Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 costs just RM912 more than the RM367,888 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, yet takes a very different route. Its 83.9 kWh battery, 627 km EV range and 205 kW DC charging suit Malaysian owners with dependable charging, while 335 hp, 430 Nm and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time make it the quicker car. The E-Class counters with a 540-litre boot, 66-litre fuel tank, 240 km/h top speed and four-year warranty. Choose by how you refuel, not the tiny price gap.
i5
Pick the BMW i5 if you can charge regularly and want 627 km of EV range, 335 hp and the richer 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins cabin.
E-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz E-Class if a 66-litre fuel tank, 540-litre boot and four-year manufacturer warranty suit your use better.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Mercedes-Benz E-Class RM367,888.
- Power and acceleration: BMW i5 335 hp, 430 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6.
- Energy storage and charging: BMW i5 83.9 kWh battery, 627 km EV range and 205 kW DC charging; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1 kWh battery with no EV range or charging…
- Boot space: BMW i5 490 litres; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 540 litres.
- Weight and top speed: BMW i5 2,205 kg and 193 km/h; Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1,825 kg and 240 km/h.
- Warranty and road tax: BMW i5 two-year manufacturer warranty, five-year extended warranty and RM395 yearly road tax; Mercedes-Benz E-Class four-year…
i5
- 83.9 kWh battery with 627 km EV range and 205 kW DC charging.
- Quicker 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time with 335 hp and 430 Nm.
- Gets a panoramic glass roof, head-up display and 18-speaker 655W Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
- 490-litre boot is 50 litres smaller than the E-Class's 540 litres.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is half the E-Class's four-year cover.
- At 2,205 kg, it is 380 kg heavier than the E-Class.
E-Class
- 540-litre boot and 66-litre fuel tank.
- Four-year manufacturer warranty and RM380 annual road tax.
- Gets driver’s knee and rear-side airbags, where the i5’s airbag list does not include them.
- Its 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time trails the i5 by 1.5 seconds.
- The 1 kWh battery is far smaller than the i5’s 83.9 kWh pack, and no EV range is stated.
- It lacks the i5’s head-up display, panoramic glass roof and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins 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 | — | 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✓ | 1 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 better for regular EV driving, with 627 km range, 205 kW DC charging and a 6.0-second sprint. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is better if you want a 66-litre fuel tank, larger 540-litre boot and four-year manufacturer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i5 costs RM368,800 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class costs RM367,888, so the i5 is RM912 more expensive.
Which has more practical 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.
