What's the Difference: EQE vs BMW i4

EQE vs BMW i4

Built on the solid and arguably superior craftsmanship of Mercedes-Benz, the EQE ushers storied driving performance into an electrifying new era.

Sophisticated, ultra-refined, and more than roomy-the cabin is downright cavernous-the EQE is the most recent addition to the already impressive electric vehicle (EV) line-up. At the base level, front seats are heated, and a panorama roof, 64-color LED ambient lighting, and pre-entry climate control are standard.

Powerful, athletic, yet light on its feet, the EQE can sway in sync with the curves of a windy Santa Clara County back road or get its jam on when merging onto I-280.

BMW deftly unites sports sedan driving dynamics and the latest fifth-generation eDrive technology with exceptional luxury and user-friendly tech. This careful choreography pleases passengers while empowering the driver to have fun while on the road. Whether cruising with friends for a night out at Santana Row or to a Giants game, the BMW i4 dances to the beat of its own finely-crafted drum.

Both EVs are at the top of their game. It's the slight nuances that may help you decide which is right for you. Let's compare the EQE vs BMW i4 in categories that are important to EV buyers.

Reliability and Quality

As one of the world's top-selling luxury brands, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are known for superior craftsmanship and solid performance. Although new to the scene, the EQE put on a show-stopping performance that merits positive industry reviews. J.D. Power ranks the EQE #1 in the Large Premium Car category and consumers rate the electric sedan 79 out of 100 for quality and reliability.

At the time of this writing, neither the 2022 nor 2023 BMW i4 had been reviewed or evaluated by J.D. Power.

Performance and Efficiency

EQE Trim Levels

The new EQE from Mercedes-EQ is available in three different trims plus an AMG® variant.

EQE 350+: Powered by a single "permanently excited synchronous motor" (PSM), the 215-kW electric motor can send up to 288 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque to the rear-wheel drive (RWD) powertrain.

EQE 350 4MATIC®: Powered by dual electric PSM motors that can distribute up to 288 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels of the vehicle's fully variable 4MATIC® all-wheel drive (AWD) system. Provides 215 kW of total output.

EQE 500 4MATIC®: Dual permanently synchronous electric motors with 300 kW of total output deliver up to 402 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque to the fully variable 4MATIC® AWD.

AMG® EQE Sedan: Smooth, quiet, and rich in torque, the AMG®-specific dual electric motors can deliver 617 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels of the AMG® Performance 4MATIC+ AWD system.

Battery capacity: 90.6 kWh

EPA estimated driving range: 260 to 305 miles*

EPA estimated driving range: 225 miles* (with AMG® styling)

Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 6.2, 6.0, 4.5, and 3.2 seconds, respectively

Top speed: 137 mph (AMG® EQE)

Charging Options:

Level 1 AC charging is compatible with a 110-volt household outlet. Level 2 AC charging allows for recharging from 10 to 100 percent in less than eight hours with a 240-volt home charging station or approximately 30 miles of range per hour at most public charging stations. Level 3 DC fast charging provides 80 percent battery replenishment in about half an hour.

With the addition of the new entry-level i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe in the 2023 model year, the BMW i4 now offers three unique trims.

BMW i4 Trim Levels

BMW i4 eDrive35: The all-electric 281-horsepower motor offers 295 pound-feet of torque to the RWD system.

BMW i4 eDrive40: The all-electric 335-horsepower motor delivers 317 pound-feet of torque to the RWD system.

BMW i4 M50: Dual all-electric motors pump out a total power output of 536 horsepower which is distributed to the AWD drivetrain.

Battery capacity: 70.2 kWh (eDrive35)

Battery capacity: 81 kWh (eDrive40 and M50)

EPA estimated driving range: 256 to 301 miles*

Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 5.8, 5.5, and 3.7 seconds, respectively

Top speed: 130 mph (M50)

Charging Options:

The standard Flexible Fast Charging Cable or available BMW Wallbox facilitates Level 2 charging from a 240-volt outlet which charges the BMW i4 from 0 to 100 percent in less than nine hours. A DC Fast Charger at a public station adds 93 miles of range to the i4 eDrive35, 108 miles of range to the i4 eDrive40, or 88 miles to the i4 M50 in only 10 minutes.

