The SUV’s traditional chassis feels like a natural complement to the EQS’s all-electric powertrain and opulent luxury.
As its name suggests, the all-electric 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the replacement for the EQS’ large, tilt-back luxury sedan high-performance SUV. The two cars share a single platform, the same electrical architecture, a myriad of other components, and they have identical wheelbases, but only the SUV offers a third row, seating seven passengers. The SUV’s interior is more airy than the sedan’s, thanks to the extra headroom.
The cabin is well designed, with high quality materials. and a dazzling new 56-inch hyperscreen, across the dashboard, one of Mercedes-Benz’s creations, the longtime leader in automotive innovation. The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the ultimate SUV. It can be said that its performance is closer to facilitating and simplifying the driving experience, as the body of the SUV is the peanut butter of the Mercedes EQS electric sedan.
But the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is larger and more spacious than the sedan, which makes it more attractive to families, but it carries more weight, and mass slightly affects performance. I tested the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV during a full day’s drive. The flagship and great car, but I wondered about the slower rear wheel drive model, and had the chance to spend a week with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ SUV. It’s a competitor to luxury crossovers, which makes it easier to recommend.
New Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
The Mercedes EQS electric SUV is the latest in Mercedes’ growing range of electric models under the company’s EQ sub-brand. It is the first SUV built on Mercedes’ modular electric vehicle platform, which also underpins the EQE and EQS sedans, and is expected to go on sale later this year.
2023 saw the entry of the two-engined, all-wheel drive EQS 450 4Matic model into the lineup, adding customizable beeps and notifications, along with a host of minor changes to option packages, and becoming part of the first-generation EQS introduced in 2022.
The quality of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Electric SUV
There’s a lot going for the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV: I loved its plush ride, torque and overall quality. Yes, it’s expensive, and I think many readers hate the EQS’ over-complicated interior. The SUV has all the space you’ll ever need, and it’s very comfortable to drive.
Prices and models of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
The EQS 450+ starts at $104,400, and this base model comes with a single engine, rear-wheel drive and 355 horsepower. With a 305-mile EPA rating, it comes packed with advanced features like ambient lighting, rear-wheel steering, a sunroof, and loads of driver-assistance technologies.
The $107,400 4MATIC model of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV adds all-wheel drive, and range drops to 285 miles due to a power-sipping second motor. The price increases to $125,950 for the 580 Fourmatic, which is equipped with four-wheel drive, 536 horsepower, and a vast “Hyperscreen” from Benz, consisting of three screens.
The exterior design of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The exterior design of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV can best be described as modern aerodynamic design without going beyond the limits of the future. I think the shape will hold up well over time, the exterior is impressively sleek. Flush door handles (motorized) and a completely smooth underbody help the SUV deliver a drag coefficient of just 0.26. But the two-box design is more versatile and results in a less polarizing aesthetic.
And in the foreground is a large, flat lattice surface. There is no radiator to cool the engine, it is basically non-existent, and the front of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is very smooth. Hiding behind that black panel are the radar, ultrasonic sensors and camera, which are positioned to aid in the many active safety features. The upside of the Elegance is reduced cabin noise and increased range. and increased low drag as standard.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV looks more traditional and less interesting. The hood, fascia and body sides lack any real embellishment or flair, and as a result, blend into the background to the point where the grille-less face, curved rear section and hidden lighting appear softer. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is a big luxury model—although its smooth lines lack the creases and elegance we often see in this price range.
At least part of the design is attributed to aerodynamics, as Mercedes seeks to reduce wind resistance to the body or under the body. Even the door handles retract, as they do in some competing electric vehicles, to facilitate airflow. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is equipped with a wheelbase measuring 126.4 inches. While its roof rises nearly 8 inches, this puts it on par with the BMW X7 and Land Rover Range Rover in length.
Interior cabin design of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Inside the cabin, a dense glass dash feels modern and luxurious, blending soft leather and beautiful wood, and with the undoubtedly high quality of materials, passengers are pampered within an amazingly spacious area that beautifully blends traditional and modern design.
