2023 Mercedes EQE SUV first ride

Mercedes-Benz’s introduction into the electrical car ranks has truthful acold been divided into 2 chiseled camps.  

The trio of models based connected its dedicated electrical conveyance architecture – the alleged EVA structure, including the upmarket Mercedes EQS saloon, Mercedes EQE saloon and Mercedes EQS SUV, person been roundly applauded for their outstanding operation of performance, refinement, luxury and wide efficiency.

On the different hand, the much affordable electrical models that trust connected the aforesaid level arsenic their interior combustion motor siblings, the EQA crossover, EQB SUV, EQC SUV, person attracted little admiration. Solid successful galore areas, but not class-leading, being the consensus. 

The EQE SUV is connected merchantability successful the UK present with a terms tag of £90,560 successful 350 4Matic specifications, portion the much almighty 500 4Matic kicking disconnected from £108,760

But there's bully quality - the EQE SUV is precise overmuch a coagulated entrant into Mercedes' EV line-up. In fact, the EQE SUV mightiness beryllium Mercedes’ astir convincing electric-powered exemplary yet.  

That’s the decision aft riding successful 2 pre-production prototypes of the caller five-seat exemplary connected roads some wrong and extracurricular Mercedes’ Immendingen trial installation successful Germany.

With Mercedes engineers astatine the instrumentality on a bid of challenging roads utilized to hone components and trial chassis settings during the improvement process, the EQE SUV comes crossed a precise polished and implicit rival to the likes of the precocious upgraded Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX and Jaguar I-Pace. 

Like the EQS saloon, EQE saloon and EQS SUV, it’s based connected the EVA platform. The skateboard-style operation sites the EQE SUV’s electrical motors debased down astatine either the rear or, arsenic successful the EQE500 4Matic SUV and EQE53 4Matic+ SUV models successful absorption here, astatine the beforehand and rear, with the 90.6kWh battery.

There’s surely nary mistaking the EQE SUV arsenic 1 of Mercedes’ latest electric-powered models. Distinguished astatine the beforehand by a achromatic sheet grille, which is acceptable to travel with the German car maker’s three-pointed prima logo signifier arsenic optional, it besides gets a akin smooth-surfaced styling treatment, 10-window glasshouse and rounded silhouette arsenic the larger and much costly EQS SUV.

There are immoderate subtle differences betwixt the two, including unsocial headlamp graphics, a little flamboyant clamshell-style bonnet and a much acute, sloping roof. The tailgate is little upright than connected the EQS SUV, too.

At 4863mm successful length, 1940mm successful width and 1686mm successful height, the EQE SUV is 262mm shorter, 19mm narrower and 32mm little than the EQS SUV. It besides rides connected a wheelbase that is 180mm shorter than that of its larger sibling. 

The interior of the EQE SUV is overmuch similar that of the EQE saloon, with a prime of 2 dashboard layouts – a modular matter with abstracted instrumentality and portrait-style infotainment displays oregon Mercedes-Benz’s Hyperscreen, which supports 3 idiosyncratic displays successful a azygous facia, arsenic a precocious outgo option.

It’s suitably opulent inside, with high-quality materials throughout, and it’s besides precise roomy, with fantabulous beforehand and rear abstraction and 520 litres of footwear space, but there’s nary retention underneath the bonnet.

Mercedes-Benz plans 3 modular and 2 AMG EQE SUV models from the commencement of sales. Kicking disconnected the line-up is the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive EQE350+ SUV with 288bhp and 416lb ft. It volition beryllium joined by the much almighty dual-motor, four-wheel-drive EQE350 SUV 4Matic with 288bhp and 564lb ft and the EQE500 SUV 4Matic with 402bhp and 632lb ft.

The AMG models some tally a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive drivetrain, with the EQE43 SUV 4Matic offering 469bhp and 623lb ft and the range-topping EQE53 SUV 4Matic+ delivering up to 677bhp and 737lb ft successful operation with an optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package.

On abstracted runs successful and astir Mercedes’ trial facility, the EQE500 4Matic SUV and EQE53 4Matic+ SUV displayed differing characters, contempt some featuring aerial suspension and rear-wheel steering arsenic standard. 

The EQE500 4Matic SUV delivers beardown yet hushed show successful operation with an outstandingly well-controlled thrust and debased levels of roadworthy sound and upwind buffeting. It is ever blissfully quiet.

The much almighty EQE53 ramps up acceleration and befits its show car billing. Its dual electrical motors, boasting unsocial windings among different elaborate changes, let the EQE53 4Matic+ to rev higher than the EQE500 4Matic, providing it with an added 275bhp and 105lb ft implicit its modular dual centrifugal sibling. 

Altogether, determination are 4 driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. Comfort is programmed to present 80 per cent of the wide power, with Sport delivering 90 per cent and Sport Plus the afloat 100%.

Mercedes-Benz claims 0-62mph successful 3.5sec successful Sport Plus. However, the immense flood of torque unleashed with adjacent fleeting prods of the throttle arsenic good arsenic the formidable traction provided by the afloat adaptable 4Matic four-wheel thrust strategy makes it consciousness quicker still.

With the self-levelling aerial suspension and adaptable damping properties, there’s exceptional power to the caller AMG model’s ride. The suppression of transportation and dive is precise impressive, arsenic is the isolation of roadworthy daze and noise.

The champion part, however, is the outright agility. With a debased centre of gravity and an electronically controlled anti-roll strategy moving to antagonistic lean, the EQE53 4Matic+ SUV corners with large purpose. 

The uniquely tuned rear instrumentality steering sees it crook successful with large enthusiasm connected the entry, though immoderate impressions of the benignant of consciousness and feedback it delivers volition person to hold until aboriginal this twelvemonth erstwhile we get to thrust it ourselves. 

Such is its quality to transportation velocity done corners, we were near wondering wherefore AMG has settled connected specified level beforehand seats. They request greater broadside enactment and firmer cushioning.

It volition beryllium a portion earlier we tin independently verify Mercedes-Benz’s scope claims, though it says the EQE SUV, known internally nether the codename X296, volition beryllium rather competitory connected this front, with the single-motor, rear-wheel thrust EQE350+ delivering betwixt 302 and 370 miles connected the WLTP cycle.

The dual-motor, four-wheel thrust EQE500 4Matic SUV and EQ E53 4Matic+ SUV are predictably not arsenic economical, boasting respective WLTP ranges of betwixt 289 and 343 miles and 233 and 292 miles.

Production of the EQE SUV for the UK marketplace volition instrumentality spot astatine Mercedes' Tuscaloosa mill successful the US – the aforesaid tract that presently produces the GLE, GLS and EQS SUVs.

Plans besides beryllium for the caller electrical exemplary to beryllium produced astatine the German car maker’s associated task works operated successful co-operation with Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation successful Beijing, China, though lone for the home Chinese market.

UK pricing for the EQE SUV has yet to beryllium announced, though Mercedes confirmed it volition transportation a premium supra the EQE saloon, which starts at £74,345.