Mercedes Benz EQS SUV refined, practical

THE 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the third vehicle from the company's all-electric EQ sub-brand. It follows the EQS sedan and EQE sedan to market, and like those vehicles, it's an electric vehicle equivalent to an existing gasoline-powered model.

In this case, it's the GLS SUV, though the EQS is three inches shorter from nose-to-tail.

The EQS SUV's design is heavily influenced by aerodynamics in order to maximise efficiency and range.

It's more rounded over and sleek compared to the GLS, but still has a familiar SUV silhouette. It isn't as polarising as the EQ sedans, which a few critics have complained look too simple.

Instead, this EQS SUV is more upright, increasing visual mass and giving it a stronger presence than the smaller sedans.

In some ways, it looks more like a traditional gas-powered SUV, with only small hints like its solid grille and lack of tailpipes to suggest it's an EV.

In typical Mercedes tradition, the EQS SUV's interior is a showcase of what a modern luxury vehicle can be.

In particular, the top trim's Hyperscreen adds a distinct futuristic flavour with its massive glass dashboard that houses the instrument panel, central infotainment touchscreen, and an additional touchscreen that's available for the front passenger. It's striking to look at and is unlike any interior available today.

That said, we're partial to the dash that comes standard with the EQS 450 for reasons we'll get into below.

Those models feature a large tablet-like touchscreen in the centre of the dash and a separate display for the gauges.

It's reminiscent of the layout in the current S-Class sedan and is executed with similar success, though the dash in the EQS is flatter and simpler.

Two turbine-like vents are situated at each end and secondary vents are integrated into the top trim of the dash.

We especially like the available open-pore wood trim that has aluminum Mercedes stars embedded in laser-cut star patterns. It adds a lot of warmth to the cockpit and is a joy to look at and to touch.

The EQS SUV also exhibits the kind of excellent build quality that Mercedes-Benz is known for. Everything about the interior has a sturdy feel and there are no creaks or squeaks emitted, even when driving on extraordinarily rough roads. Materials quality is impeccable and unbeatable this side of Bentley.

It even smells wonderful, like an expensive leather handbag, giving you a full sensory experience that is tastefully luxurious.

There are three powertrain choices in the EQS SUV lineup. The base EQS 450+ is powered by a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

It produces 355 horsepower and 419 poundfeet of torque, which Mercedes estimates will accelerate the vehicle to 60 mph in 6,5 seconds.

Range on a full charge is rated at 491km. The EQS 450 4Matic adds a second motor to drive the front wheels for all-wheel drive (AWD).

Horsepower remains the same, but torque increases to 590 lb-ft, which shortens its 0-97km/h time to 5.8 seconds.

Range drops slightly to 459km.

The top EQS 580 4Matic is also an AWD model, but power jumps to 536 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque. It will accelerate to 97km/h in 4.5 seconds and return the same 459km on a single charge.

Charging on a typical level 2 station should take 11.25 hours from 10 to 100 percent battery capacity.

All EQS models are capable of DC fast charging at rates up to 200 kW, which should get you from 10 percent to 80 percent capacity in only 31 minutes.

From a standstill, both the EQS 450 4Matic and 580 4Matic accelerate smoothly and gracefully with light pressure on the throttle.

Response is immediate, but not jarring. With a more authoritative stomp on the pedal, you'll get the breathtaking rush of acceleration that EVs are known for.

This kind of power delivery makes the EQS very easy to drive smoothly, yet has the potential for decisive acceleration when needed, giving you the best of both worlds.

Braking is split between electric regeneration and physical brakes, though from the driver's point of view, there's no discernable transition between the two.

Steering-wheel paddles control the amount of regeneration, which uses the vehicle's inertia to charge the battery pack.

With regeneration off, the EQS freewheels, with very little deceleration when you lift off the accelerator.

In the normal setting, it slows much like how a car with a gas engine would. At maximum regeneration, it slows much more quickly and allows for one-pedal driving as long as you disable the creep drive mode in the setting menu.

One-pedal driving is generally preferred by EV drivers as it's more efficient and requires less effort since you'll rarely have to touch the brake pedal.

The EQS SUV corners with confidence, but its considerable weight and large footprint don't encourage sporty driving.

The standard air suspension reduces body roll in the curves while smoothing over road imperfections.

As an added bonus, the EQS SUV comes with four-wheel-steering, for improved manoeuvrability. The rear wheels turn up to 10 degrees, allowing the SUV to make U-turns like a much smaller car.

The EQS SUV also features an off-road mode that gives it some moderate all-terrain abilities. It's mostly limited by ground clearance, but you'll be able to conquer some surprising obstacles and steep climbs.

Even better, the silence makes it feel more like you're hiking rather than off-roading.

In addition to having an attractive and silent interior, the EQS SUV further benefits from space and comfort.

The front seats are well shaped and padded for many hours of touring and the inclusion of heating and ventilation make them even more pleasant.

There are also several optional enhancements that include massaging seats and Mercedes' energising comfort feature that combines the seat functions, climate control, infotainment, and audio to create a unique calming environment.

There's even an option to fragrance the air with subtle scents from Mercedes.

That type of cossetting comfort also applies to the second-row seats. There's an abundance of headroom and legroom for taller adults and the seats are almost as comfortable as the front.

Comfort can be further enhanced with the Executive Rear Seat package that adds soft pillows to the headrests, additional mood lighting, infotainment control, a wireless charging pad, and heated seats.

A rear entertainment system with individual screens mounted to the seatbacks is also available.

A third row of seats is optional and has just enough space for an average-sized adult in a pinch. As is the case with many available thirdrow seats, the EQS' are less accommodating and intended for occasional use by smaller passengers.

