CAR magazine UK compares the new Mercedes E-Class vs BMW 5-series saloons with pictures and verdict
Bigger and cleverer than ever, the combustion-engined 5-series and E-Class are back for another round of the timeless duel. It might feel like it’s a party on death row, but what a party.It’s a toss-up whether the 3-series or 5-series is BMW’s core product; if either of them sneezes, its maker comes down with a cold. So the 5-series plays it visually safe, with no rabbit-fang grille or stacked headlights.
Our Benz welcomes its user with the XXL Superscreen , which is barely less intimidating than the XXXL Hyperscreen offered in even more upmarket models. Although you pay extra for leather and open-pore dark timber, there is barely any room left for these precious materials since almost all surfaces in the driver’s field of vision are already tiled with touchpads, monitors, brightwork, sensors and various adjustment devices. There is a passenger display to busy restless occupants.
You’ll have spotted that we have one petrol and one diesel car here, the 205bhp 520i and the 195bhp E220d. That’s not part of a grand plan, but rather a question of testing what’s available. But experience of current powertrains from both manufacturers suggests that at this non-performance-critical end of the segment the fuel type does not transform the car. When it comes to the fundamentals, they’re directly comparable.
These engines have different characters, obviously. Redlined at 4400rpm, the diesel delivers its peak power at a leisurely 3600rpm, while the torque curve peaks between 1800 and 2800rpm. Part-throttle waftaholics should be able to siphon 1000 miles out of the 66-litre tank, although dedicated lead-footers will be pleased to top 400 miles. During our vigorous test the Mercedes returned 30.4mpg against the BMW’s 26.4mpg.
The E-Class voluntarily softens the edges in favour of a cushier ride, smoother and more progressive dynamics, a more forgiving approach to fast cornering, a broader margin of error and a handling ⊲ attitude that is both perfectly involving yet always on the safe side. While the BMW prefers to be pushed to shine, the Benz feels more at home in a relaxed orbit.
New additions include a gaming library, a football app complete with video ticker and live matches, and the so-called AirConsole good for up to four players who can use their smartphones as controllers after hooking them up via a QR code. These both qualify for membership of that growing group of cars in which it almost comes as a shock that the driver must still push a button to start the engine and pull a lever to select the direction of travel.
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