Compare the2025 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2025 BMW 5 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 5 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 5 Series doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The 5 Series doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 5 Series doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the E-Class Sedan and the 5 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, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and 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.

As tested in Car and Driver the E 450 Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the 530i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

The E-Class Sedan has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the 5 Series (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 5 Series.

The E-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the 5 Series:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available 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 5 Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 5 Series 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 5 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The E 350 Sedan 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the 530i xDrive pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the E 350 Sedan’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the 5 Series’ (38.1 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The E 450 Sedan’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the 5 Series xDrive’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The E-Class Sedan is 4.3 inches shorter than the 5 Series, making the E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The E-Class Sedan has .2 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 5 Series.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the E-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 5 Series doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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 5 Series 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 5 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the BMW 5 Series isn’t available as a station wagon.