Smooth operator

Luxury Merc is last word in comfort

There is a critical decision to be made before choosing your Mercedes-benz EQS saloon. Do you want to go more slowly but further, or do you want to go very fast for a shorter distance?

The EQS is Mercedes’ second bespoke electric car, following the EQE. The EQS is, if you like, the electric equivalent of the S-class. It is big, imposing, sophisticated and extremely luxurious.

Two models are offered in the UK. The EQS 450+ and the AMG EQS 53. The former has 338PS on tap, which will give you a maximum range of 450 miles, while the latter has a mighty 658PS, reducing the distance you can travel to 360 miles.

However, that’s still an impressive range and matches rivals such as the Porsche Taycan, but 450 miles really is significant.

Of course, a great proportion of EQSS will be driven by chauffeurs (either private/company ones or upmarket taxi services) whose problem it will be to ensure that the car has enough charge for the next journey, but spare a thought for poor old Jeeves and provide him with the one with the longest range.

The EQS 53 will go from 0-62mph in a very prompt 3.8secs but the 450+ is no slouch, managing it in 6.2secs. But start blasting sir or madam to 62mph in under four seconds and you will probably soon be out of a job.

We’re testing the 450+ and, be assured, it is plenty quick enough – and expensive enough too at

£113,490 without options.

The range starts at £99,995 for the AMG Line trim but ours is an Exclusive Luxury version and therefore more loaded with kit.

Any BEV with a 107kwh battery is not going to be a bargain. You do get a fantastic amount of tech for your money, though. All models come with rear-wheel steering which not only makes the car easy to manoeuvre at low speeds and to park, but also makes it more stable at motorway speeds.

The EQS, as long as you have your hands on the wheel, will virtually drive itself on the motorway, keeping neatly in the middle of the lane and staying a safe distance from the car in front.

At speed, the EQS is supremely quiet and relaxing, and if you keep the standard air suspension in Comfort mode it is fantastically smooth over bumpy roads. The AMG Line spec cars are more sporty whereas the Luxury spec models like ours have a more soothing bent.

Our car is fitted with the optional Hyperscreen package (at a cool £7,995) which gives you no less than three screens including a 17.7in central infotainment screen. There are few physical controls as most functions are operated either via the

screen or over-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel.

As you’d expect, there’s plenty of interior space and the boot holds an impressive 610 litres.

Tesla, the pioneer of luxury electric motoring, had it easy for its first 10 years or so, but the introduction of the Mercedes-benz EQS – and rivals such as the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT – mean the company that Elon built will have stiff competition from now on.