The basic controls are where a Mercedes-Benz owner would expect them to be. Secondary controls on the digital screen are arranged in an intuitive menu. Call out “Hey Mercedes,” and the virtual assistant will get most tasks done with simple voice control.
The seats of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The front seats are comfortable and the view is commanding. The second row is equally spacious, and the flat floor adds to the openness. This is how most of those who rode the EQS SUV commented on how comfortable the second-row seat passengers felt. The interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV is pleasantly isolated from the outside world.
And its heated and ventilated leather seats allow you to sink in just enough to feel comfortable. There is a third row of seats in the options list in the 2023 SUV, which increases the passenger capacity to seven. The seats are sufficient for adults, but are more suitable for children. The second row can be split and folded at a ratio of 40:20:40, while the third row split/folded at a ratio of 50:50 for an increase.
Child seats in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
There is enough space to install child safety seats in the back. However, the reclining lower back seat cushion can make it a little difficult to securely attach the seat. And the lower Isofix anchors and upper back straps are very easy to reach.
Material quality of the interior of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Electric SUV
Everything you interact with, from the steering wheel to the window switches, feels remarkably robust. Just think of the luxurious suede surfaces, elegant metallic accents, and subtle ambient lighting, and it’s a car focused on pampering the occupants.
HVAC vents in the rear of the center console and on the pillars enhance air circulation throughout the cabin. Three-zone climate control is standard, and there are options to increase the climate control zones up to 5 zones.
The dashboard of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is Mercedes’ statement of high-tech, and the superlative display really steals the spotlight. All dashboard information is displayed over 56 inches across three screens and a luxurious glass cover.
“The screen is an epic moment,” Mercedes’ chief design officer said of it. And it came out of our design studio in Lake Como. The entire dashboard is a screen, and there is no turning back. It sets the industry standard. “
Vision in the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
I also loved how easy it was to see from inside the cabin of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. Although the surround vision camera system takes all the guesswork out and shows how to avoid surrounding objects when parking.
The spaciousness and spaciousness of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
Oddly enough, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV lacks rear seat space. Rear legroom is good, but there isn’t a lot of headroom considering this is a large luxury sedan. Passengers 6 feet or taller are likely to hit the ceiling with their heads.
The infotainment system of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The infotainment system is a £7,995 option. The large screen is made of scratch-resistant aluminosilicate, and is 3D curved, molded at temperatures of 650°C so the screen never deforms. It has eight CPU cores, 24GB of RAM and 46.4Gbps of RAM, making it, as Mercedes says, “the brain and nervous system of the car”.
The screens “float” above the dashboard, flush to the door trim. There are actually three screens, one for the 12.3-inch driver, a huge center display, and a third screen for the passenger who can watch and play a movie on their own. It is a guiding philosophy called “Layer Zero,” whereby the system’s machine learning adapts to driver behavior, and can proactively offer the right functions at the right time. No more meandering through unintuitive submenus.
The sound system of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Voice control from the screen or wheel is seamless, and the optional Burmester sound system is now available with Dolby Atmos technology that delivers 360-degree surround sound. It’s extraordinary, and the system works amazingly well if any movie is shown.
The comfort of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
As usual in the S-Class, you can shower the car with all kinds of ambient lighting, and the seats are impressive, with or without a massage function. There is also a variety of ‘energizing’ comfort modes, improving the mood of occupants. Including a “power snooze” setting that reclines the seats and closes the roller blind—yes, this is a car that can lull you to sleep, ionize the air, smell perfume, and get its own fragrance from a bottle stashed in the glovebox.
Navigation system in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Artificial intelligence helps the navigation system plan the optimal route, monitoring variables such as terrain, ambient temperature, speed, heating and cooling demand, as well as charging station availability and propulsion functions. So in theory you can forget about range anxiety. The car will advise you where it is best to charge.
