Large Luxury Lowdown – BMW 530i v Mercedes-Benz E300 Comparison Test
Miniature limousines. The BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class have long been simply tagged as large luxury sedans, but times are a-changing in this class.
Despite being mere middle-tier model grades, the 530i and E300 are now available with technology and luxury items reserved for the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class only a few years ago. Yes, even these circa-$110,000 petrol four-cylinder versions can now provide more than a glimpse of the limo, not mere luxury, lifestyle.
BMW claims its all-new 530i will be the popular pick among its range, while Mercedes-Benz lines the E300 up near-identically on price. What we have here, then, are the popular picks within utterly dominant 5 Series and E-Class lineups that this year (from January to June) have snared around 75 per cent of segment volume.
It’s popularity within popularity. Oh, and other rivals? What other rivals?
TESTEDBMW 530i ($108,900 plus on-road costs)
Mercedes-Benz E300 ($107,900 plus on-road costs)
|
OVERVIEW
At $107,900 plus on-road costs the Mercedes-Benz E300 starts $1000 below the BMW 530i. It isn’t nearly as well-equipped for the price, however. Both get leather, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, keyless auto-entry, dual-zone climate, widescreen displays with navigation, plus a suite of active safety equipment: active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assistance and LED headlights with adaptive-automatic high beam.
The 530i gets 19-inch alloy wheels versus its rival’s 20s, and Apple CarPlay is a $623 option – it’s standard in the Benz, although in the BMW it can exclusively be used wirelessly. Luxury Line or M Sport kits are no-cost options for the 530i, with both receiving 600-watt Harman Kardon audio and a head-up display. The Lux-Line tested here, meanwhile, uniquely gets Nappa leather trim and ventilated front seats.