Compare the2026 Mercedes EQSVS 2026 BMW i7

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes EQS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW i7 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes EQS are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The EQS has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The i7 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The rear seatbelts optional on the EQS inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The i7 doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The i7 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the EQS and the i7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EQS’ warranty.

As tested in Car and Driver the EQS 580 4MATIC electric motors is faster than the i7 xDrive60 electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the EQS gets better mileage than the i7:

The EQS can travel longer on a full charge than the i7 on a full charge:

For better stopping power the EQS’ standard brake rotors are larger than those on the i7:

The EQS AMG offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The i7 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the EQS has larger standard tires than the i7 (255/45R20 vs. 245/50R19). The EQS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the i7 (265/40R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The EQS’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the i7’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the i7.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional on the EQS can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The i7 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The EQS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The i7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the EQS is 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the i7.

For better maneuverability, the EQS 580 4MATIC’s turning circle is 4.4 feet tighter than the i7’s (36 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The EQS’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the i7’s (39 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The EQS is 4.5 inches shorter than the i7, making the EQS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EQS has .6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the i7.

The EQS’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The i7 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The i7 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.