes about 3.8 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 30 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 205 kW peak.