2024 BMW 5 Series vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, particularly the S 580e plug-in hybrid, continued to impress with its elegant design and luxurious interior. The exterior featured clean lines and optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style bumpers, adding a touch of sportiness to its sophisticated demeanor. Inside, the S-Class offered a choice of eight leather upholstery colors and five trim materials, with our tester showcasing Sienna Brown and Black leather. The panoramic sunroof and superb fit and finish enhanced the luxurious experience, while the soft headrests provided exceptional comfort for passengers.

In contrast, the 2024 BMW 5 Series embraced a minimalist design, both inside and out, with a focus on aerodynamics and BMW's current styling language. The 530i test car featured a large shiny grille and intricate 21-inch wheels, complemented by M Sport bodywork in Carbon Black paint. The interior boasted Smoke-color Veganza artificial leather, aluminum trim, and artistic metal speaker grilles, creating a modern and elegant atmosphere. However, the reflective surfaces caused glare, and the touch-sensing controls on gloss black surfaces proved aggravating. Despite these issues, the 530i M Sport maintained a luxurious feel with its stylish and plush design.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 580e combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and electric motor, delivering 510 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It offered an impressive 56 miles of all-electric range and achieved 53.9 mpg during testing. The S 580e accelerated from 0 to 62 mph in about 4.4 seconds, matching the performance of the S 580 with its twin-turbo V8. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided seamless gear shifts, although a slight jerk was noted when downshifting into first gear. The buttery soft air suspension and rear-wheel steering enhanced the driving experience, making the S-Class feel agile despite its long wheelbase.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series 530i featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It accelerated to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, offering smooth and quiet performance with its eight-speed automatic transmission. The M Sport suspension provided a supple ride quality, and the car excelled on twisty roads, thanks to its variable-ratio sport steering and M Sport braking components. However, the 530i felt remote and muted, lacking the connection between driver and machine that BMW was once known for. The 530i M Sport returned 24.7 mpg on the evaluation loop, falling short of the EPA estimate of 30 mpg in combined driving.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and armrests. Power sunshades and soft-closing doors added to the luxury experience, while the Energizing Comfort wellness program combined lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls for a mood-boosting exercise. The S-Class offered ample small storage spaces, but the trunk space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet, less than the standard S-Class's 12.9 cubic feet.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series excelled as a luxury car, with comfortable power-adjustable front seats wrapped in perforated Veganza artificial leather. The rear seats were equally comfortable, offering good legroom, headroom, and footroom. Interior storage was adequate, with a tray for smartphones, door armrests, and a split-top center armrest bin. The 5 Series boasted an 18.4 cubic-foot trunk, but the spare tire storage box reduced cargo room. The enclosed trunk hinges maximized available space, and deep wells on either side of the spare tire container were useful.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen center display with the MBUX infotainment system. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a native navigation system with augmented reality, and a variety of games for entertainment. The natural-language AI assistant was responsive, and the Burmester sound system provided excellent audio quality. However, all USB ports were USB-C, requiring compatible cords.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single curved display. The iDrive 8.5 system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, a personal eSIM 5G connection, and more. The Premium Package added a head-up display and Natural Interaction for voice and gesture controls. However, the Intelligent Personal Assistant had mixed performance, and the Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound system did not meet expectations. The Premium Package also included Parking Assistant Plus and an interior camera for remote monitoring and selfies.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered a comprehensive suite of ADAS safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. The hands-on highway driver-assist system used adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, while Crosswind Assist and Speed Limit Assist added to the safety package. However, the S-Class had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series came with Active Driving Assistant, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Driving Assistant Professional Package added advanced ADAS features, but our test car did not have this package. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist were subtle and effective. The 5 Series earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS but did not achieve the higher Top Safety Pick+ rating.