Mercedes-Benz EQS Review

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, 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 dime 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 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 just under £100,000 – and that's for the 'entry-level' EQS 350 AMG Line. This has a range of up to 408 miles, which makes it one of the most usable electric cars on the market today.

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.

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. There's also the Mercedes EQE, which has all the highlights of the EQS in a slightly smaller package.

The EQS 450+ AMG Line Premium Plus is the best pick.

Its single rear-mounted motor produces 365PS and 568Nm of torque. It reaches 62mph in 6.1 seconds, which is comfortably quick enough for joining motorways and overtaking. The main reason to choose it over the EQS 350 is the battery. The 450+ uses a 118kWh usable pack and can officially travel up to 482 miles in its most efficient specification.

The EQS 350 is considerably cheaper and still offers up to 412 miles from its 96kWh battery. Its 296PS output and 6.7-second 0-62mph time are also adequate, making it the value choice where maximum range is less important.

The 450+ is better suited to the EQS’s role as a long-distance luxury car. Its additional range reduces the need for public charging and makes cross-country journeys easier to complete without interruption.

AMG Line Premium Plus includes the equipment expected at this price, including air suspension, rear-axle steering, extensive driver assistance and a generous range of luxury features. Business Class versions add further rear-seat equipment and more elaborate cabin trim, but are difficult to justify unless the car will regularly be used for chauffeur duties.

The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is extremely fast but costs more than £160,000. Its reduced range and firmer character work against the qualities that make the regular EQS appealing.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS range starts at £99,845 for the EQS 350 AMG Line Premium.

The EQS 450+ AMG Line Premium Plus costs £119,620, while Business Class versions move beyond that figure before options. The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 costs from approximately £161,820.

Those are substantial prices even within the luxury electric-car market. The EQS competes with well-equipped versions of the BMW i7, Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. Standard equipment is generous, but optional paint, wheels, cabin finishes and technology packages can still increase the final cost significantly.

The BMW i7 is the closest conventional luxury-car alternative. Its interior is exceptionally spacious and its limousine-like design has more road presence. The EQS has the more practical boot and stronger maximum range.

The Porsche Taycan is substantially more rewarding to drive. Its steering, body control and performance give it genuine sports-car character, while its newer electrical system supports faster charging. The Mercedes is quieter and more comfortable.

The Audi e-tron GT shares much of the Taycan’s engineering but has a more restrained personality. It remains sportier than the EQS, although its boot and rear cabin are less practical.

The Mercedes-Benz EQE is smaller and less expensive, while retaining much of the same technology and relaxed character. Its boot and rear accommodation are more restricted.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV provides a higher seating position and the option of seven seats. It is less efficient and more cumbersome than the hatchback.

As you might expect, 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 620 litres of space. The Mercedes EQS lacks a front boot (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 don't get the high seating position you'll find in SUV alternatives like the BMW iX or Tesla Model Y.

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.

Only the EQS 450 has four interior colour options: Nappa black leather, beige with space grey, black with balao brown and Nappa with biscay blue. An executive rear seat package adds climate-controlled rear seats and a rear MBUX tablet. Standard seating includes electrically adjustable rear seats, powered and massaging front seats. 

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.

The EQS is 5,216mm long, so it occupies roughly the same amount of kerb space as a full-size luxury saloon.

Its body measures 1,926mm wide and expands to 2,125mm with the mirrors extended. Narrow roads, older car parks and tight garages require careful planning.

The 1,512mm height gives it a low, streamlined appearance rather than the upright presence of a luxury SUV.

All Mercedes EQS models 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.

The new MBUX screen consists of three displays merged (almost) into one: two 12.3-inch units and a 17.7-inch central display. The passenger and central screens are OLED, while the driver cluster is LCD. It also comes with one wireless headphone and a fingerprint scanner.

If you're spending a near-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 3 in that regard...

The UK range includes the EQS 350, EQS 450+ and Mercedes-AMG EQS 53.

The EQS 350 offers sufficient performance for everyday luxury-car use. Its electric motor responds immediately, while acceleration remains smooth and controlled.

The EQS 450+ feels stronger, particularly when overtaking, but still avoids the aggressive response found in some high-performance EVs. Its 365PS output and 568Nm of torque provide effortless progress rather than dramatic acceleration.

The 118kWh battery is the main attraction. An official range of up to 482 miles makes the 450+ one of the longest-range electric cars available.

The AMG EQS 53 uses two motors and four-wheel drive. Its 658PS output produces extremely strong acceleration, reaching 62mph in 3.8 seconds.

That performance is impressive but at odds with the EQS’s relaxed personality. The AMG also costs substantially more and cannot match the 450+ for range.

Mercedes’ forthcoming replacement is expected to exceed 500 miles and charge significantly faster. That is important context for anyone considering a brand-new current-generation car.

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.

Unsurprisingly, with all this tech, the Mercedes EQS was given a five-star rating by Euro NCAP when it was crash-tested in 2021.

All cars feature the Driving Assistance Package Plus, meaning lane keep assist, rear sensors, active steering assist, evasive manoeuvre support, traffic sign assist and more. Likewise, the Remote Parking package is standard. This includes a 360-degree camera, Remote Park-Pilot, and memory parking assist. 

The EQS 350 can charge up to 170kW, meaning 10-80% takes just 32 minutes. It also has an onboard 11kW charger, meaning empty to 100% takes around 10.25 hours. The EQS 450+ charges at 200kW. However, the battery is larger, meaning it's only one minute quicker during the 10-80% charge. Filling from empty to full via a wallbox takes 12.25 hours. 

The EQS has a three-year manufacturer warranty with no mileage limit. Its high-voltage battery is covered for up to 10 years or 155,000 miles. Electric cars have fewer routine mechanical service items than petrol or diesel vehicles, but the EQS still requires scheduled inspections.

Every Mercedes-Benz EQS sits in insurance group 50. That is the highest possible rating and reflects the car’s value, performance, electrical complexity and repair costs.

The standard annual rate from the second year is £200, while every EQS exceeds the £50,000 Expensive Car Supplement threshold for zero-emission vehicles. This supplement adds £440 a year for five years, beginning from the second year.