BMW M5 vs Mercedes-AMG E63S

• Published On: 21 December 2018
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Both BMW and Mercedes have updated their luxury performance sedans for 2018.

The war between the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63S has been going on for quite some time now. Of course, it has, as both German manufacturers have four-door luxury sedans with 600+ HP in them. The concept of having a practical luxury sedan with the power of a supercar in them is not new. However, what's new is this time the BMW also features all-wheel drive, something the Mercedes has for some time now.

Styling - Both the cars are based on their standard sedan versions. However, the performance division groups of both manufacturers (AMG and M) have made slight changes in order to differentiate themselves. This includes the matte paint finishes which give these cars a lot of character. Both cars look sophisticated yet sporty. The M5 has the iconic BMW kidney grille while the Mercedes gets a two-slat grille with dual DRLs. The M5 looks less dramatic with the carbon fibre roof and black treatment on the exhaust pipes. On the other hand, the E63S looks muscular with the quad chrome exhausts and jet black alloys.

Interiors - The interior of the BMW M5 is more driver-focused than the Mercedes. There are two customisable buttons on the steering wheel and an illuminated M5 logo on the headrest. You get large bucket seats and a lot of carbon fibre and aluminum inserts. On the other hand, the Mercedes interior feels a lot more premium. It may not be as driver focused as the M5 but the quality of the materials and dual 12.3-inch screens do look very upmarket.

The E63S gets a cool looking Burmester sound system along with a clock at the center. The infotainment system on the M5 feels more responsive and easy to use as compared to the E63S. The E63S is not only more spacious but also gets a sunroof, ventilated seats and a 360-degree parking camera, all of which are missing on the M5. Both have generous boots.

Performance - Performance front, both the cars get a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing more than 600 HP and all-wheel drive. Both cars are capable of reaching 0-100 km/hr in just 3.4 seconds and have a top speed of 300 km/hr. However, on paper, the BMW M5 is not only 135 kgs lighter than the E63S but also has 100 Nm less torque. On the road, the M5 is even more insane as there is no turbo lag (something which the E63S suffers from) and power delivery is very linear.

On the other hand, due to the turbo lag of the Mercedes, it does not feel responsive lower down but the midrange punch is better than the M5. The E63S is louder than the M5 and also has a more responsive gearbox. The M5 has a better exhaust which cracks and pops when shifting. Both cars allow you to take manual control of the gears. Both cars get a slew of driving modes. Fuel efficiency is low at 4 km/l but the M5 also has a slightly bigger tank.

Driving Dynamics - For the first time, BMW has added all-wheel drive to the M5. However, you can switch to rear-wheel drive mode on both these cars and also turn off traction control. The E63S feels more stable and planted at higher speeds. The ride quality of the E63S is slightly better. The BMW feels more agile and nimbler than the E63S. You can also lift the nose of the E63S to clear tall speed breakers. Both cars offer good brakes with an option of carbon-ceramic brakes to improve the braking performance even more.

Safety and After Sales Service - Both cars get a lot of safety tech to keep you safe. These include traction control and ESP. Both cars are also equipped with 8 airbags and get a 5-star safety rating.

Verdict - Both these cars prove that you don’t need to sacrifice on luxury and comfort in order to enjoy the power of a supercar. While the E63S may ride and handle better than the M5 it also comes at a cost as the E63S costs Rs.10 lakhs more than the M5. However, money is not the deciding factor here as it’s nearly impossible to choose a winner here. Both cars are great at carrying 4 people in utmost comfort and at the same time compete on the race track.