The moment the new BMW 5 Series hit the market, everyone in the motoring community knew that the executive car segment will be stirred. Going head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the two brands are expected to have an epic battle for dominance of the executive car market.

The executive car segment is not short of impressive cars. In fact, this particular niche of the market is where automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz like to focus on. Case in point are the 2016 BMW 5 Series and the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The two car models have a well-established reputation in the motoring industry. They offer a wide range of options and choice for features, equipment, engine, and body style.

2016 BMW 5 Series. The new addition to the growing family of executive cars only has a handful of new features for its latest iteration. The V8-powered BMW 550i is set to receive a new Harman Kardon sound system, a satellite radio, and power trunk lid.

In terms of reliability, industry expert J.D. Power has awarded the BMW 5 Series with three circles out of five for its Power Circle Ratings. As for its fuel economy, the BMW 5 Series has a wide range of engine options which has different engine mileage. The diesel-powered BMW 535d has an EPA rating of 26mpg for city and 36mpg for highway. The entry-level BMW 528i has a 23mpg for city and 34mpg for highway.

2016 Mercedes E-Class. Mercedes removed the E400 Hybrid and the E63 AMD on its list, although the E63 AMG-S is still on sale, according to Auto Trader. Apart from that, Mercedes has not made any changes at all.

J.D. Power gave the 2016 Mercedes E-Class a perfect five circle for its Power Circle Ratings, beating the 2016 BMW 5 Series which received only three. Mercedes' decision to ditch the Hybrid E-Class model means that only one engine properly optimized for fuel efficiency is left on its list, and that is the 2.1-liter turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine in its E250 BlueTEC. this engine has a 28mpg rating for city and 42mph for highway.

Conclusion. Both the 2016 BMW 5 Series and the 2016 Mercedes E-Class appear to be almost similar on paper. Price is not really a big factor when it comes to executive cars. Both family of cars are excellent in their own terms, and it all boils down to brand preference.

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