Compare the2022 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2021 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

The BMW 7 Series has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The 7 Series has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 7 Series xDrive’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the 7 Series helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 7 Series’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 7 Series has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the 7 Series and the E-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The 7 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E-Class Sedan.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 7 Series has a standard 950-amp battery. The E-Class Sedan only offers a 850-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 7 Series second among large premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The E-Class Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The 7 Series has more powerful engines than the E-Class Sedan:

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW 7 Series is faster than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running on electricity gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

The 745e can drive on battery power alone for up to 17 miles. The E-Class Sedan must run its internal combustion engine to move.

Regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the 7 Series and the E-Class Sedan have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All 7 Seriess have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The 7 Series’ launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 7 Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class Sedan:

The 7 Series stops much shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the Alpina B7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class Sedan (F:255/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 7 Series offers optional 20-inch wheels. The E-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The 7 Series offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the E-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The 7 Series offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the 7 Series uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the E-Class Sedan, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The 7 Series offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the E-Class Sedan.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 10.7 inches longer than on the E-Class Sedan (126.4 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 7 Series is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the E-Class Sedan.

The Alpina B7 handles at .97 G’s, while the E 450 4MATIC Sedan pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 750i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 750i xDrive is quieter than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 7 Series a Large car, while the E-Class Sedan is rated a Mid-size.

The 7 Series has 16 cubic feet more passenger volume than the E-Class Sedan (114 vs. 98).

The 7 Series has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 8.2 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the E-Class Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series’ available rear seats recline. The E-Class Sedan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The 7 Series has a larger trunk than the E-Class Sedan (14 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The E-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the 7 Series and power rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the 7 Series’ passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The 7 Series has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the 7 Series and the E-Class Sedan offer optional massaging front seats. The 7 Series also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the E-Class Sedan.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 7 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

The 7 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The E-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the 7 Series owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 7 Series with a number “1” insurance rate while the E-Class Sedan is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 7 Series is less expensive to operate than the E-Class Sedan because typical repairs cost less on the 7 Series than the E-Class Sedan, including $73 less for a muffler and $114 less for a starter.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes E-Class Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.