The EQS SUV has a tough job. It has to lure back customers who found the EQS Limousine too impractical.
After looking at it for a few minutes, I was convinced that it is tough to call the EQS SUV a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The aerodynamics that improve the range of this luxury electric car have made its body so streamlined that it looks like a large, slippery hatchback rather than an SUV. That is not a drawback because all it needs to do is be an EQS limousine on stilts or, maybe, better than that. We lived with it for a few days to find out where exactly it appears on a rich EV buyer’s radar.
As an electric S-Class on stilts, the EQS SUV is convincing. It shares a lot of design elements with its sedan counterpart and the slightly smaller EQE. Like both of those cars, the bonnet cannot be opened by the customer which feels like a waste of some additional storage space. From every angle, the EQS SUV’s styling is familiar. Aerodynamics have dictated the shape and design of the exterior but Mercedes have done a remarkable job of fusing them all into a form that is instantly associated with opulence. At just over 5.1 metres long, this is by no means a small vehicle and the 3.2-metre wheelbase appears promising in terms of space for this three-row seven-seater SUV.
After sinking into the luxurious driver seat, one becomes immediately aware of the hyperscreen which is present in all top-of-line Mercedes models these days. It stretches across the width of the dashboard and is easily the best in segment in terms of graphics and usability. While they have paid attention to making crucial functions instantly available on the screen, we feel providing physical controls for functions, including air-conditioner and volume, would have been more useful.
Such worries are quickly forgotten when one uses the massage function in the front seats. To add to that state of tranquillity, Mercedes have also equipped the EQS SUV with an impressive 15-speaker Burmester music system which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Following a brisk drive, the switch to the second row was disappointing. The seats themselves are plush and above reproach, though. Furthermore, they also offer a comfortable position with adequate head-, knee-, and leg-room but fall short of the luxurious experience one has come to expect of the S-Class family. The rear seats do not offer massage functions, nor do they have electric window blinds. Cooled seats are more relevant to most of our country but this car offers heated seats only. Overall, the second-row comfort of the EQS is good but not good enough for the S-Class brand and nowhere as luxurious as the Maybach EV. They have made up for it with personal entertainment for the second-row passengers. Each one gets their own personal screen and noise-cancelling headphones. The third row is best reserved for children or small adults and with it folded down completely, one has loads of luggage room to utilise.
The EQS SUV has one motor at either end which gives this car the ability to use all-wheel drive when needed. They draw power from a huge 122-kWh battery which promises a tension-free range of 809 kilometres. From our driving experience, we feel one may expect at least 600 km. Combined power and torque figures are 544 hp and 858 Nm respectively which are adequate to propel this 2.8-tonne behemoth from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. In the real world, what impressed us was the way this giant delivers that power. The cabin is incredibly refined and can be described as a sanctuary. So, it was always surprising to note that I was travelling a lot faster than I would have guessed. In Comfort mode, the chauffeur should have no trouble at all in transporting their employer around in supreme comfort and should the employer want to sample the electric power, then Sport is reasonably feisty.
Air suspension is a boon to have in a car like this because, in addition to raising the car by a few extra millimetres when needed, it also offers a versatile ride quality. It is set up on the softer side, so it is most rewarding in Comfort mode. Sport firms it up a little to sharpen the handling but not so much as to upset the ride. Regardless of which mode it is in, the EQS SUV remains planted on straight highways. It is so composed that one could be easily convinced it was flattening the road as it rolled along. It carries itself gracefully round fast corners. The bulk is evident and so is some roll under spirited driving, but drive it as it is meant to be driven and the car does not offer cause for complaint. Replace “flicking it into a corner” with “guiding it through a curve” and the EQS SUV responds by going round the turn in a stately manner. At low speeds, this car should be a nightmare on narrow roads and in tight parking spaces but it is not. Mercedes have solved that problem by thoughtfully equipping it with rear-wheel steering. At pace also it helps by working with the all-wheel drive to generate more grip and an improved sense of confidence.
The EQS SUV immediately outshines its sedan counterpart on our roads by offering better ground clearance and more comfortable rear seats but it misses out on a few key features in the second row. However, it makes up for those shortcomings with its phenomenal pricing. One of these starts from Rs 1.41 crore, which is more accessible than the EQS Limousine. Since it is assembled in India, it is also only slightly more expensive than the EQE SUV. The difference from the electric Maybach SUV is not too much (for someone shopping in this space) because that one starts at Rs 2.28 crore (ex-showroom).
In conclusion, the EQS SUV fills the role of a flagship luxury reasonably well but there is room for improvement. A further drop in price or the addition of a few more features would be appreciated.
Also Read: Mercedes-Benz E 200 LWB V214 Review
Leave a Reply