Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2023 BMW 7 Series

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 7 Series 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 7 Series doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the E-Class Sedan and the 7 Series 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 7 Series 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 7 Series isn’t in the top three in its category.

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

The E-Class Sedan 450’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 7 Series (21.1 vs. 19.5 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 7 Series (3). This means the E-Class Sedan produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 7 Series 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 7 Series.

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. The 7 Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 7 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the E 350 Sedan’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the 7 Series’ (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the 7 Series xDrive’s (39 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The Mercedes E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 800 pounds less than the BMW 7 Series.

The E-Class Sedan is 1 foot, 5.9 inches shorter than the 7 Series, making the E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The E-Class Sedan has .5 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the 7 Series.

The E-Class Sedan’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The 7 Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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 7 Series 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 7 Series doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the BMW 7 Series isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or station wagon.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The 7 Series has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the BMW 7 Series by over three to one during 2022.