For: Outstanding performance, a contemporary interior, superb handling, and surprising agility for a large car. In opposition: Less comfortable than the Mercedes, low residual values, poor fuel efficiency.
Although these two models are nothing like their predecessors, the competition between the BMW 7 Series and the S-Class has persisted since the 1970s.
The 7 Series is a stronger driver’s car than the Mercedes because to its excellent driving position, well-controlled chassis, and good performance, but the gap isn’t as great as you might think. This is so that the S-Class, which is more comfortable than ever while still being a good driver, and the BMW, which is more comfortable than ever while still being a good driver, may converge on the same area.
The 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine in the 7 Series is smooth and powerful, and although being slightly less potent than the new engine in the S-Class, the BMW’s reduced curb weight helps it compete with its limousine counterpart here.
The BMW performed admirably in our track tests, outperforming the S-Class in nearly all of the in-gear comparisons. Two tenths quicker than its competitor, the 7 Series covered the 30 to 50 mph range in third gear in just 2.4 seconds, and the 50 to 70 mph range in fifth gear in just 3.7 seconds.
However, as long as there is appropriate performance, as there is in both versions, ride quality and comfort are likely more significant here.
Due to the 7 Series’ Comfort Plus mode’s ultra-plush and ultra-smooth damping, which is similar to the S-Class, there is not much between the BMW and the Mercedes. On smooth roads, the BMW isn’t nearly as fluid as the Mercedes, though there isn’t much difference between them. The BMW’s body and wheel control is a little tighter, though, which enhances handling.
Both gears are excellent, shifting so smoothly that you frequently won’t even notice when they change gear. Refinement is excellent. When you drive quickly, the BMW’s transmission is quicker and reacts more quickly if you need to shift up or down.
The BMW’s interior has a more contemporary vibe than the Mercedes’ does because of a more straightforward design that centers on metal as opposed to wood. Although the gesture control for the infotainment system is really just a tedious gimmick, quality is comfortably on par with its rival, and there is just as much high-tech equipment as standard.
As a result of our car having the PS4,815 Rear Seat Comfort package, there is the same degree of entertainment in the back. The interior has the same amount of spaciousness and technology as the S-Class.
In This Article...
Dimensions
With their large wheelbases and exquisite proportions, all three sedans are imposing automobiles. The A8 is marginally longer overall, while the S-class is wider, taller, and has a larger wheelbase. The 7-series has a wheelbase that is only 0.2 inches shorter than the Benz’s, but having a somewhat lower overall length and breadth.
While each of these sedans comes in short- and long-wheelbase options in Europe, the long-wheelbase model is now the standard in the United States. Mercedes and BMW don’t designate our A8 as the A8 L, whereas Audi calls it the A8.
tech for safety and entertainment
Technology is arguably the most crucial component of a contemporary luxury car, and all three of our rivals are jam-packed with it. The highway driving aid, which enables extended-range hands-free operation at speeds up to 85 mph, is the most significant change for BMW. This technology includes automatic lane changes, and BMW also provides automated parking assistance. The latter can even be managed from outside the car using a smartphone app.
Inside, the 7 Series sports the most recent iDrive 8 infotainment system from BMW. A 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch multimedia touchscreen are both housed in the same enclosure. The doors of the backseat include two 5.5-inch digital control displays that let passengers control the multimedia system, sun shades, seat controls, and more.
The Theater Screen, a 31.3-inch display that folds down from the roof, is the most innovative new feature from BMW. It has Amazon Fire TV streaming software integrated in and can display content in 8K quality, which is really overkill. The 7 Series even has a fully immersive theater mode where the sun blinds are raised, the inside lighting is reduced, and surround sound is played. It doesn’t get much better than this in terms of viewing options for in-car entertainment.
The switch to a new version of Mercedes’ MBUX system, which builds on the first generation software that made its debut in the A-Class a few years back, is the major change for this generation of S-Class vehicles. The latest model boasts a 12.8-inch OLED tablet-style screen with a 50% quicker processing speed. In addition to making MBUX possible, the new electrical architecture of the S-Class also makes a host of other intriguing features conceivable. For instance, the head-up display can show navigational information onto the road ahead using augmented reality. Additionally, there are comfort amenities like completely climatized seats, a three-dimensional digital gauge cluster, and even a fingerprint scanner to automatically customize the interior atmosphere to each driver. It’s an entirely different environment.
The new S-Class has no shortage of excellent safety features too. A new rear airbag system provides greater passenger protection because the bag inflates more gradually, lowering the possibility of some injuries. An infrared camera is used by the updated driver attention monitor dubbed Attention Assist to identify sleepiness in the driver. Additionally, the new S-Class comes with about a dozen standard driver assistance features, including active braking assist, active blind-spot help, active lane-keeping and lane-change aid, and Mercedes’ version of adaptive cruise control. Safety has always been a priority for the S-Class, and this trend is still present today.
Audi, though, is not exactly dozing off towards the back of the class. The A8 provides capable packages of cutting-edge safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and more. A precollision technology included into the air suspension of the A8 can rapidly raise one side of the car to better disperse the force of an impact. The most recent iteration of Audi’s MMI Touch infotainment system is quick, feature-rich, and easy to operate.
