Compare the2023 BMW X5VS 2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

The BMW X5 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 All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5’s 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 All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the X5 and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X5 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 176 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not been tested, yet.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 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 All-Terrain Wagon.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X5’s reliability 31 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The X5 M50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 161 more horsepower (523 vs. 362) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

The X5’s 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 All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X5 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (265/50R19 vs. 245/45R19). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 245/45R19).

The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The X5 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 All-Terrain Wagon; 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.

The X5 M50i 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 All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M50i 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 All-Terrain Wagon.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (117.1 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The X5 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain (25.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a 2.95 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.7 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X5 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 All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X5 has 3.2 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Third row passengers in the X5 sit facing forward, making them more comfortable and giving them a better view. The third row passengers in the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon face rearward.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X5’s middle row seats recline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s middle row seats don’t recline.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 64 cubic feet).

Both the X5 and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon have standard second row automatic folding seats. The X5’s optional third row seats also fold down at the press of a button. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The X5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the X5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X5 will cost $4515 to $6270 less than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X5 is less expensive to operate than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon because typical repairs cost less on the X5 than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, including $8 less for a water pump and $152 less for a starter.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by over four to one during 2022.