Compare the2024 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2024 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the E-Class Sedan are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Class Sedan has a standard 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the E-Class Sedan. But it costs extra on the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The E-Class Sedan has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the E-Class Sedan has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

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 and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 10 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.

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class Sedan higher (7 to 8 out of 10) than the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe (3). This means the E-Class Sedan produces up to 30 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 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. 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.

For better maneuverability, the E 450 Sedan’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the 840i Gran Coupe’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The E-Class Sedan is 5.4 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 a much larger trunk than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (19.1 vs. 15.5 cubic feet).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the E-Class Sedan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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.

The E-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

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

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the BMW 8 Series by almost three to one during 2023.