Compare the2024 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2024 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 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 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe 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, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe third among compact premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The E-Class Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 20 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The M440i Gran Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 7 more horsepower (382 vs. 375) than the E 450 Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

For better stopping power the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the E-Class Sedan (245/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E-Class Sedan’s standard 55 series tires.

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is 6.4 inches shorter than the E-Class Sedan, making the 4 Series Gran Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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.

Laser headlights, optional on the 4 Series Gran Coupe, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the E-Class Sedan’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by almost three to one during 2023.