Mercedes-Benz EQS Review 2024
Written by Andy Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Electric car with incredible range of up to 453 miles
- More comfortable and practical than many alternatives
- Looks less offensive than a lot of premium electric cars
Cons
- Not as sharp to drive as a Porsche Taycan
- It's very expensive
- It's even more expensive once you go to town on the options list
Overall verdict on the Mercedes-Benz EQS
"The Mercedes EQS is more than just a desirable electric car. It's the German brand showing off its capabilities – a big two fingers at Tesla, if you like, signposting the direction for its rapidly expanding electric vehicle line-up."
The Mercedes EQS isn't the first luxury electric car to hit the market. The Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT both cater for those buyers pretty well, but the EQS takes a slightly different approach. It's softer, more comfortable, and also – thanks to its hatchback design – more practical.
It's also huge. Like, massive. But that translates to more interior space than any other electric car on sale. And it's also given Mercedes the chance to demonstrate the technology it has to make piloting this showboat easier. Driver-assistance tech that keeps you in your lane or slows you down with the traffic around you is a given, but the rear-axle steering that allows the EQS to turn on a thimble is pure theatre.
The interior is much like you'd find in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class – but what a car to mimic. You get numerous digital displays, including a fancy portrait infotainment screen and, if you splash the cash, an incredible hyperscreen running along the full width of the dashboard. This is the Mercedes MBUX on steroids.
Refinement is superb; there really is very little else on the market that'll get you to your destination feeling as relaxed as the EQS. The air suspension does a superb job of absorbing lumpy road surfaces (not something that can be taken for granted in an electric vehicle as heavy as the EQS), and it doesn't necessarily come at the expense of handling, either.
No, it's not quite as agile as the Porsche Taycan, and you're never going to forget quite how big the EQS is. But if you fail to scrub off enough speed entering a roundabout, your passengers aren't going to be made to feel seasick.
You might feel a bit under the weather once you take a look at the price list of the EQS, however. It starts at more than £100,000 – and that's for the 'entry-level' EQS 450+ AMG Line. This has a range of up to 453 miles, which makes it one of the most useable electric cars on the market today. If you find a rapid enough charger, you can even add 186 miles of range in just half an hour.
The flagship Mercedes EQS 53 features an extra electric motor to provide 658PS and Tesla-baiting performance – with an incredible 950Nm of instant torque available, it'll accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. It'll also cost in excess of £157,000...
The reality is, few people will buy the Mercedes EQS. But we'll look forward to seeing the technology on offer drop down to more affordable electric cars – the upcoming Mercedes EQE could be one to wait for you if you fancy all the highlights of the EQS is a slightly smaller package.
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Is the Mercedes-Benz EQS right for you?
If you want the best electric car that money can buy, the Mercedes EQS is a strong choice. It's expensive, and not as fun to drive as a Porsche Taycan, but it can cover a serious distance between charges. The interior is lovely, too.
What’s the best Mercedes-Benz EQS model/engine to choose?
The high list price of the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 makes it hard to justify unless you really desire the extra performance over the regular EQS 450+. We'd save the cash and go for an EQS 450+, albeit in one of the higher trim levels with a few select options chucked in. At £7995 the hyperscreen package is an expensive but desirable option, while the rear luxury lounge package will appeal if you're a well-to-do Uber driver.
What other cars are similar to the Mercedes-Benz EQS?
If you're looking for a luxurious electric vehicle, the Audi e-tron GT should be on your shortlist alongside the Mercedes EQS. The Porsche Taycan is a slightly sportier choice, although it's worth looking for a Taycan Sport Turismo if you need hatchback practicality. BMW doesn't sell a direct competitors to the EQS, but you may also want to consider the BMW iX SUV.
If you're looking for an electric car that'll go as far as possible (or as quickly as possible), the Tesla Model S should also be on your radar. Alternatively, if you're not quite sure if you're ready for an electric car, take a look at the latest Mercedes S-Class.
Comfort and design: Mercedes-Benz EQS interior
"As an electric alternative to the Mercedes S-Class, the EQS has an impressive interior that perfectly combines modern technology with exemplary build quality."