Ancillary systems in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
All the standard secondary systems are impressive. The Burmester 3D sound system is so good and rich that you’ll be surprised at its standard equipment, along with its ambient lighting game. The standard Pinnacle cabin massage system prevents sore spots from forming on long haul flights, while the Air Balance system keeps the cabin smelling fresh. The only question is why is the optional head-up display not standard on a $110,000 car.
Storage space Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV 2023
Storage of smaller items in the compartment is equally impressive, with a variety of generously sized boxes with cleverly organized compartments.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Electric SUV Luggage Box
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has no front trunk, and the trunk holds 22 cubic feet. And the seats can be folded in a 40/20/40-Split configuration. to increase the space to 31 cubic feet. When the second and third row seats are folded down, the space increases to 71.3 cubic feet.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Mercedes offers the EQS SUV in three different configurations, the 450+ being the lower standard model. Equipped with a single 265 kW motor on the rear axle, thus a rear-wheel drive configuration. Mated to a single-speed gearbox, the permanently excited synchronous motor (PSM) delivers 355 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque, capable of propelling the 5,963-pound SUV from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds – Faster than most SUVs.
The EQS SUV 450 4Matic has an additional front-wheel drive to create an all-wheel drive system with the same horsepower but an impressive 590 lb-ft of torque. The 580 4Matic makes 536 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque, significantly better performance than lower-end models. It takes off faster, and it’s easier to work sliding along the highway. The throttle is easy to adjust to deliver the right amount of power. You have a lot of muscle to pass at high speed.
The battery of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The car is equipped with a 108.4 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides approximately 305 miles of driving range, and I charged it with a Level 2 home charger, and I would wake up to 323-343 miles of range shown on the car’s dashboard display.
Real-world driving supported that extended range, and I drove it for 207 miles, and the indicator kept giving me 116 miles of range remaining. Which indicates a true range of 323 miles. By the way, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV comes with a Level 2 home charger, which covers 300 miles of range at night.
And if you’re away from home, the SUV supports fast charging, and 80% of the battery charge can be restored in less than 30 minutes. One of the only shortcomings was that there is no illuminated light on the recharging port, you will need a mobile phone flashlight to properly connect the charger to the socket.
Driving impressions of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Electric SUV
After spending some time in the 536hp EQS 580 4MATIC SUV, I also piloted the 355hp EQS 450+ and never felt the need for more power while merging into traffic, the 450+ horsepower is more than enough.
Special mention should be made of ESP, a technology from Mercedes-Benz Electronic Stability Control, commendable, I just got in the rain and the road was very sticky, and the digital ESP system kept the rear-wheel drive SUV stable regardless of available traction.
The speed of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
The lower-end EQS 450+ SUV can go from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, the EQS 450 4Matic has an estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, while the EQS 580 4Matic does the same in 4.5 seconds. The top speed of all EQS SUV models is 130 mph.
The EQS 580 is a very fast car for its size, and has the ability to control intelligence. The fact is that traveling in a car with a long distance is a task that must be done. Capable of spirited overtaking, it’s a well-polished alert car. And it’s not a car, it’s more of a 21st-century transport unit, lavishly equipped, and outfitted with a highly sophisticated interior.
The suspension of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
I left the DYNAMIC SELECT drive program in COMFORT almost the entire time, setting the tone for the comfortable suspension damping and effortless steering effort. And the overall ride was elegant – nimble – with well-controlled body motions. The belly-mounted battery pack (inside its armored protective shield) acts as a large mass damper, which effectively erases the annoying vibrations and bumps that plague most cars.
Ride quality in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Ride quality is excellent, thanks to Airmatic suspension, standard continuously adaptive dampers. My test car had 21-inch wheels on 45-series tires, and the Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires made a touch more road noise than standard equipment, but my car was able to silence it knowing I was only going at legal speed.
Steering in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The handling is unremarkable, but the body moves in a predictable and controlled manner. Standard equipment such as rear axle steering gives the EQS SUV an agility uncommon for a car of this size at low speeds, but if direct cornering is important to you, you’d be better off considering the BMW iX or Audi SQ8 E-Tron. They are simply more pleasant to engage in a turn or corner.
