Few areas of the new car market are more fearsly faught than the executive car class.
BMW 5 Series
Price: from $79,900 (520i)
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol turbo; 135kW/270Nm
Transmission: 8-spd automatic, RWD
Thirst: 6.2L/100, 144g/km CO2
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Price: from $79,900 (E200 sedan)
Engines:2.0-litre petrol turbo; 135kW/300Nm
Transmission: 7-spd automatic, RWD
Fuel: 6.4L/100, 148g/km CO2