Off the coast of Portugal near Lisbon, a vast underwater gorge makes some of nature’s wildest waves at the cliffs of Nazaré. Here, surfers have set records for dizzying waves that can release thousands of kilograms of energy. In 2020, Sebastian Steudtner rides the 86-foot wave for nearly half a minute toward Praia do Norte on waves generated by Hurricane Epsilon.
I’ll pass on that nightmare fuel, thanks. I encountered almost nothing scary when I test drove the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV on those beachfront roads, unless you factor in the poor lane hygiene of a Renault Megane Scénic. On a full-day drive at moderate speed, back and forth from Lisbon, Benz’s new electric utility vehicle set no records for charging time or range, but the electric powertrain Its battery proved efficient enough to make a finer point: some EV drivers want elegant cabin refinement and useful large cargo space, not to mention the badge at the top of the car.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
The EQE SUV has one of the most refined electric vehicle interiors, with a combination of laser-cut metal, nappa leather and four different sound programs.
What is the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 2023 and what are its competitors?
Panoramic scan of the five-seat electric SUV and crossovers from the BMW iX and Tesla Model Y that will become competitors to the EQE SUV; So do the upcoming Audi Q8 E-Tron, Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90. Coming from the same skateboard as the EQS Benzes, it’s like an EQS SUV rival, if you don’t really need that car’s third row of seats.
Like the EQS SUV and the EQS and EQE sedans, the EQE SUV takes a more conventional approach to slick aero SUV SUV design than the true BMW iX. Benz avoids all the nasty off-road markings of the ICE vehicles in its family (they all start with the letter “G”). Here, the silhouette is progressive and mostly graceful, although a fine line is drawn between those who don’t mind the hero-sized three-pointed star on the hood and the flag-shaped flag. triangle in front of the rearview mirror, a consequence of the taxi-shape forward. It does its job of fooling the wind and leaves the interior to make a signature design statement. Warmly blended from high-definition screens and traditional textures from leather to aluminum, the EQE SUV cockpit doesn’t need the extravagance of Hyperscreen environments to make its case.
By the way, the EQE SUV has a wheelbase of 119.3 inches and a total length of 191.5 inches, which allows it to seat 5 adults with headroom and free legroom. In the US, Mercedes will stick with heated and cooled “comfortable” front seats, while firmer cushions await future AMG versions. These are up to Volvo standards, with padding soft enough to provide a nap, with just the right amount of jetlag. The same is true at the rear, where even a panoramic sunroof can’t erase all the space above the head of a 6-foot tall person. No official cargo specifications have been released for the US versions, but the EQE SUV I drove can easily carry four or five roll bags with space for one or two. soft-sided backup.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
The EQE SUV’s 90.6-kwh battery pack is smaller than the EQS SUV’s unit, but still stores enough power for an estimated 279-mile range.
How efficient is the Mercedes EQE SUV and how can it be charged?
There’s no such thing as a perfect storm out to sea while I’m driving, just bright sunshine and gentle breezes whizzing past the EQE SUV during a test drive at just the right pace to keep it running at its best.
Without an official EPA efficiency and range rating, the EQE SUV is estimated by Mercedes to be a maximum of 279 miles for the EQE 350+ SUV, reduced to 253 miles with the addition of a second electric motor and swap Change tires all seasons. If efficiency is the only goal, the rear-wheel drive 350+ is the one to beat—however, I did see a top speed of 3.0 mph in my test drive in the 350+ 4Matic.
That’s a bit shy given Lucid’s promises about its Gravity, or the reality of today’s Tesla Model Y, but it’s a remarkable achievement. Aerodynamics plays an important role and the EQE SUV moves smoothly with a Cd of 0.25. The same goes for supporting equipment, such as the standard heating system, which incorporates a heat pump, which frees up more range from the battery, capturing waste heat from the powertrain to warm the cabin.
Range is a factor to consider, but charging the battery may ultimately be more important to anyone comparing the EQE SUV to other electric vehicles. The 240-volt Level 2 home-charging setup at 32 amps can be fully recharged in 9.5 hours, with the help of a 9.6-kw built-in charger.
On the road, charging the battery becomes a more conundrum. While Mercedes plans its own EV fast charging network, it will give the EQE SUV two years of unlimited DC fast charging, with an interval of 30 minutes, at Electrify America stations. On an EA station that can produce a maximum accepted power of 170 kW, its 400-volt charging setup becomes very time-consuming: the EQE SUV will take 32 minutes to recharge from 10% to 80% capacity. the battery.
It will be some time before Mercedes buys the 800-volt charger built into most of the latest competitive EVs. Chief technology officer Markus Schäfer said that while Mercedes promotes Level 3 driver assistance systems and hopes to enable Level 4 self-driving by the end of the decade, higher-speed charging is currently less popular. more priority. “Eight hundred volts [800-volt charging] not the goal,” he said via webstream during the EQE SUV press launch last week near Lisbon, “the customer experience is the goal.” Schäfer predicts that by 2025 there will be “enough number of 800-volt charging stations around the world” to prioritize it, and in the meantime Mercedes will “save weight, save costs”.
In other performance vectors, the EQE 350+ SUV performs well on its own, although it doesn’t lead in straight-line acceleration: a 90.6 kWh battery pack in a single-engine configuration can produce rise times 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds, a few seconds slower than the Model X or Model Y (but with a 3.4-second AMG version coming soon). Equipped with adaptive air suspension and driver-selectable modes, as well as rear-wheel steering, the EQE SUV performs better when gliding through deep turns on the road than when jumping around in cars. hairclip. It grabs attention when it comes to steering input and eagerly cuts when rear-axle steering is fitted—but at more than 5,500 pounds, the EQE SUV relies more on technology than geometry to get it done. processing work.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV
There’s no Hyperscreen here, but the EQE SUV has digital gauges and a 12.8-inch touchscreen with navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Is the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 2023 eligible for the IRA tax credit?
Since it was built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alongside the EQS SUV, it also has a part. That plus its price means the base EQE SUV cuts EV tax credit—at least for its $3,750. Another $3,750 may apply, depending on when the US-made battery packs will receive domestically sourced cell material. (Details about The tax credit will be announced on April 18.)
At $79,050, the EQE 350+ SUV is wrapped in synthetic leather and 19-inch wheels, features a 12.8-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge display, and features front seats with power heating, panoramic sunroof and Burmester sound with Dolby Atmospheric. Its sub-$80,000 price tag qualifies for the latest federal electric vehicle deals, even if that amount is lower from next month. For anyone interested in driving an electric vehicle, buying something made in the USA, and cutting their tax bill, this EQE SUV will fill a lot of requirements, even if the range is 300. miles is not one of them. With a claimed maximum rating of 279 miles, the 2023 EQE SUV is geared towards homeowners and others who will be able to install their own charging solution — as well as those with a nearby, worthy Electrify America station trust.
Is that enough? The EQE SUV, for example, is definitely better priced than Audi’s first attempt at a long-range battery-powered SUV, the E-Tron. We still liked that car when it was new to name it the Best Car to Buy. (At The Car Connection, we offer 2023 Mercedes EQE SUV SUV TCC rating is 8.2 out of 10, with high scores for comfort and quality, as well as efficiency.)
The world may have changed, and a tidal wave of new electric vehicles has reset performance expectations in every way. It exceeds expectations in terms of utility and technology—and even in terms of range and pre-chargeability, the EQE SUV is no exception.
Green Car Reports has accepted travel expenses to Portugal to bring you a test drive of this 2023 EQE SUV.