While you may love or hate how the Mercedes EQS looks on the outside, there's very little not to like inside. You get big leather seats that are almost as comfortable as a living room armchair, while there's enough adjustment to appease all tastes.
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQS is a little bit dependent on which specification you go for, but none of them make the EQS feel downmarket. We quite like the Luxury and Exclusive Luxury models with the walnut dash but, if you prefer a more modern appearance, you can spec the EQS with a huge widescreen infotainment system running across the entire width of the dashboard.
While most of the EQS's controls are incorporated into the infotainment system, there are still quite a few physical buttons dotted around the cabin. That means it's not as minimalist as some competitors but we don't necessarily mind that – the door-mounted electric seat adjustment is quite intuitive, for example, while there's a (now old school) button on the dashboard to start the car.
Quality and finish
If you're spending a six-figure sum on a Mercedes, you'd expect the interior to be pretty impeccably finished. And, well, it is. Most Mercedes EQS models come with squishy seats covered in real leather (the EQS Luxury combines Artico man-made leather with microfibre), while everything you touch feels reassuringly solid.
It's impossible to fault the Mercedes EQS in terms of interior quality. It's probably the finest-finished electric car you can buy. And it's certainly very different to a Tesla Model S in that regard...
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Mercedes-Benz EQS
Mercedes has taken the Tesla approach with the infotainment in the new EQS. Even on the most affordable Mercedes EQS (that's definitely a relative term...), you'll find a large 12.8-inch touchscreen display dominating the dashboard. It feels suitably futuristic for a flagship electric car but that doesn't come at the expense of usability. Adjusting the climate control is an easy task, for example, with fixed 'buttons' at the bottom of the screen. The system looks sharp, reacts quickly and it's easy to operate – while there's always the 'hey Mercedes' voice assistant on hand for performing fuss-free tasks.
All Mercedes EQS models also come with the firm's clever augmented reality navigation directions – these use the head-up display to project arrows onto the windscreen, making it easy to see which direction you need to go (great on a multi-exit roundabout, for example). There's also a clever traffic light view, which'll use the car's forward-facing camera to display the view ahead when stopped at traffic lights. This is surprisingly useful for those occasions when you stop a little too far forward at the lights.
If one huge touchscreen wasn't enough, there's also a 12.3-inch tablet-like display behind the steering wheel, which can be easily configured using the touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel.
On top of that is the optional hyperscreen. This is every bit as awesome as it sounds – the central touchscreen system is upgraded to a 17.7-inch display, while there's an extra 12.3-inch screen running across the passenger's side of the dashboard. It's not a cheap option (nothing on the EQS is, in fairness) and it certainly isn't necessary but it does add that extra element of wow factor into the cabin.
Space and practicality: Mercedes-Benz EQS boot space
Let's not beat about the bush: the Mercedes EQS is huge. It measures 5216mm in length, 2125mm wide (including door mirrors) and 1512mm in height.
Unsurprisingly, then, it's rather spacious inside. Pleasingly, it's actually a hatchback, with a large boot opening that makes cramming bulky items in the boot easier than in an Audi e-tron GT or Porsche Taycan. It can accommodate 610 litres of space, while dropping the rear seats increases this to an estate-car-like 1770 litres. The one thing the Mercedes EQS lacks – unlike a Tesla Model S – is a front boot (also known as a 'frunk'). The cavernous boot means you won't really miss this, but it is a useful place to store your charging cables.
There's less room for rear-seat passengers than in a Mercedes S-Class but more spacious than in the back of an Audi e-tron GT. The rear luxury lounge package is a desirable option if you're planning to chauffeur passengers about; it adds things like electrically adjustable massaging rear seats, and a comfort armrest with wireless charging and climate control for those in the back.
There's loads of room in the front, too, although you obviously don't get the high seating position you'll find in SUV alternatives like the BMW iX or Tesla Model X.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Mercedes-Benz EQS like to drive?