Handling and stability of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The car can easily make U-turns on most two-lane streets and hold onto tight parking spaces. It’s a very big car, and you can feel the SUV’s mass from behind the wheel, but it never feels heavy or buoyant.
Adding to the luxurious feel with a sense of security, standard rear axle steering, with the ability to provide up to 10 degrees of steering to the rear wheels, makes low-speed maneuvering a breeze.
The noise of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Tire noise and wind are the enemies of high-end electric cars, but this plus-size Mercedes is perfect. The EQS SUV glides effortlessly on the road. The cabin is virtually silent, save for the occasional muffled road noise when the tires scurry over broken asphalt or jagged asphalt rubble.
Conversations with other passengers are easy, you can even whisper to each other. I’ve tested many cars and the EQS SUV is the quietest of them all. It is double insulated thanks to the rubber mounts.
Braking and braking in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
While the feel of the brake pedal takes getting used to (it’s a digital regeneration system), my stops were smooth after some familiarization. Of course, all electric vehicles offer some kind of brake regeneration, and the EQS SUV is no exception. Of the four driving modes (STRONG, NORMAL, NONE, and INTELLIGENT), I found the latter to be the most useful and least intrusive because it works according to factors in the surroundings (traffic and geography).
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Off-Road Electric SUV
The SUV features an off-road mode that raises the suspension and changes the behavior of the powertrain. I tested these settings first-hand on rough terrain and was impressed with the car’s capabilities, although most buyers won’t engage in such activities.
The range of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Although it uses the same 107.8kWh battery pack, the EQS SUV’s estimated driving range isn’t quite as impressive. The EQS450+ model provides an advertised range of 305 miles per charge while the EQS450 4Matic and 4Matic all-wheel drive models provide about 285 miles.
Charging and battery specifications of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The EQS SUV can charge at top speeds of up to 200 kW, and will take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes. But its charging is not as fast as that of its 800-volt Korean competitors. All models come with a 9.6 kW charger.
To help manage range predictions, the car predicts range (how far to go), compares the route to upcoming charging stations, and monitors whether it has enough power to make it home.
Technological features of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
Mercedes continues to pioneer the MBUX infotainment system. Besides the virtual assistant that controls the car by voice, it is useful for adjusting controls or viewing information without having to take your eyes off the road. The Burmester sound system sounds great, and the built-in navigation system is useful for routing to nearby charging stations. EQS, with a total of eight USB ports, is overkill for a five-person cabin, and integration with two phone systems is standard.
Mercedes-Benz’s advanced driving aids work great and are among the best in the industry. We wouldn’t call their operations flawless, but overall adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning and 360-degree cameras make driving easier and safer.
Fuel economy of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
The 2023 EQS SUV has different EPA ratings depending on the powertrain configuration. The EQS450+ is rated at 85 mpg combined; The number drops to 78 miles in the all-wheel-drive variant, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated it 4Matic. EQS580 at 77 mpg. When we get a chance, we’ll take the EQS SUV out on the road to measure fuel economy.
Operating cost of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
Based on experiences with 15,000 miles of annual driving (45% highway, 55% city), the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV costs between $800 and $900 per year to charge this SUV.
Safety and driver assistance features of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
The EQS SUV has a host of standard driver assistance technologies. Along with the normal safety equipment, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and a self-parking feature. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Standard lane departure warning and lane keep assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
China costs and warranty coverage for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
Mercedes’ warranty periods are consistent with other luxury automakers, such as Audi and BMW. However, unlike these German competitors, Benz-branded models do not include any free maintenance.
- The limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- The powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Electrical components are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles
- There is no free scheduled maintenance
Features of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV in 2023
- Comfortable interior, well-appointed with high-quality materials
- Long list of features
- The optional Hyperscreen is very futuristic
- The battery range is impressive in the real world
- Lots of standard features and in-car technology
Disadvantages of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS electric SUV
- It’s not as fun to drive as other electric SUVs
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