Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2013 BMW M5 VS 2013 Lexus IS Near Scottsdale, AZ

The M5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS F doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the M5 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The IS F doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The M5’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The IS F doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The M5 offers an optional side and top-view cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The IS F only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The M5’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The IS F doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

Compared to metal, the M5’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus IS F has a metal gas tank.

Both the M5 and the IS F have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The BMW M5 weighs 574 to 607 pounds more than the Lexus IS F. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The M5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the IS F’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 4 years and 50,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Lexus doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the IS F.

There are over 77 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 144 more horsepower (560 vs. 416) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (500 vs. 371) than the IS F’s 5.0 DOHC V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW M5 is faster than the Lexus IS F:

Regenerative brakes improve the M5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The IS F doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The IS F doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The M5 has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the IS F (21.1 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the M5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the IS F:

The M5 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 IS F doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M5 stops shorter than the IS F:

For better traction, the M5 has larger tires than the IS F (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The M5’s optional 265/35R20 front and 295/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the IS F’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The IS F’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The M5 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The IS F’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the IS F (116.7 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M5 is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the IS F.

The M5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.3% to 47.7%) than the IS F’s (53.7% to 46.3%). This gives the M5 more stable handling and braking.

The M5 handles at .95 G’s, while the IS F pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Road & Track skidpad test.

The M5 goes through Road & Track’s slalom faster than the IS F (71 vs. 70.9 MPH).

As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the M5 is quieter than the IS F:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the M5 is rated a Mid-size car by the EPA, while the IS F is rated a Subcompact.

The M5 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the IS F can only carry 4.

The M5 has 14.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS F (100.5 vs. 85.7).

The M5 has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 5.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS F.

The M5 has a larger trunk than the IS F (14 vs. 13.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the M5 easier. The M5’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the IS F’s liftover is 28.4 inches.

The M5’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The IS F doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The M5 offers an optional heads-up display which projects speed and tachometer readouts onto the windshield, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The IS F doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the M5 and the IS F have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the M5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The IS F prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the M5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The IS F doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The IS F doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M5 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Both the M5 and the IS F have standard heated front seats. The M5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS F.

The M5’s optional air conditioned front seats cool the driver and front passenger and help take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The IS F doesn’t offer air conditioned front seats.

To help keep rear passengers entertained, the M5 offers optional rear seat controls for the radio which can play a separate audio source. The IS F doesn’t offer rear seat audio controls.