Mercedes EQS 450 is superstar performer

Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus 108.4kWh battery powering an electric motor

360hp

130mph

Six seconds 362-365 miles Zero

Three years/ unlimited mileage £129,170

Powertrain

Power

Top speed 0- 62 Range CO2 Warranty Price

happy for Jack to drive me around all day in such comfort but now it was my turn to test the car.

This EQS 450 came with the 265kW powertrain in AMG Line Premium Plus. This means it has AMG design features inside and out as well as aluminium illuminated running boards with rubber studs.

I love a running board. As well as looking good, they are eminently practical for small people like me who need an intermediary step between the car and the ground. And, yes, this car has a high ride height which does make you feel particularly safe, especially in lots of traffic. It is a big beast.

Inside, there is a panoramic roof, which opens and shuts simply by sl iding your foref inger along the roof control, and space grey leather upholstery with red stitching.

It is, however, the dash which will impress. The media display and instrument cluster have been replaced by what Mercedes cal ls its Hyperscreen. This means you get a massive iPad-type swipe screen for nav and entertainment and a wide instrument cluster that can be customised in so many different ways – for radio or nav, classic with two dials and many more.

There is also a head up display, which includes nav instructions, speed limits and your current speed.

There is no need to take your eyes off the road – unless it is to glance at the augmented real ity nav instructions which pop up on the central touchscreen whenever you come to a junction. The drive is terrific, with the AIRMATIC air suspension making light work of potholes and the immediate thrust from the electric motor taking you to 62mph in just six seconds.

The EQS 450 has four driving modes – Eco, Sport, Comfort and Individual – and also comes with Intelligent Recuperation.

Thi s is a ver y clever Mercedes-Benz feature linked to the paddles behind the steering wheel.

Normally they would be used for manual driving in an automatic car but here they are linked to the regeneration of charge.

Hit the minus paddle and it gets stronger. Toggle the plus and there is less. However, hold the minus paddle down for three seconds and you get Intel l igent Regeneration whereby the car automatically maximises the regen for optimum efficiency, relying on the cameras all around it.

Jack, the professional driver, had set himself the task of trying to manually beat the car’s regeneration but admitted so far he had failed.

I am sad for him but cheering for the car. What a winner!