The sumptuousness car manufacturer , like BMW and Mercedes - Benz , were ready to sweep up vehicle electrification . The originalMercedes - Benz EQSwas first produce in 2021 , and since then , the company has radically expanded its lineup of EVs — to the point where there should be something in the lineup for anyone who can afford to spend luxury vehicle - level cash .
Over the past calendar week , I ’ve had the opportunity to utilise the Mercedes - Benz EQS 450 + Pinnacle SUV , which starts at $ 104,400 , as my daily number one wood . It ’s essentially the larger version of the comparatively democratic EQS sedan chair , and it sit down in the heart of theEQS SUVrange for 2024 . That ’s not to say it ’s sluggish , though — on the contrary , the EQS SUV continues the Mercedes - Benz tradition of going tight , comfortably .
Design and interior
The design of the 2024 iteration of the EQS SUV is nothing new — it ’s loosely the same design that the car has had for the past few years . That ’s not a spoilt thing in and of itself , though the design language of Mercedes ’ electric fomite has n’t been without disceptation .
I will say , I prefer the design of the EQS SUV to the design of the EQS sedan chair . Something about the in high spirits roofline and existence ofsomeangles in the plan makes it look a little more natural than the egglike EQS sedan .
The front of the EQS SUV showcases Mercedes ’ attempt at ramp up an electric machine ’s boldness . It ’s not the faceless look that some eV have gone for — which is a good thing . But it also feels a trivial like a transition look . The front has a large curved nozzle that ’s build for aerodynamics , with a braggy Mercedes - Benz logotype in the midsection of it . It ’s flanked by two slim , aslope headlights , and situated above a slender grille for line breathing in .
The rest of the car ’s intent is a piddling more traditional . It has a high roofline that crook down toward the end , and a prospicient light legal community at the back that houses the taillights .
I ’m not in love with the overall design of the 2024 EQS SUV , but I certainly like it better than that of the sedan , and I can see why some might like its dash .
The Interior Department of the EQS SUV is another story . It ’s luxurious , comfortable , and built with premium materials . Like other EQS vehicles , it offers a serial publication of displays throughout , and the seating and steering bicycle are ornament with a squeamish sewn leather . There are plush pillows on the headrest , too , and while there is some credit card in the internal build , it does n’t necessarily feel to a fault punk or of abject caliber . I do bid there waslessplastic , but it ’s not really a huge heap . Other touches like accent inflammation and good deal of storage aid conduce to a very comfortable , premium - feeling interior . And , there ’s a heavy panoramic sunroof , at least in our model .
The EQS SUV offer 31 cubic foot of storage behind the second row in five - seater model . In seven - seater models , you ’ll get 28 cubic feet of store behind the second course , however , there ’s only 7 cubic feet when the third row is up and in use .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
The EQS SUV offers a number of display throughout the interior . There ’s a 12.8 - inch primal infotainment sieve , a bright instrument display , and an infotainment display for the front passenger . There ’s even a screen in the tear - down middle can for rearward passengers .
The car is loaded with Mercedes ’ own infotainment system , MBUX , and it ’s pretty well - plan . It ’s better than many of the infotainment system built by other legacy automakers , but it ’s still not as responsive or as well-situated to navigate as that in the new crop of software - defined vehicles like Teslaand Rivian . gratefully , the car alsosupports CarPlayand Android Auto , through a wireless connexion , so you’re able to rely on your phone for thing like mapping and entertainment if you want . There ’s an optional promontory - up exhibit , which is a decent touch modality , but barely extremist - important .
Like other EVs in 2024 , the car set up most of the clime controls in the infotainment display , which I do n’t have it away . Thankfully , these controls are relatively easy to get at no matter what screen you ’re on — but it will still involve taking your eyes off the road more than physical controls would .
The EQS SUV total with a mountain chain of machine driver - assist feature . Standard are things like adaptative cruise restraint and automatic hand brake braking . number one wood will also get things like a lane - go along assistant and even an automatic parking feature , which is quite ready to hand . you may get a near ego - driving experience on the highway with these features , however , the car has a driver - tending monitor and you ’ll require to keep your hands on the wheel .
Driving experience
Driving the Mercedes - Benz EQS SUV could be describe as “ comfortable . ” That ’s a good affair . It has soft suspension andmostlyresponsive guidance , though you ’d be hard - iron out to call this a “ driver ’s railroad car . ” This is a automobile for those who want to limit protuberance and take go nice and well .
There are two powertrain options on the EQS SUV . The EQS 450 + SUV get with a 335 - horsepower electric motor that only power the rearward wheel , while the EQS 580 SUV has two motors that power the rear and front wheel , and they coalesce to present 536 horsepower .
Even the rear - wheel drive model , which is what I drove , was relatively powerful and ready . It wo n’t reach those super - speedy quickening fastness , but it has the power to well overtake other vehicle on the highway and get up to speed at a prosperous pace . I reached 60 miles per hour from a standstill in a small over 7 seconds , which is fine — but again , if you want that roller coaster - like acceleration , you might want to raise to the twofold - motor variant of the cable car .
Range and charging
The Mercedes - Benz EQS SUV has a 107.8 kW - minute battery no matter which variant you get , and the range is reasonably honest count on the model you go for . The single - motor model , which we had , has a range of up to 305 miles , while the three-fold - motor chance variable has a range of up to 285 miles .
This kitchen range is about average for eV in 2024 . I ’m hop we ’ll start to see some serious improvements in EV range , whether that come from solid - state batteries or other technical advancements . The Lucid Airstarts at a much broken price than the EQS SUV , but even the lowest - range version of it offers a vast 394 naut mi — and others get much higher . Regardless , the 305 - mi range of the EQS 450 + SUV still is n’t tough , and most will get it to be more than enough .
The car charges at up to 200kW , which is n’t as fast as I would have liked to have seen . There aremuch cheaper cars that charge at 350kW , allowing them to get a full bearing in under 20 minutes . The EQS 450 + SUV will get from 10 % to 80 % in 31 minutes , with a fast courser that back up its fastest institutionalise velocity .
How DT would configure this car
The 2024 EQS SUV is a solid vehicle no matter which model you go for . However , despite the fact that I have only drive the lower - ending EQS 450 + modeling , most people will likely require to elevate to the EQS 580 , which packs a more knock-down punch without sacrificingthatmuch range . depend on your preferences , it may be worth considering a mannikin with extra touches — like the headspring - up display and panoramic sunshine-roof .
It ’s also deserving considering alternatives . For instance , the BMW iXoffers undecomposed execution at a low cost , with similar technical school features and a similar chain of mountains . But if you are a boastful Mercedes - Benz fan , you ’ll love what ’s on offer from the 2024 Mercedes - Benz EQS SUV .