The 2023 BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class are contrasted in this table.
The updated version of BMW’s flagship model is here to compete with the best from Mercedes.
The famous S-Class from Mercedes-Benz has long dominated the market for luxury sedans and is frequently hailed as the category’s pinnacle. The 7-Series, BMW’s opulent car, has always been a fierce rival, and in its most recent edition, it intends to put up a fierce fight against the other German car. Let’s investigate further to learn more about the brand-new BMW 7-Series and how it stacks up against the traditional Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series: which is better?
Verdict on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class For those who demand nothing less than the best from their top-of-the-line luxury sedan, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been the go-to option for virtually ever. With the newest in safety and technology, one that exudes space, comfort, and refinement
What rivals does the Mercedes S-Class face?
The seventh generation of Mercedes-S-Class, Benz’s which has long been the most popular among large luxury cars, will be completely overhauled and go on sale in 2021. The BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Lexus LS, Genesis G90, and Tesla Model S are just a few of the segment competitors that the 2021 S-Class will go up against.
Which is superior, a Mercedes or a BMW?
BMW remains the overall champion when it comes to luxury performance, even if the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is one of the best-performing large luxury sedans on the road right now. Customers should choose a BMW automobile if they want performance and style in one convenient package.
which is more trustworthy BMW Mercedes or an Audi?
You can see that BMW performs far better than Mercedes-Benz or Audi. Additionally, it performs much better than the industry standard of 121 issues per 100 vehicles. Audi and Mercedes-Benz both rank lower than the average number of issues per 100 vehicles, even though Mercedes is close to the industry average.
How dependable is the Mercedes S-Class?
Reliability of a secondhand Mercedes S-Class sedan In the most current reliability survey we conducted, the S-Class was not included. Mercedes’ reliability record has recently been a little hit or miss; in the most recent What Car? survey, it ranked 26th out of 31 manufacturers. Dependability Study
Are Mercedes and BMW less expensive to maintain?
BMWs are by far the most expensive car manufacturer to repair, claims Your Mechanic. The competition is not even close. With an average maintenance cost of $17,800 over ten years, BMW comes in #1. Mercedes-Benz came in second with an average maintenance cost of $12,900 during a 10-year period. In contrast, the typical Toyota only cost $5,500 to maintain during a 10-year period because they are recognized for requiring less maintenance.
According to Your Mechanic, such high maintenance costs are usual in German premium vehicles. Audi comes in sixth with an average $12,400 maintenance expense over a 10-year period. This is primarily a result of the pricey, high-end parts that these luxury vehicles require. Naturally, it will cost a lot of money to fix those pieces when they break or need maintenance.
However, while being premium vehicles, they also have ongoing problems. For instance, according to Your Mechanic, a BMW is four times more likely to not start than a typical automobile. It was ranked seventh overall as a result. Additionally, the window regulator on the BMW required replacement 18 times more frequently than the window regulator on the ordinary car.
Which is more durable, a BMW or a Mercedes?
AM-Online has conducted research and created a number of infographics to show which German brands are the most dependable and affordable to repair. The study compares maintenance requirements for BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz under six years of ownership, after six years, and after twelve years. As a result, this generally illustrates how each automaker’s models are over their whole lives.
Under six years, the cost and dependability of every car is relatively the same. This is due to the fact that the vehicles are relatively new, often have less than 100,000 miles on them, and come with a factory-backed guarantee, meaning that there won’t be many significant problems.
Audi still has the most issues and requires the most money to fix, though. Mercedes is the most dependable and, therefore, the most affordable vehicle, placing BMW in the center. Things start to alter after six years. The cars do have a tendency to break down as they accumulate more kilometers and perhaps more owners.
The least dependable and priciest of the three manufacturers is still Audi, while Mercedes continues to be the market leader and BMW remains in the center. Twelve years later, though, things usually settle down again because the automobiles are so old and most customers choose to ignore minor issues.
But when you get down to the smaller particulars, things get a little messier. It wasn’t as simple to compare different car classes, such as the 1 Series/2 Series class, 3 Series class, and 5 Series class. The brands’ positioning didn’t change, but the expenses to repair various models did. For instance, the less priced models of both BMW and Audi were less expensive to fix, which seems relatively normal. However, Mercedes-more Benz’s expensive models were the cheapest to repair, probably due to their greater build quality and dependability.
Is purchasing a BMW 7 Series worth it?
A good car, the BMW 7 Series is. Its powertrain portfolio comprises a plug-in hybrid, two V8s, two V12s, and a six-cylinder engine that are all capable in almost any driving circumstance.
Is Benz more trustworthy than BMW?
Both BMW and Mercedes are recognized for their high-end, high-performance automobiles; yet, because of the engineering intricacy, should something go wrong, this could result in pricey repair work.
According to the J.D. Power 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study, the most recognizable brands in the world’s 2018 models were evaluated for the number of issues per 100 vehicles. With a score of 108 problems, BMW placed 11th. Mercedes-Benz came in at number 15 with 122.