Mercedes-AMG EQE vs BMW i4 M50 – When sport sedans go electric

The world of high-end sports sedans is becoming increasingly populated with electrified models, thanks to the efforts of a few carmakers.

Among these recent additions is the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43, a sporty business saloon from the three-pointed star that has the BMW i4 M50, which retails for around a half-million rand less, right in its crosshairs.

We had a look at what each of these futuristic sedans has under the hood, or rather under the floor, and how their spec sheets compare.

Performance

The Mercedes is powered by a 90.56kWh battery hooked up to a pair of front and rear-mounted electric motors, which altogether provide a power ceiling of 350kW and 858Nm.

Consequently, the AMG is capable of a lightning-quick 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.2 seconds, though its top speed is electronically limited to 210km/h.

Depending on the cable used, charging from empty to full is expected to take anywhere from nine hours and 15 minutes on an 11kW socket, to just under five hours with a more-powerful 22kW outlet.

A 170kW DC fast charger, on the other hand, can push 80% back into the battery in roughly 30 minutes, and on a full charge, the 43 is able to travel for 535km before needing a top-up.

BMW has also brought a rather powerful four-door EV to the party in the shape of the i4 M50, similarly making use of two electric motors and an all-wheel-drive system connected to an 83.9kWh battery.

With a combined output of 400kW and 795Nm the BMW sprints to 100km/h in a faster 3.9 seconds, and its top speed is capped at a slightly higher 225km/h.

Driving range, however, is marginally lower than the Mercedes with a maximum travel distance of 510km on the cards.

In terms of charging, it takes approximately eight hours and 15 minutes to charge the i4 to 100% on an 11kW plug, and switching to a 200kW DC feeder will see 80% attained in 36 minutes.

Both vehicles are also equipped with user-adjustable regenerative braking to regain energy in the corners and improve range.

In the spirit of all-out performance, the i4 is further fitted with adaptive M suspension and offers Sport, Sport Boost, and Sport Individual settings to better suit the track conditions at hand.

In contrast, the EQE has air suspension with adaptive damping as an option, and gives a choice of Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes, which adjust the torque distribution to either provide better energy efficiency or better dynamic responses.

Buyers of the Mercedes can also opt for rear-axle steering, which sharpens the vehicle’s ability to turn around tight corners, at an additional cost.

Features

Each of the German sedans sports leather upholstery with a multifunction steering wheel, automatic LED lights, three-zone climate control, lane-keep assist, hill assist, blind-spot monitoring, keyless start and entry, heated seats, and a digital driver’s display.

In the case of the BMW, the digital display takes the form of a long shared dual-screen setup consisting of a 12.3-inch driver’s screen and a 14.9-inch infotainment monitor.

The Mercedes also gets two displays as standard split across a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 13-inch touchscreen on the dashboard.

The i4 additionally offers a Harman Kardon sound system, Alcantara seat inserts, active cruise control, a 360-degree camera, and route monitoring with real-time traffic information.

The EQE, in comparison, comes with a Burmester stereo system, wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, and adjustable ambient cabin lighting.

The AMG is also noticeably larger than the M50, though despite this it has a smaller boot, as you can see below:

Pricing

The Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4Matic has a South African starting price of R2,200,000.

Each purchase comes with a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan, and a an 8-year/160,000km battery warranty,

The BMW i4 M50 has a South African starting price of R1,637,900.

This includes a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and maintenance plan, and an 8-year/100,000km battery warranty.

Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4Matic

BMW i4 M50