"Think of the Mercedes EQS as a comfortable electric limo rather than a highly strung sports car. It is, essentially, the electric equivalent of a Mercedes S-Class, with the soft ride quality and light steering you'd expect from a car designed to help you devour many hundreds of miles in one hit."
It feels very normal to drive, in a good way. You get in it, press a button to start it and use a stalk behind the steering wheel to select drive or reverse (just like every other Mercedes on sale). It's a big car – massive, in fact – but all EQS models come with some form of rear axle steering which gives it a tighter turning circle than you might expect. The top models will turn their rear wheels up to 10 degrees, which is a pretty cool party trick.
The Mercedes EQS comes with active park assist (which can help you slot the EQS into a tight parking space) as well as a handy reversing camera. AMG Line Premium trim gets a 360-degree camera, while higher-spec models come with a remote parking feature. This allows you to get out of the car and park the EQS using the Mercedes Me app on your phone – ideal for tight parking spaces (and an even more impressive party trick than the rear axle steering).
You get the usual Mercedes drive modes (eco, comfort, sport and individual), while the standard air suspension can be tweaked to your taste (or mood). It rides impressively well for such a heavy electric car while – despite its comfort focus – it doesn't corner like a P&O ferry, either.
It'd be an exaggeration to say that the Mercedes EQS shrinks around you on the open road, though – it feels big on country lanes, while even the rear-wheel steering does little to improve agility. The Porsche Taycan is a much better choice if you enjoy driving, but the EQS does a divine job of wafting along in a refined manner.
What motors and batteries are available in the Mercedes-Benz EQS?
The EQS is available in two key variants: the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ and the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+. Both use the same 108kWh battery; in the EQS 450+ it powers a single 333PS electric motor driving the rear wheels. In the EQS 53, it powers an electric motor on each axle providing four-wheel drive and a total output of 658PS.
We've only driven the Mercedes EQS 450+ so far and it feels sprightly, if not as urgent as a Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S. It'll accelerate to 62mph in 6.2 seconds in a pretty instant and seamless manner, making light work of motorway sliproads or punchy overtakes.
You'll need the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ if you're after more forceful acceleration. This'll cover the 0-62mph sprint in 3.8 seconds – roughly the same as a Porsche Taycan GTS.
Maximum electric range in the Mercedes-Benz EQS
The official electric range in the Mercedes EQS depends on which model you choose. The most efficient is the EQS 450+ AMG Line which, according to WLTP tests, can travel up to 453 miles between charges. Pile on the options and this figure drops – a Mercedes EQS 450+ Exclusive Luxury with the hyperscreen and rear luxury lounge pack sees this drop to 404 miles.
Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ models aren't quite so efficient, but can still travel up to 358 miles on a charge (again, depending on which trim level and options you go for).
Combine these impressive range figures with 200kW rapid charging and the Mercedes EQS is a very useable electric vehicle. In the real world, it'll travel a similar distance to a Tesla Model S (with its official 405-mile range) before you need to stop for a charge – and a fair distance further than a Porsche Taycan.
Refinement and noise levels
The most damning thing we can say about the Mercedes EQS's refinement is it's so quiet, you can easily accelerate up to licence-losing speeds with only the digital speedo giving any hint that you're travelling so quickly.
Even with the large 21-inch alloy wheels fitted to our test car, we noticed next to no thrum from the tyres while wind noise is barely noticeable, either. You're so incredibly isolated from the outside world, it's impossible not to feel relaxed when driving the EQS (at least until you see the blue lights appear in your rear-view mirror, of course).
Safety equipment: How safe is the Mercedes-Benz EQS?
The Mercedes EQS can't quite drive itself, but it's certainly got the technology to help reduce your chances of being involved in a collision. The regular driving assistance package (standard on AMG Line models) comes with active lane keeping assist, which will nudge the steering to prevent you straying from your lane, while the active distance assist will keep you a set distance from other traffic.
The driving assistance package plus (standard on all other trim levels) adds a host of driver-assistance tech. This includes active steering assist (which will keep you in the centre of your lane), as well as active braking assist (which can apply the brakes to prevent a collision if necessary) and evasive steering assist (which can help you swerve around an object in front of your car).
