Dust off your P11D;
the company car scene could be in for a game change.
The BMW
520d Efficient Dynamics has been a favourite fleet
choice for years, and this update drops the ‘ED’
badge, brings extra standard kit including sat-nav,
and retains its headline figures of 181bhp and 119g/km of CO2. For the first
time this CO2 is possible with an automatic gearbox, too. It pushes the price
of the 520d to just over $54,734, but that’s still cheap next to the newly
updated Mercedes E300 diesel-electric hybrid.
e
BMW’s adaptive dampers are best left in Comfort
mode on broken UK roads
The E300’s
$11,280 premium is justified by emissions of 109g/km. This, together with the
tax breaks afforded by its hybrid status, puts it five tax bands lower than the
520d. In short, pricier though it is to buy privately, the Mercedes E300 will
cost less as a company car. So can it de-throne the
BMW?
What are they like to drive?
Both cars
have a satisfying pace, and deliver their power in a manageable way. The auto
’boxes help with this, particularly in the BMW, which has a smoother diesel
engine and an eight-speed auto that offers imperceptible shifts in normal
driving and rapid up-shifts in faster stuff.
Body movements in the Merc
aren’t as well controlled, and the ride tends to jar over bumps
The Merc’s extra power and torque gives it a better mid-range
sprint, and the standard seven-speed auto shifts smoothly, if a bit lazily.
However, refinement is disappointing. The 2.1-litre diesel engine’s gravelly
note intrudes most of the time, and road noise is evident at motorway speeds.
At least the E-Class is quiet when the electric motor takes over at low speeds
or if you’re off the throttle. Even so, with its smoother engine and
less-noticeable tyre noise, the 5 Series is more
refined most of the time.
The BMW we
tested came with adaptive dampers (a $1,634 option), and with these it rides
more comfortably than the Merc by a small margin. In
Comfort mode, it smooths over most bumps and remains
settled at any speed, although it does jar over harsher intrusions in Sport.
Tall adults may struggle with the BMW’s poorer
headroom, although most will be happy
The E-Class
has more ponderous body movements and a slightly firmer ride. It isn’t what
you’d called uncomfortable, but it thumps sharply over potholes and expansion
joints, particularly when cornering forces are involved.
The
Mercedes also falls slightly short of the BMW’s nimbleness; it loses traction
at the front wheels sooner, although there’s still enough composure and
feedback through the steering wheel to allow for confident driving. The spongy,
inconsistent brake pedal response is more disconcerting, making smooth stops
tricky.
The E-Class has more leg- and headroom than the
5 Series
The BMW
isn’t faultless. The variable steering is too heavy in the Sport setting, and
even in default Comfort mode it’s less ideally weighted than the E-Class’s.
Still, it keeps its body tightly in check, and delivers flowing, adjustable
handling even over tricky B-roads. This is what makes the BMW the more rewarding
to drive.
What are they like inside?
Both
interiors remain virtually unchanged, and the BMW’s is certainly classier. Both
get sat-nav, Bluetooth, digital radio and USB input,
leather upholstery, heated front seats with electric height and back
adjustment, and a large colour screen with rotary
controllers.
The BMW 5 Series has 520 litres
of boot space with comfort access system as standard add practicality and
convenience
The BMW
also has the more intuitive infotainment system, with a number of shortcut
buttons and easy navigation of most settings. The Merc’s
isn’t far behind in main function usability, but there’s some convoluted
menu-hopping needed to access sub-settings.
Both offer
plenty of space to seat four tall adults in comfort, although the E-Class is
the best for rear room. Both offer big, square load bays that can carry a
couple of large suitcases, but folding rear seats are optional.
What will they cost you?
The BMW
520d will cost company car buyers $328 per month – $42 more than the E300.
However, the Merc is the more expensive option for
the company, costing around $880 per month for contract hire next to the BMW’s
$619.
With its battery pack stored in the engine bay,
boot space in the Mercedes remains the same as its petrol-driven counterparts -
a generous 540 litres
Fuel
economy promises to be better in the Mercedes, which returned 51.4mpg in our
True MPG tests, compared with the 46.9mpg the BMW managed.
Those fuel
costs are the only financial incentive the E-Class offers private buyers. It
costs over $9,950 more than the 520d to buy after discounts, and is predicted
to cost $48,756 to run over three years – $10,728 more than the BMW.
