Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2023 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes E-Class Sedan have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes E-Class Sedan are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Class Sedan offers an optional Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s blind spot costs extra.

Both the E-Class Sedan and 8 Series Gran Coupe offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the E-Class Sedan with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert also has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the E-Class Sedan and the 8 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the E-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 8 Series Gran Coupe has not been tested, yet.

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan third among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The 8 Series Gran Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

The E-Class Sedan 450’s standard fuel tank has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (21.1 vs. 18 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class Sedan higher (6 out of 10) than the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe (3). This means the E-Class Sedan produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 8 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

The E-Class Sedan stops shorter than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the E-Class Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class Sedan’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the 840i Gran Coupe xDrive pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the E-Class Sedan’s turning circle is tighter than the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s:

The Mercedes E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe.

The E-Class Sedan is 6 inches shorter than the 8 Series Gran Coupe, making the E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The E-Class Sedan has .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the E-Class Sedan has standard extendable sun visors. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The E-Class Sedan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes E-Class offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the BMW 8 Series isn’t available as a station wagon.

Insurance will cost less for the E-Class Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the E-Class Sedan will cost $2095 to $8695 less than the 8 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes E-Class Sedan will be $26260 to $58794 less than for the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and the Mercedes E 450 4MATIC Sedan won out over the BMW 840i Gran Coupe xDrive.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The 8 Series Gran Coupe has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the BMW 8 Series by almost three to one during 2022.