We are living in a golden-age of super sedans, where vehicles that can carry five and their luggage are getting faster and more luxurious. The latest BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S are perhaps the very best currently available.

Both the M5 and E63 S feature twin-turbo V8 engines that are mated exclusively to automatic transmissions. That latter point is a shame, particularly when you think about some of the iconic M5s from yesteryear that were available with stick-shifts.

However, that’s not to say the two aren’t fun. As you’re about to see, they can be a joy to drive.

Being the consumer-oriented show that it is (not!), Top Gear recently pitted these two remarkable sedans against each other for a little race around its test track. Sitting behind the wheel of the M5 is The Stig, while the E63 S is driven by no other than Chris Harris.

On paper, it’s virtually impossible to separate the two. The M5, for example, pumps out 600 hp. By comparison, the E63 S is more powerful by a whole… 3 hp. Like we mentioned, both have automatic transmissions and also feature advanced all-wheel drive systems.

The race between the two is very close, but the E63 S manages to come out on top. However, the M5 is filmed sliding around many of the corners, probably because it looks good on camera, thus giving the E63 S a big advantage.

Of course, track testing a BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S is pretty much pointless because very few owners will ever go anywhere near a circuit. But it does make for good viewing.