Mercedes EQS Review

​The EQS is Mercedes' first all-out attempt at an electric car rather than just whipping out an engine and plumbing in batteries instead. Not only is the 'platform' it has developed flexible enough to allow numerous different configurations and be scalable to have different bodies placed on it the EQE EQS SUV and another SUV are planned), but the clever packaging means it offers fantastic interior space.  

Mercedes EQS dimensions and space

Measuring 5.21 metres in length the EQS is as long as the range-topping S-Class limo. But the EQS's 3.21-metre wheelbase (the area between the wheels when looking at the side of the car) is on par with the S-Class long-wheelbase, which means back seat passengers can really stretch out. 

And because the tailgate extends into the roof, the boot can be expanded like an SUV or estate car. With a capacity of almost 1,800 litres, the big electric Merc has more space than most estates, so can even be used as an Ikea shopping trolley, or for carrying a bike.

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Give yourself a pay rise - get an electric company car

Mercedes EQS battery and range

Mercedes really has thrown everything it has at the EQS. It gets a massive 107.8kWh battery which means an official WLTP range of 478 miles – that's almost 62 miles more than a Tesla Model S and a new world record. There are two versions; the EQS 450 gets a 329bhp rear-mounted electric motor and the EQS 580 packs two motors, one on each axle, and 516bhp, which is more than an S-Class with a V8 petrol engine. 

We've only tried the 'cheaper' 450 in the UK currently with a price tag starting at £102,160, but a smaller battery model will also be launched later and a performance-minded Mercedes-AMG version is available if you really want more acceleration.   

Mercedes doesn't want to score points with the hardware alone, though. 

Mercedes EQS technology

Software and tech are two big features of the EQS and this is most obvious with the car's 'hyperscreen'. Mercedes calls it a 'continuous surface made of aluminium silicate glass', but to you and I it's a large infotainment screen that extends practically across the entire dashboard. It screen is curved at 650-degrees and measures a staggering 1.41 metres, making a Tesla Model S's screen look pretty tiny. It costs a very hefty £7,995. Some of the gadgets which make it special - such as the ability for your passengers to watch movies - are disabled for the British market, which makes it less interesting. You also have to physically lean forward and stretch to tap some on-screen buttons too. 

​Want to try an EQS for yourself? Click here to arrange a test drive.

Mercedes EQS performance and driving dynamics

While the interior is radical, the way the EQS drives is a surprise too. We'd been expecting - maybe even hoping - that this would be an electric car with all the refinement of the S-Class. But after a few miles it's clear that the EQS he more sporting ideas. The steering is so sharp and the ride firm that it almost feels like an overgrown MINI. Combined with the almost spontaneous acceleration, we assumed at first that we had mistakenly selected some Sport mode - but this is how the EQS behaves in it's 'Comfort' setting. 

The EQS does impress which its silence though  Once you have deactivated the artificial spaceship sound or the imitated V8 rumble, you travel in absolute silence. Due to the wind finding so little resistance from the car's slippery body shape, you will almost hear the digital clock ticking rather than nasty wind noises. Only the occasional thump from the 21-inch tyres interrupts.

Mercedes wants to make life easy for the driver so it has fitted the EQS with an intelligent recuperation programme that cleverly educates the driver how to drive without touching the brake pedal. Thanks to some clever sensors as part of the automatic distance control and the electric motors, the traditional mechanic brake is largely superfluous as the EQS can measure and predict when it will need to slow down and can brake automatically. 

And while the EQS feels like a huge car for the occupants, it feels small for the driver. Just like the new S-Class, the EQS gets rear-wheel steering which can turn the wheels by up to 10-degrees to help with manoeuvring. It means the EQS can slip through city traffic effortlessly and slots into parking spaces easily. It makes a real difference in everyday use and might be out favourite part of the car.   

Mercedes EQS Verdict

With an interpretation of luxury that is more trendy than traditional, and it having the largest battery on sale, the longest range and the biggest infotainment screen, there's a sense the EQS is a new guiding star for the electric car market. Its WLTP range of 478 miles is quite astonishing and effectively removes the reason to choose diesel over electric. 

Yes, there is a lot of competition in the sector, including the Tesla Model S (but only now in left-hand-drive), Porsche Taycan and BMW i7, but the big Mercedes does feel a cut above in some areas. The brand's decision to give a sporty edge seems an odd one though, especially as Mercedes has become synonymous with smooth riding luxury. 

If Mercedes had focussed more on comfort than cornering ability, the EQS could be head and shoulders above the opposition. That said, the ESQ is a remarkable piece of engineering and bodes well for the brand's more affordable models down the line.