LOTUS EVIJA MEETS TYPE 72
EV hypercar flexes its 1450kW guns at the greatest F1 car of all time
ESC, engage Sport mode and dial up the torque converter to max stall. At 2500rpm, the rear 275mm-wide tyres have things under control. Once unleashed, the 530i launches without fuss, pulling hard in each gear all the way up to 6750rpm.
Next, I try the Mercedes. It requires a similar launch procedure to the BMW. The nine-speed automatic builds up to about 2500rpm and punches harder in the mid-range once away. And while the E300 runs out of puff towards its topend, the transmission counteracts this with an early upshift at 6000rpm.
In the end, with more gears and higher outputs, the Mercedes registers a 6.2sec sprint to 100km/h from rest and matches its factory claim, besting the BMW by 0.2sec, which needs 6.4sec to complete the same feat and lags three tenths behind its own claimed time. Clearly, the MercedesBenz is a little punchier.
The tables turn when we test both cars’ braking distance from 100km/h. BMW has upgraded the 5 Series with red M Sport front brakes that look like performance calipers with a sliding design. On closer inspection, though, they have been hollowed out on either side of the fixed piston chambers to, presumably, save weight. But all that matters is they work.
Stomping on the left pedal from 100km/h pitches the BMW hard on to its nose, pressing its tyres into the tarmac for maximum bite. The Driftbox says it takes 36.4m to haul up. The Mercedes, meanwhile, needs an extra metre to arrest itself from the same speed, finishing at 37.5m.
Mercedes-Benz equips the E300 with fixed four-piston front calipers that use the Pirelli P Zero rubber wrapped around its 20-inch wheels to good effect. Its quoted weight of 1680kg is 55kg heavier than the BMW, which likely contributes.
With straight-line performance testing wrapped, our pair head to the wallaby-infested handling circuit, where I suspect the extra weight of the Mercedes might again prove a hindrance. But the Mercedes is promising at first. Sharp, direct electric steering and a short front overhang give you tighter command over its initial direction into a corner.
The BMW, meanwhile, feels less tied down. The softer adaptive suspension damping and the taller roofline equal a touch more bodyroll when you tip in, while the steering feels typically vague.
But as I push on, raising the commitment, the composure behind the Mercedes starts to unravel. The air suspension not only floats over mid-corner bumps, but the longitudinal weight transfer is way too soft for the amount of roll stiffness. In the end, the Mercedes feels awkward when making a transition from braking to cornering when really pushed.
In contrast, the BMW gets better as you push through its initial vagueness and start to trust the excellent chassis balance on offer. Admittedly, its Goodyear rubber prevents cornering speeds from getting anywhere near the talent of its chassis, but you can commit much harder in the BMW and place it with confidence.
The BMW is a sweeter steer and not only because of its chassis. The ZF eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly and will accept commands across a broad range of
situations. For instance, it drops into second gear on a steep decline, as the engine speed flares to 6000rpm, without any hesitation. Whereas the Mercedes’ nine-speed transmission will lurch ever so slightly during the same test.
However, when it comes to ride comfort, our pair is more evenly matched. The Mercedes does boast slightly softer primary damping. Both, however, pay the price for 20-inch wheels. Any harsh bumps or irregularities on the road are transferred into either cabin, with the run-flat tyres on both cars adding extra bite.
Run-flats are standard across the 5 Series range. Even our particular 530i has an Enhancement Package that fits them to one-inch larger 20-inch wheels. This pack also adds Phytonic Blue metallic paint, an electric glass sunroof and BMW laser technology headlights for $5900. With a remote engine start function (costing $690) and drive recorder ($390), our tester comes in at $126,880 before on-roads.
The Mercedes-Benz E300, meanwhile, comes with two equipment packages. The first is a Vision package that adds a panoramic sunroof, head-up display and a Burmester surround-sound system (for $6600). An Innovation Package (at $1300) also ticks the box for MBUX interior assistant and MBUX augmented reality for our E300, bringing the price to $125,800. The Mojave silver metallic paint and 20-inch wheels are standard.
The onslaught of equipment continues in the safety realm. Both pack a full suite of active safety systems as standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and warning, blind-spot warning, stop and go assist, surround camera views and cross-traffic alert. And while the BMW features a head-up display as standard, the Mercedes packs nine airbags to trump the seven in the BMW.
And what about recurring costs? The 530i claims a handy on-paper fuel consumption advantage (6.2L/100km versus the Merc’s 8.2L/100km); in the real world the difference is likely to be less significant.
Servicing-wise, BMW offers a fixed-price plan on standard servicing over five years for $2800. The MercedesBenz equivalent costs $4800, but the BMW package covers distances travelled up to 80,000km, whereas Mercedes-Benz covers up to 125,000km.
When it comes time to sell, expect manufacturer warranty to influence residual values. And in that case, a transferable Mercedes-Benz five-year unlimitedkilometre warranty on the E300 will look more attractive to secondhand buyers in a handful of years, whereas the prospect of a BMW near the end of its three-year unlimitedkilometre warranty might seem less so.
Yet, as for naming a winner, it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that it’s hard to pick one. Both manufacturers have kept a close eye on each other for such a long time that no matter which you choose, you’re getting quite similar machines – a thoroughly refined sedan with style, impressive engineering and leading technology.
But if you’re brand agnostic and need to boil it all down, you can see the Mercedes-Benz E300 offers strong performance, an attractive price and warranty package, loads of technology and a fresher cockpit. The BMW 530i, meanwhile, drives with an engagement and deftness that reflects its edgier overall character.
For these reasons, our equal ratings underscore how evenly this washes out. But if pushed, I’d say you buy the Mercedes-Benz with your head and the BMW with your heart. And given the wallabies of Lang Lang forced us to side with our heads already once today, it’s only fitting we live a little and side with the BMW. It wins, but only just.
As for naming a winner, it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that it’s hard to pick one