DENVER – As Mercedes-Benz transforms itself into an all-electric car company, as so many automakers are doing, the first fruits of its mainstream EV generation have proven to be huge. yummy. We tried different flavors of it EQS Sedanand have a smaller drive EQE Sedan. These comfortable and cozy yachts are a joy to steer and steer in, with eager electric powertrains, flashy technology and a fortress interior of solitude. But the SUV is what the market really wants. The first from Mercedes is the EQS SUV, the electric answer to the GLS-Class in the same way that the EQS and EQE Sedan correspond to the S- and E-Class. And just as the EQE resembles the EQS before it, the EQS SUV promises to feel familiar to those who have sampled the EQ punch, and perhaps completely alien to those who haven’t.
The EQS SUV doesn’t cut its form as completely imposing as the GLS. It’s smaller, with softer corners. The lighting on the EQS makes it look and feel special. We especially like the light arc light bar that gently stretches over the door lift for a visual connection to the taillights. At the front, there’s a three-pointed star on the glossy grille inserted below the pair of headlights connected by another light bar. Depending on the model, that big Mercedes emblem is illuminated and shines proudly.
Inside, the EQS SUV feels better than its exterior, while remaining more compact than the GLS. If you have been inside EQS Sedan (or at least have seen it), its SUV sibling will sound strongly familiar, albeit with a more upright sitting position. The dashboard looks almost identical, mostly the screens – the giant three-unit Hyperscreen or a digital instrument cluster and a large central unit shared with the S-Class. We count six USB-C ports at the front, with another four in the second row and two more in the third row. That’s right, 12 USB ports.
There are even more screens.
With the box marked for the optional rear-seat entertainment system, each outboard second-row passenger can enjoy their own screen with many of the same infotainment functions as the front, including including navigation, audio controls, games and apps. The fold-down center armrest can also be fitted to a detachable tablet (part of the Executive Rear Seat Package) with more redundant infotainment functions.
The third row of seats would be tight for an adult, but the second row can recline forward for more space and their seat cushions are high enough for you to slide your feet underneath. The void seems more suitable for children, but an adult can survive back there for a trip across town. They’ll have to make do without a monitor of their own, but again, there’s always two USB ports and that detachable tablet from the second row.
The EQS SUV can be had with three different powertrains. Regardless of engine configuration, the EQS SUV has a capacity of 107.8 kilowatt hours the battery The pack can be charged in 12.5 hours on a Level 2 charger or from 10-80% in 31 minutes at. The 450+ has a single electric motor on the rear axle, producing 335 horsepower and 419 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes claims a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds for the EQS 450+. It’s also the option with the longest range, going 305 miles on a single charge, albeit with the lowest starting price, at $105,550 (including destination).
In the EQS 450 4Matic, the same 335 horsepower is split between two engines, one front and one rear, to give it all-wheel drive and 590 lb-ft more torque output. It’s even faster, hitting 60 mph from a stop in 5.8 seconds. It also narrows the driving range to 285 miles and raises the starting price to $108,550.
The most powerful powertrain is in the EQS 580 4Matic SUV, with two engines offering all-wheel drive and a combined output of 536 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque. 580 reduces the EQS SUV’s 0-60 time to 4.5 seconds. The 580 shares the 450 4Matic’s 285-mile driving range. It has a starting MSRP of $127,100.
On the road, the EQS 450 4Matic SUV moves away from stops quickly and quietly. While maximum torque is available from the get-go, the accelerator is easily adjusted – passengers won’t be caught off guard when accelerating unless you want to. When driven calmly, its gliding acceleration is similar to that of any other quiet SUV with no shifting feel. Things only get interesting when you spin the wheel. Thanks to standard rear-wheel steering, which rotates the rear wheels by up to 10 degrees, the EQS responds quickly to inputs from the driver. The more corners you turn, especially at slow speeds, the more surprising the results. A large SUV like this cannot maneuver so closely. At higher speeds, the rear wheels combine with the front wheels for smooth lane changes.
Stepping into the 580, gentle acceleration is also easy to come by, but you also have the option to get occupants into their seats by fully activating the right pedal. It was useful for speeding on the highway, overtaking a slower vehicle, or pushing out of a mountain turn, but when the novelty wore off, we didn’t often make use of the full throttle travel distance. . We didn’t then miss exactly that extra push back to 450, but a further period in 580 makes us think, as long as we’ve spent over $100,000 to get in. EQS we will be able to bet coins for more power.
