Battle of the Diesels: BMW 530d Versus Mercedes-Benz E350d

How evenly matched are these diesel bahn-stormers?

On U.S. soil, the word “diesel” is typically associated with an absolutely enormous truck. But across the pond, people scoop them up in all shapes and sizes. And they’re mostly compact cars, not trucks.

Two of the undisputed best diesels on the market are the Mercedes-Benz E350d and the brand-new BMW 530d. Each offers a very comfortable interior, the latest and greatest in automotive tech, and mileage that would make most hybrids do a double-take.

But how do the cars differ? Truth be told, they don’t all that much. Each car is powered by a 6-cylinder diesel engine putting out around 260 horsepower. And each has over 400 lb-ft of torque. They’re fast, but still offer huge levels of comfort.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Classic Match-up

BMW redesigned the 5-Series entirely. They worked in much of the technology from the recent 7-Series, including gesture control, digital display, and navigation-guided gearbox. Yes, that’s right, the navigation system actually reads the road ahead and determines the proper gear for the journey.

Even so, the 530d has a tough fight when pitted against the Mercedes in the opposite corner of the ring. The E-Class is notoriously smooth, and might just be the most luxurious car in the class.

So which diesel comes out on top? Well, watch the video above as the folks at Autocar compare the two, and come up with a consensus of their own.