Unsurprisingly, with all this tech, the Mercedes EQS was given a five-star rating by Euro NCAP when it was crash-tested in 2021.
Charging times: How much does it cost to charge the Mercedes-Benz EQS?
"One of the most impressive features of the Mercedes EQS is how quickly it charges. With a 200kW on-board charger, it can be topped up from 10 to 80% in around half an hour – provided you find a fast enough charger."
If you do find a 200kW public rapid charger, you can add an extra 186 miles of range to the Mercedes EQS in as little as 15 minutes. You're more likely to find a 50kW charger at motorway service stations, capable of adding 80% charge in around two hours.
The most convenient way of charging a Mercedes EQS is by having a 7kW home wallbox installed next to your driveway. This'll fully charge the EQS in around 15 hours – perfect for overnight top-ups. Depending on your home electricity tariff, this'll cost you around £18.
How reliable is a Mercedes-Benz EQS?
Mercedes generally performs fairly well in reliability surveys, although its ranking in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index was pretty middle of the road.
Electric cars are generally more reliable than their petrol or diesel counterparts, though, as there are fewer mechanical parts to go wrong. The Mercedes EQS comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, while its traction battery is covered for 10 years and 155,000 miles.
Insurance groups and costs
The Mercedes-Benz EQS has been placed in insurance group 50 – that's the highest group there is. Electric cars can be expensive to insure, anyway, while the £100,000+ price tag of the EQS won't help, either. Best to shop around for quotes first, and don't even bother if you're a new or inexperienced driver.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Mercedes-Benz EQS?
As well as the obvious fuel savings, you'll also save money on tax by buying an electric car like the Mercedes EQS. The annual VED bill is nothing, zero, zilch. And you won't get hit by the Government's £335/year premium car tax, either – it's exempt from that, too.
How much should you be paying for a Mercedes-Benz EQS?
"The Mercedes-Benz EQS range starts from a little over £100,000 for the 450+ AMG Line model, while AMG EQS 53 models are a hefty £156,000."
The Mercedes EQS certainly isn't a budget electric car – much the opposite, in fact, it's one of the most expensive electric cars on sale today.
You're not going to save a heap of cash by hunting out a pre-registered car, either. While dealers do have demonstrator models in stock, high demand means they're going to be reluctant to offer huge savings.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The range kicks off with the Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG Line which comes with quite an extensive list of standard features. These include 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof, LED headlights, 4.5-degree rear-axle steering, heated seats (front and rear), privacy glass and AMG sports seats finished in leather. There's also a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.8-inch central infotainment display as well as MBUX augmented reality navigation directions, along with the parking package featuring active parking assist and a reversing camera.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG Line Premium builds on this with 21-inch alloy wheels, digital light headlights and 10-degree rear axle steering. Inside, the AMG Line Premium model features ambient lighting, a Burmester premium surround sound system, the driving assistance package plus and a 360-degree parking camera.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG Line Premium Plus features all of the above as well as a different style of 21-inch alloy wheels (these are a fancy multi-spoke design), acoustic privacy glass, a head-up display, MBUX interior assistant and a three-year subscription to the Mercedes Me remote parking service.
Highlights of the Mercedes-Benz EQS Luxury include 22-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior highlights, comfort seats, an electric art interior, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and a rose gold vehicle key. The upholstery is finished in part-Artico leather while the dash is covered in walnut wood.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS Exclusive Luxury features another design of 22-inch alloy wheels, multi-contour seats with massaging function and Nappa black leather seats.
Looking for a sportier AMG model? The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 Night Edition comes with 21-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG exterior highlights, red brake calipers, a panoramic roof, nine-degree rear axle steering and an AMG rear lip spoiler.
The range-topping Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 Touring comes with 22-inch AMG alloy wheels, silver brake calipers, AMG sports seats in Nappa leather, a heated windscreen and steering wheel and walnut wood trim.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
How much does the Mercedes-Benz EQS cost?
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