Safety and Driving Assistance

Standard safety features and driver assistance on all EQE models include:

• Car-to-X Communication
• PRE-SAFE®
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• ATTENTION ASSIST®
• Active Brake Assist
• Surround View System
• Blind Spot Assist
• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Torque Vectoring Brake
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call
• PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist
• Front and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Pedestrian Detection with Automatic Emergency Braking

Standard safety features and driver assistance on all i4 models include:

• Automatic high beams
• LED Headlights
• Active Protection System with Fatigue and Focus Alert features
• Active Driving Assistant
• Frontal Collision Warning
• Active Blind Spot Detection
• Lane Departure Warning
• Speed Limit Info
• Frontal Collision Warning
• Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking
• BMW Assist eCall™ with Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification
• Rear-view Camera
• Park Distance Control
• Acoustic pedestrian protection

Infotainment and Technology

Complemented by vivid digital displays and an intelligent Zero Layer menu concept, the EQE cockpit is functional, friendly, and fabulous.

2023 EQE sedans are also equipped with the new-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. MBUX features a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen central multimedia display, "Hey, Mercedes" keyword activation, hands-free Bluetooth®** connectivity, plus Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ enabled streaming. MBUX integrates digital in-dash displays including touchscreen technology and touch-sensitive steering wheel controls with Voice Control with Natural Language Understanding for an innovative user experience.

Additional multimedia, infotainment, and in-vehicle technologies include:

• Biometric authentication
• MB Navigation with Electric Intelligence
• No-charge online navigation map updates for one year
• Over-the-air software updates
• Burmester® 3D Surround Sound system
• Dolby Atmos®
• Online Music Streaming
• SiriusXM® satellite radio (6-month trial)
• HD Radio receiver
• Front-cabin wireless charging with NFC pairing

Featuring the most innovative and advanced version of BMW's iDrive 8 Operating System, the onboard technology of the 2023 BMW i4 is no less impressive.

Live Cockpit Plus features the BMW Curved Display with a configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central information display. The multi-input iDrive 8 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, or iDrive touchpad controller. Navigation, hands-free Bluetooth®** interface, USB-C ports, and multiple Over-the-Air (OTA) map updates are also standard.

Every i4 model offers available 5G connectivity and comes standard with:

• BMW ConnectedDrive® Services
• Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Compatibility
• Remote Software Upgrade capable
• HiFi Sound System with 205-watt digital amplifier
• SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (one-year subscription)
• Dynamic Adaptive Cruise Control

Shop EQE Near San Jose, CA

When you're ready to surround yourself with luxury, power, and cutting-edge EV technology, visit Mercedes-Benz of Stevens Creek. You'll soon realize why customers in the Mountain View and Santa Clara communities trust our store for all their luxury new and pre-owned electric car needs.

Before stopping by for a test drive, check out our online showroom. Not only can our dealership help custom order a new EQE, but we also offer a premium selection of other electric cars, crossovers, and SUVs.

If you're still weighing the benefits of leasing or buying a BMW i4 vs EQE, our finance specialists are more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of each. Our San Jose finance team guarantees your car buying experience will be simple and stress-free. With multiple financing options and lease programs available, we'll customize a finance package to meet your specific goals.

The factory-trained technicians at our Mercedes-Benz service center are here for all your maintenance and repair needs. You'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize that EVs like the EQE, EQB, and EQS have overall lower scheduled maintenance costs.

Are you ready to get behind the wheel of one of the best luxury EVs on the market today? Come by Mercedes-Benz of Stevens Creek for a test drive.

*Preliminary EPA-estimated figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on speed, driving habits, trip length and driving conditions; actual mileage may be lower. Note for MPGe: All data are provisional and subject to official confirmation. The provisional power consumption figures have been calculated based on the ECE test cycle.

**Bluetooth® is a registered mark Bluetooth SIG, INC.