Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG E-Class WagonVS 2026 BMW M5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon 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 M5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The AMG E-Class Wagon’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The M5 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon 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 M5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The AMG E-Class Wagon 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 M5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The AMG E-Class Wagon has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The M5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG E-Class Wagon has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The M5 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the AMG E-Class Wagon and M5 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG E-Class Wagon has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The M5’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG E-Class Wagon and the M5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG E-Class Wagon’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon running on electricity gets better mileage than the M5 Touring running on electricity (52 city/64 hwy vs. 52 city/57 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the M5 Touring running its gasoline engine (21 city/25 hwy vs. 11 city/17 hwy).

The AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 41 miles. The M5 Touring has to start its internal combustion engine after only 25 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon higher (6 out of 10) than the BMW M5 (4). This means the AMG E-Class Wagon produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the M5 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the M5.

The AMG E-Class Wagon’s optional 265/35R21 front and 295/30R21 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 M5’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG E-Class Wagon offers optional 21-inch wheels. The M5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches in the front and 21-inches in the rear.

The AMG E-Class Wagon is 5.4 inches shorter than the M5, making the AMG E-Class Wagon easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG E-Class Wagon has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the M5 Touring with its rear seat up (33.1 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The AMG E-Class Wagon has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the M5 Touring with its rear seat folded (64.6 vs. 57.6 cubic feet).

The AMG E-Class Wagon’s cargo area is larger than the M5’s in every dimension:

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the AMG E-Class Wagon to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The M5 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 AMG E-Class Wagon has standard extendable sun visors. The M5 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The AMG E-Class Wagon’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 M5’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2025 Car of the Year. The M5 has never been chosen.