Vehicle Review

ELEGANCE MEETS ELECTRIFICATION IN THE ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ EQS SUV

Electric vehicles are here to stay. There’s no way around it. But unlike the assumption that these vehicles are devoid of personality, these new EVs are surprising us with a myriad of forms and themes. For modern luxury vehicles, this can manifest in a number of ways. For performance vehicles like the BMW i4, it means brisk acceleration and a low center of gravity for sharp cornering. It can also mean extremely smooth, and confident power delivery. The latter is the ideal setup for a luxury vehicle like a Mercedes Benz. The German automaker has begun to develop sedans and SUVs around the “EQ” branding, including the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It is considered the EV equivalent to the full-size GLS-Class SUV. But does it live up to that billing? Will a GLS driver be satisfied with the EQS SUV?

Let’s get right into the numbers, because that’s really what matters here. The EQS 450+ has a single motor at the rear wheels that develops 329 horsepower and 419 pound-feet of torque. This version of the EQS has an electric range of 305 miles. The dual-motor all-wheel drive version is the EQS 450 4Matic. It has the same horsepower, but torque output increases to 590 poundfeet. The EQS 450 4Matic has a range of 285 miles.

We drove the next model up; the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic. Its dual motors make a combined 536 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. This range-topping model also has a range of 285 miles.

With a level-2 home charger, the EQS can be fully recharged in about 11 hours. This would be a convenient solution for overnight charging at home. The EQS SUV also features DC fast charging, which can add about 186 miles in just 15 minutes. In about 31 minutes, it can charge the EQS SUV all the way up from 10% to 80% battery capacity.

Now that we’ve got the math out of the way, how is it as a luxury vehicle? The acceleration is tremendous, but extremely smooth. In this sense, the EQS SUV is similar to that of an S-Class. The handling is never ponderous, but it’s also never terribly athletic. Given its long wheelbase, it has a rather large turning radius.

The EQS SUV provide two rows of spacious seating and a cramped optional third row. That third row also cuts in on the already-limited cargo space. In the two-row model, the EQS provides 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and up to 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That might seem generous at first until you realize that’s on par with most compact luxury SUVs, and less than the 84.7 cubic feet provided in the conventionally powered GLS SUV. The aerodynamic styling cuts into that usable rear cargo space.

All is forgiven when sitting in the front seat. The EQS features the new Mercedes-Benz digital dash, which, when combined with the ambient lighting, turns the cabin into a nightclub. The various colors are visually pleasing and surprisingly, never distracting. This can also be said of the massive center touchscreen. While we are disappointed to see so many physical controls moved into the digital screen, Mercedes does a decent job of making sense of it all. The MBUX infotainment system also comes with a powerful voice-control system that responds to prompts such as saying “Hey, Mercedes…” You can tell it to change the channel or turn on the climate control using natural sentences, rather than stiff voice prompts. The only issue with this infotainment system (and it’s a big one) is the lack of a traditional volume dial. There is a touch-capacitive slider on the steering wheel and on the main screen. But it is not always accurate and is very touchy. A simple volume knob would have solved for all of this.

With heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, a Burmester premium stereo, and even a separate passenger-side touchscreen, the EQS SUV is bathed in all of the same luxury essence as its conventionally powered counterparts. And for its asking price, it better have these comforts.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ SUV has a base MSRP of $104,400. The EQS 450 4Matic starts at $107,400, and the EQS 580 SUV starts at $125,950. Every version of the EQS also comes with plenty of modern driver assistance tech, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. It also comes with a helpful self-parking feature and an extremely detailed surround-view parking camera system.

So what to make of the EQS? It’s a 6,000-pound SUV that has less utility than its gas-burning counterpart. But it’s also incredibly smooth and insanely comfortable. If you’re looking for athleticism, look elsewhere. But if you appreciate the more traditional definition of luxury, including a plush, immersive interior, the EQS SUV has masterfully carved out that niche.