Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 costs only RM912 more than the RM367,888 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, yet takes a very different route. The i5’s 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km EV range and 205-kW DC charging suit buyers with reliable charging access, while its 335-hp, 430-Nm motor cuts the 0-100 km/h time to 6.0 seconds. The E-Class counters with a 540-litre boot, nine airbags and a four-year manufacturer warranty. For Malaysian buyers able to charge at home or work, the i5 is the stronger equipment-and-performance buy; the E-Class makes more sense for petrol refuelling and extra luggage room.
Pick the BMW i5 if home or workplace charging is available and you want 627 km of stated EV range, 6.0-second acceleration and richer cabin hardware.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class if you need the 540-litre boot, nine airbags and a four-year manufacturer warranty with petrol refuelling.
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.
- Top speed: BMW i5 193 km/h; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 240 km/h.
- Boot space: BMW i5 490 litres; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 540 litres.
- Airbags: BMW i5 six; Mercedes-Benz E-Class nine.
- Standard manufacturer warranty: BMW i5 two years; Mercedes-Benz E-Class four years.
i5
- 83.9-kWh battery with 627 km stated EV range
- 335 hp and 430 Nm for a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- 18-speaker 655W Bowers & Wilkins audio, head-up display and panoramic glass roof
- 490-litre boot is 50 litres smaller
- Six airbags versus nine
- Two-year standard manufacturer warranty versus four years
E-Class
- 540-litre boot and nine airbags
- Four-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty
- 240 km/h top speed and 66-litre fuel tank
- 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.5 seconds slower
- Seven-speaker audio trails the i5’s 18-speaker 655W system
- No head-up display or panoramic glass roof
| 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 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 |
| 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.
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 choice if you can charge regularly, thanks to its 627-km stated EV range, 205-kW DC charging and 6.0-second sprint. Choose the Mercedes-Benz 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. That small gap brings an 83.9-kWh battery, 627 km of stated EV range, 18-speaker audio and a head-up display in the BMW.
Which car has more luggage space?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the larger boot at 540 litres, compared with 490 litres in the BMW i5. The Mercedes gives you 50 litres more luggage capacity.
