Has Mercedes produced the ultimate guilt-free electric SUV?
THIS month sees t he new Mercedes- Benz EQC hit British roads for the first time, meani ng t hat well- heeled families now have FOUR all-electric luxury SUVs to tempt them out of their Land Rover Discoveries and BMW X5s.
Tesla’s Model X, with its dramatic ‘ falcon wing’ rear doors, was the first of this new breed of car to arrive.
Launched two years ago, it had this l ucrative new market to itself until Jaguar’s brilliant new I- PACE hit the roads last year, winning the European and World Car of the Year gongs. Audi’s e-tron followed earlier this summer, and more are on the way.
All offer eerily quiet running, guilt- free zero- emission school runs and the chance to never visit another petrol station again.
But the UK’s patchy charging network and maximum ranges short of 300 miles may still deter some buyers.
I’ve tested all four premium electric off-roaders – and here’s my verdict…
Mercedes-Benz EQC From £65,650 Range 259 miles
THE new EQC is the first of TEN new all-electric EQ-badged models from Mercedes, and represents the future of the world’s oldest car-maker as conventional internal combustion engines start to be phased out. On the evidence of the EQC, that future looks assured. The EQC is MB’s first all-electric car of any significance, and it’s got it right first time.
Unlike the Tesla and the Jaguar, the EQC isn’t a bespoke electric car but is based on the conventionally powered GLC compact SUV. That’s no bad thing: the GLC is a great car.
One electric motor on each EQC axle provides all-wheel drive and t humping accelerati on, with 60mph on the clock in just 4.9 seconds. There’s a 259-mile range, and the batteries can be recharged from ten to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes on a fast charger.
Impressively, despite the lack of a conventional engine, the EQC still feels like a Merc. It doesn’t have the scalpel- sharp handling of the Jaguar, but instead majors on refinement.
Even by the high standards of near-silent EVs, this is an incredibly quiet car in which to travel. The ‘tram noises’ which electric drive trains sometimes generate are well suppressed and the ride is fluid: the EQC rivals even Merc’s mighty S-Class limo for its calmness and isolation.
Being a Merc, it’s incredibly well made, and there’s some impressive tech aboard.
The EQC’s stand-out feature is probably its ability to analyse the traffic, gradients and speed limits on the road ahead, and apply gentle resistance to the throttle pedal once you’ve reached the optimum speed. It knows that accelerating more, then having to wipe the speed off again would reduce the car’s range.
Tesla Model X From £82,200 Range 315 miles
ODD to think that Elon Musk’s brash new electric car start-up is actually the old man of this group, and is now being challenged by the traditional car-makers.
The Model X is a brilliant reimagining of the SUV, with huge interior space, hallmark ‘falcon wing’ rear doors and its systems controlled almost entirely by a single,
iPad-style screen. Its range, acceleration and the confidence with which Tesla’s Autopilot software can drive the car unaided all exceed those of its rivals. But it comes at a high price, and the Tesla’s build quality and refineme n t still don’t match those of EVs from the more experienced manufacturers.
Audi e-tron From £71,520 Range 255 miles
LIKE the EQC, Audi’s e-tron is the first in a series of new pureelectric new models from the German maker. And l i ke t he EQC, it feels like its conventionally powered siblings, despite the lack of a combustion engine.
Loyal Audi buyers will recognise the meticulously made cabin, and the e- tron may even look too similar to Audi’s standard SUVs – buyers may want to let people know that they’re driving emissions-free.
Clever tech abounds, including the option of cameras to replace wing mirrors, i mproving t he e-tron’s aerodynamics and range.
An entry- level version with a shorter range but costing £10,000 less will be added to the range next year.
Jaguar I-PACE From £64,495 Range 292 miles
JAGUAR’S first all-electric car has scooped the biggest automotive awards, and rightly so. It looks sensational, has been designed from the ground up as an electric car and it’s easily the most engaging EV to drive: just as a Jaguar should be.
Unsurprisingly, it’ s proving hugely popular with customers, with dealers struggling to meet demand. Downsides? Not many.
The on-board tech and user interfaces can’t quite match the best in class, and as more of a crossover than a pure SUV, it isn’t as big or as flexible inside as a Model X.
VERDICT
THIS is a really tough call. I’d endorse your decision to buy any of these four examples of this exciting new breed of car.
The Audi will appeal to those who value design and cabin quality, and the Jaguar will be the keen driver’s choice.
It seems crazy t o overlook the European and World Car of the Year for our top pick here, but having driven all four I’d be torn between the Tesla Model X for its brilliant, free- thinking design, and the new MercedesBenz EQC for its peerless engineering and impressive tech – with the EQC’s eerie refinement finally handing it the win over the Tesla.