Regardless of trim, the EQS SUV has a pair of paddles on the back of the steering wheel to adjust the level of rebound brake. There are four regen settings, including D (standard), D- (strong), D+ (timeout) and a D Auto setting. Finally, it’s the “smart” setting that uses data from the vehicle’s safety system and GPS Navigate to automatically decide when and how much regen to use to maximize your driving range. We want to control the amount of regen directly, usually leaving it in normal mode or in higher regen mode when going downhill. However, strong regress makes the brake pedal behave strangely, lowering itself to match the input you have to put it in. Stepping on the already depressing pedal feels unnatural, but as a balance, you don’t need to touch the pedal as often.
Overall, we appreciate the peace and quiet that the electric powertrain and slick cabin offer, but if you’re the type of driver who needs a little sonic excitement to match your engine. car, there’s a trio of audio experiences. The first is called “Silver Waves”, and it is the most internal burning sound of the three. The second, the “Vivid Flux”, closely resembles the typical harmonic spaceship as lots of EVs combine with their powertrains. Either of those sounds are acceptable to help enhance the driving experience. Third, “Roaring Pulse,” sounds like a weird, angry dragon. While a noise is not suitable for pairing with the acceleration of electricity luxury vehicleWe keep choosing it for sheer fun.
Optional in the 450 and standard in the 580 is the flashy MBUX Hyperscreen. This includes three screens in a single piece of curved glass, which seamlessly span the entire 56 inches across the panel, from column to column. It includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel in front of the driver, a 17.7-inch central touchscreen, along with a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the passenger side. It’s the same unit we’ve seen in the EQS Sedan, and it’s just as impressive and potentially overwhelming in SUVs. It’s bright, crisp, and full of information. It is this interface, not the electric powertrain, that gives the EQ series a steep learning curve in terms of performance. Now taking our third Mercedes EQ sampler, we think we’re getting it.
Mercedes has programmed its flagship infotainment display with a so-called “Zero Layer” design, which uses artificial intelligence to predict the information or application you need and bring it to the screen as you go. need. For example, it will show your next turn from the navigation menu, or if you tend to have a heated steering wheel in combination with some other temperature, time or behavior, it will know what to show. this on the screen when you’ll most likely need it. Our testers didn’t have enough time with us to find out that we don’t want to use the “Recharge comfort” programs (combining sound, light, aroma, and chair kinetics) to help you relax or recover) while driving on a winding mountain road in the rain, although the Power Nap program sounds like a great idea during a charging session.
If equipped with a head-up display, augmented reality will tell you exactly where and when to turn with a series of arrows indicating your next move. HUD-equipped or not, the navigation will show you the same “enhanced video” information on the central infotainment screen. You have to take your eyes off the road in that case, but those arrows are superimposed on the camera feed from the front of the car and even highlight the lane you need to enter. Both of these features are useful in navigating those unfamiliar with Denver’s streets, as well as complex intersections or highway intersections. One or both can also be turned off.
We don’t expect many owners to take their EQS SUV off-road in the Rockies, but it’s always a great incentive to know what your vehicle’s capabilities are. Who knows when you’ll make the wrong turn at the campsite and end up on an empty logging road, right? After a morning of driving in the drizzle, we found our way to such a place, an area popular for ATV tours in the mountains of Clear Creek County.
It turns out that off-roading a six-speed electric SUV is indeed an enjoyable experience that we won’t hesitate to repeat, as it sounds ridiculous. Quiet spaces are good, as there’s nothing to hear but your natural surroundings and the interaction between the tires and the trail. It’s comfortable – for one thing, you’re sitting in a Luxury SUV, perhaps get a massage, but the suspension also keeps the ride from being too jarring. It’s capable of traversing wet, rocky trails and muddy roads with relative ease, all without the strange noises and rattles from the stability control when the car looks up. out where to send the torque. Multiple camera views, including one that makes the hood transparent to show what’s directly below it, keeps you on track when you can’t see the road ahead through the windshield. The most impressive feature, however, is the rear-wheel steering, as it allows you to glide tight around trees and boulders – obstacles that often require three-point turns or more – with surprising dexterity. .
But the EQS SUV will spend most of its time on the sidewalk, carrying the kids to soccer games on suburban roads, hitting the highways for city trips, and navigating through day-to-day parking lots. getting smaller as family vehicles get bigger and bigger. Here, it might stand out for its novelty and “hey, nice car” magnetism, but otherwise it would fit. parking lot. And, before long, unfamiliarity with technology will disappear as quickly as the novelty of owning the region’s first EQS SUV, because, while you may be the first, you are. Absolutely not the last.