Accessing the rearmost seats is accomplished with a press of a button that folds and slides the middle seat forward to make a decent passage. It does take a while for the seats to move, though.

Behind the third row, cargo capacity is somewhat limited. Mercedes' spokespeople didn't specify how large the volume is, but assured us that you can easily fit four golf bags back there. With the third row stowed, you can fit up to 28 cubic-feet of cargo.

At its maximum, with the second row folded, that figure grows to 71 cubic-feet. That's smaller than the GLS' 84.7 cubic-foot capacity but should still hold a considerable amount of cargo. Unlike many EVs, the EQS SUV does not have a frunk, or front trunk, for added cargo space.

Regarding interior storage for your personal items, the EQS SUV is very accommodating. In the centre console, you have a covered compartment with a wireless phone charger and cupholders.

Just behind that is a large armrest bin and underneath, a large tray that can hold a jacket or large handbag. Door pockets are also generous and can accept medium-sized drink bottles.

On the whole, the EQS SUV is one of the rare premium luxury vehicles that is as refined as it is practical.

As noted earlier, we prefer the standard dashboard that comes with the EQS 450 models, primarily because the Hyperscreen's massive glass panel is prone to distracting reflections.

The base model's screen is easier to read and for many users, it's also more familiar.

Layout will deliver the same infotainment experience as far as speed and features are concerned.

The on-screen buttons are large and easy to use at a glance, and if you'd rather keep your hands on the wheel, the MBUX infotainment system's voice controls are second to none.

You simply have to activate it by saying “Hey Mercedes” and follow up with normal speech, such as, “I'm a little cold,” and the system will adjust the temperature for you.

Voice commands are especially helpful when entering a destination in the navigation system. Once underway, directions are made easier with a projected view of the road ahead on the infotainment screen with an augmented reality overlay.

Animated arrows accurately show where you need to follow, which is particularly useful in complicated intersections and roundabouts.

Optionally, you can also have the overlay in the head-up display, which further reduces distraction.

If you have multiple drivers using your EQS SUV, separate profiles with preferences can be stored and retrieved using a fingerprint scanner on the centre console or the bottom of the screen.

Not only do the preferences store seating positions, but also include favourite radio stations, stored destinations, climate preferences, and several other drive settings.

As is typical with many EVs, the navigation displays nearby charging stations and on longer trips and will suggest spots to recharge along the way. Charging is made easier thanks to the Mercedes me Charge feature.

activated, it allows you to start charging once you're plugged in at a compatible station. There's no need to interact with the charger or swipe a card, as the system automatically recognises your vehicle and bills the service to you saved account.

Even better, it works with many charger networks.

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crash test results for the EQS SUV.

That's not all that uncommon for high-end luxury vehicles, and based on Mercedes' reputation, we expect strong scores if and when those tests are conducted.

Every EQS SUV comes standard with a comprehensive list of safety features and driver assistance tech.

These include adaptive cruise control, frontal collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and cross-traffic collision mitigation.

There's also an Active Emergency Stop Assist feature that detects if the driver is incapacitated and takes measures to safely bring the car to a stop and summon emergency services.

Also included are Mercedes' Digital Light feature that allows you to safely keep your high beams on at night without blinding oncoming traffic.

It accomplishes this by automatically blocking a section of the lights to create a lighting void where the approaching car is.

The standard Exit Warning enhances safety when parked by warning occupants of approaching vehicles to avoid opening a door into traffic.

In our time with the EQS SUV, we never experienced any false alarms and the adaptive cruise control smoothly adjusted the vehicle's speed, maintaining a consistent gap to cars in front. As you'd expect, all of the

EQS SUV's greatness doesn't come cheap. The base EQS 450+ in the Premium trim level has a starting price of US$105 550 (including destination charges).

Adding 4Matic AWD costs and additional US$3 000. Stepping up to the EQS 580 4Matic will set you back US$127 100.

The cost to upgrade to the mid-range Exclusive trim is consistent throughout the lineup, at US$4 250, and adds a head-up display, massaging seats, four-zone climate control, and a few other minor niceties.

The top Pinnacle trim costs an additional US$2 000 and includes the Executive Seat package. Without any added options, the top EQS 580 4Matic in the Pinnacle trim is listed at US$133 350.

Those prices ring in several thousand dollars less than a Tesla Model X, but about US$20 000 more than the BMW iX.

As popular as the Model X has been and how quick it accelerates, it pales in comparison to the EQS SUV, which benefits from a significantly more refined interior, greater versatility for passengers and cargo, and is noticeably more comfortable.

The BMW iX is smaller and more engaging for spirited drivers but doesn't offer a third row of seats. Range estimates give the Tesla a slight advantage at 531km or 500km with the high-performance Plaid model.

The BMW is estimated to return 520km for the base model and 463km for the higher-performing M60 variant.

The forthcoming Rivian R1S is also worth considering, but we have yet to drive it for ourselves. Pricing should start around US$90 000 and range is estimated between 418km and 515km.

As an added incentive, Mercedes includes two years of free 30-minute fast charging sessions on the Electrify America network, as long as you use the Mercedes me Charge service.

BMW offers a nearly identical service, but Tesla now charges for its proprietary Supercharger network.

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz gasoline-powered equivalent GLS-Class, the EQS SUV costs almost US$30 000 more. Although the EV's operating costs are significantly less expensive than purchasing gasoline, it would take quite a while to recoup the price difference. Likely longer than the typical ownership period.

Then again at this level of cost and luxury, it's less of a concern for the typical buyer. Instead, you'll find solace in the fact that you've eliminated tailpipe emissions without sacrificing refinement or performance.

All told, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the best all-electric SUV for those that need the size and crave the highest levels of luxury.

That said, a smaller and more affordable EQE SUV is on the way and promises similar greatness. — cargurus