Mercedes EQS vs BMW i7: The Battle of the Luxury EV Sedans

The automobile industry has long been dominated by two German giants: Mercedes and BMW. Their excellence and innovation have earned them a loyal fan base and a fierce rivalry. Now, they are both entering a new era of electric vehicles with their flagship sedans: The Mercedes EQS and The BMW i7.

These cars are not only designed to offer the ultimate luxury and comfort, but also to set the tone for their future electric models. However, they come with a hefty price tag. The BMW i7 has only one variant, the i7 740 xDrive 60, which starts at Rs. 1.95 Cr. The Mercedes EQS has two variants: the EQS 580 4Matic, which starts at Rs.1.59 CR, and the AMG EQS 53 4Matic+, which costs Rs.2.45 CR.

So, how do these two rivals compare in terms of design, performance, and features? Let's find out.

1. Design highlights-

Exterior:

The EQS and the i7 have very different exterior styles. The i7 is bold, muscular, and imposing, while the EQS is sleek, smooth, and elegant.

| Feature | BMW i7 | Mercedes EQS ||------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| Exterior style | Bold, muscular, imposing | Sleek, smooth, elegant || Grille | Enormous kidney grille with split Iconic Glow crystal headlights | Black panel radiator grille with finely drawn Mercedes stars and a large logo in the center || Beltline | Thick crease that runs from front to rear | Smooth beltline that creates a teardrop shape || Tail lights | Standard LED tail lights | Futuristic tail lights shaped like a curved and illuminated 3D helix || Screen | 12.3 inch driver display and 14.9 inch central display connected by a curved glass surface | MBUX Hyperscreen with three OLED displays: driver display, central display, and passenger display blended together beneath a glass panel creating a 56 inch hyperscreen || Materials and features | Premium leather, wood, metal, climate control, sound system, ambient lighting, etc. | Premium leather, wood, metal, climate control, sound system, ambient lighting, etc. |

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i7The most striking feature of the i7 is its ENORMOUS kidney grille, which has been controversial since it debuted on the M3. Some may find it quirky and stunning, while others may think it's too much. The grille also houses the split ‘Iconic Glow’ crystal headlights, which add to the car's aggressive look. The i7 also has a thick crease that runs from the front to the rear, giving it a sense of spaciousness and solidity.

EQSThe EQS, on the other hand, opts for a more subtle and refined look. It has a black panel radiator grille with finely drawn Mercedes stars and a large logo in the center. The chrome accents (available on the AMG only) add some class and contrast to the car. The EQS also has digital light headlamps and a single strip of daytime running light that connects them.

The car's smooth beltline and slightly uplifted rear end create a teardrop shape, which enhances its aerodynamics. The futuristic tail lights, shaped like a curved and illuminated 3D helix, complete the posh package.

Interior:

Both cars have gone above and beyond to create an extraordinary interior experience for their passengers. They both feature something that has never been seen in any production car before: a massive screen that spans across the dashboard.

EQSThe Mercedes EQS boasts the MBUX Hyperscreen, which consists of three OLED displays: the driver display, the central display, and the passenger display. They are seamlessly blended together beneath a glass panel, creating a humongous 56 inch hyperscreen that offers dynamic and interactive features. The contour lighting adds to its visual appeal.i7

The BMW i7 also has a large screen, but not as large as the EQS's. It has a 12.3 inch driver display and a 14.9 inch central display, which are connected by a curved glass surface. The screen offers high-resolution graphics and intuitive controls for various functions.

And that’s not it, the Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge has dynamic light effects at night, and allows a lot of light during the day, creating an incomparable interior experience. Both cars also offer premium materials and features for their seats, steering wheel, climate control, sound system, ambient lighting, and more. They both aim to provide comfort, convenience, and luxury for their occupants.

2. Battery Range and Charging-

Along with being luxurious and fancy sedans, don’t forget that they are all electric, and quite efficient as well. The EQS and the i7 are both very generous when it comes to battery capacity, offering 107.8 kWh and 101.7 kWh, respectively. With that being said, both these cars are reliable for a longer distance drive, at the utmost comfort there is.

The EQS claims a driving range of 857 kilometers in the EV 580 4Matic variant, and up to 580 kilometers in the high performing EV AMG 53 4Matic+ variant. Both the EQS variants come with a fast charging solution, where you could charge from 20% to 80% between 30 to 90 minutes, when charged at a public fast charging point (from 50kW to 150kW rapid charging points).

You could charge the EQS from empty to full battery capacity between 54 to 11 hours, depending on where you are charging your vehicle (this is for the slow charging options like 3.6 kW to 22kW AC connectors at home or a society).

Now, as mentioned before, the i7 is a natural competitor to one of the EQS variants, i.e. the 580 4Matic, giving the power they generate and the price band they are in. Nevertheless, the i7 offers 625 kilometers claimed driving range, quite lesser than its competing EQS variant. Being the fierce competitor, the i7 charges the battery slightly quicker than the EQS. You could charge from 20% to 80% between 30 to 80 minutes, when charged at a public fast charging point (from 50kW to 150kW rapid charging points).

You can charge the i7 from empty to full battery capacity between 46 to 10 hours, when using the slower charging points available (this is for charging points that have 3.6 kW to 22kW charging capacity , like the AC connectors at home or a society). The BMW i7 also claims that a recharge of just 6 minutes could get you to 100 kilometers (only if charged at high powered stations)

FYI, the battery range could differ from the external factors like the outside temperature you’re driving your vehicle in, or the route profile, like in the city or driving on the state highway. It could also differ from your driving style or by using the high battery consuming features like seat heating, driving assistance, etc.

3. Performance-

The “Legendary Prominence” is not just given to these German Giants for their fancy looks and how they feel at the back seat, but mainly how they feel when you drive them. And speaking of flagship sedans, both the EQS and the i7 offer spectacular performance specs, even in the EV realm. Where both these EVs have All-wheel drive and are powered by dual synchronous electric motors.

The power generated by the AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ variant is simply insane. Where it generates 726 horsepower (Hp) with a psychotic 1020 newton-metres (Nm) of torque, that can take you from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.

Now that we have spoken about the maniac, let's compare the two direct competition, the i7 xDrive and the EQS 580 4Matic. The i7 generates 544hp, whereas the EQS is about 20 ponies shy and produces 523hp. Given the fact that you can push your i7 harder than the EQS, the EQS is actually the quickest. The EQS produces maximum 855 Nm of torque, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. As compared to the i7, which has a maximum torque of 745Nm, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

The reason why EQS has a better acceleration is more or less because of the shape of this car. The EQS is more aerodynamic in terms of design, and can break through air more effectively. You will also notice a slight difference in the way these cars handle around the corner, being vastly different on the exterior design structure.

Comparing these two amazing automobiles was quite easy, given the fact that they are so different from each other. But considering which one of these two luxury EV sedans is your type, could be a bit tricky. Maybe with this thorough comparison, you would probably have an answer to which one would go along with your character.

Stay tuned for more Auto insights.