First driving test – this is how the Mercedes EQS SUV drives

Mercedes-Benz is not afraid to make radical design choices. Now BMW isn’t either, but at Das Haus the decisions still have a functional purpose, which is to increase the driving range when you want to drive 130 km/h or faster on the highway for a long time. That is when the electrons and protons fly out of the battery. In the city, electric cars perform well because of their enormous torque, but on the highway, air resistance is the number one enemy. This problem also occurs in the traditional S-class and GLS, but in cars with a combustion engine, an empty tank is quickly filled. In an EV of more than one ton, you as a brand do not want your customers to start staring nervously at their instruments after driving 250 kilometers. Therefore, the EQS SUV took on a rather radical shape, purely dictated by the wind tunnel. Camera mirrors were even considered, but because SUVs are more often used in urban areas, where aerodynamics are irrelevant, camera mirrors that consume constant power proved a bridge too far.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUVb did not have camera mirrors.

EQS SUV is a kind of elevated R-class

The wind tunnel dictatorship led to a kind of elevated R-class, more MPV than SUV and in any case completely different from its angular and tough combustion engine brother GLS. The front and rear are fine, but from the side the EQS SUV mainly looks like a stretched EQE SUV with an extra piece welded in. It is striking that the roof of this electric ‘SUV’ is only 20 centimeters higher than that of the EQS sedan. Still, Mercedes had a hard time getting the range close to that of the EQS sedan. Despite its Cw value of 0.26, the SUV has a range of ‘only’ 660 kilometers, while its low brother comes up to 731 kilometers. Its slippery body with recessed door handles and large wheelbase may not seem very tough, but when you’re standing next to it, the 5.13 meter long EQS SUV is still a jerk of a car. While driving, you hardly notice its size. This is mainly because this model, just like its ‘low’ brother, has four-wheel steering as standard, which makes it feel less long. As standard, the rear wheels turn up to 4.5 degrees, but you can opt for 10 degrees at an additional cost, which leads to an even smaller turning circle of only 11 meters.

Lowest center of gravity of all Mercedes SUVs

Mercedes claims that the EQS has the lowest center of gravity of all its SUVs due to the low-mounted batteries, although you notice the overall unwieldyness of this at least 2,695 kilogram weighing colossus when braking. However, when we switch off all electronic driver aids and conquer some serious mountain roads in the mountains around the American city of Denver, the chassis fights back. That means: hardly any oversteer, little understeer and no suspension that absorbs all irregularities like a kind of wet cake and therefore eliminates all driving pleasure.

Furthermore, it hardly rolls over its tires and the ESP system – which is never completely turned off at Mercedes – intervenes later than expected. When we are back on the highway a little later, the enormous silence in the interior strikes again. Wind hardly seems to get a grip on the bodywork and tire noise – often the biggest spoilsport in electric cars – is barely audible. It is the ultimate long-distance companion and also an all-rounder with space for seven passengers if desired.

Pretty good terrain

Even in the terrain, this little chunky-looking car stands its ground, as it turns out when we are allowed to conquer a childish off-road terrain in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The cars are equipped with special off-road tires for this, but still. Especially the silence on board, the high ground clearance and the apparently endless pulling power are impressive, but also the fact that all wheels can be driven independently. There is even a Downhill Speed ​​Regulation, which allows the Benz to descend according to a set speed. In practice, few owners will send their EQS SUV into the woods, but for a winter sports holiday, the car does not turn around. You’re regal behind the wheel, especially when you look out at the optional Hyperscreen, which covers the entire dashboard.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has the enormous hyperscreen of the regular EQS.

In the back it is just as good to stay, because here the headroom – unlike its lower brother – is amply available. A third row of seats is available at an additional cost, bringing the total number of seats to seven. The rear seats can be electrically shifted over a distance of 13 centimeters to reach the third row of seats. In the standard configuration, with two rows of seats, a maximum of 880 to 2,200 liters of luggage can be accommodated in the boot. If you opt for the third row of seats and actually use it, you can only store 195 liters.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is also available as a seven-seater.

Up to 2,200 liters of cargo space.

The powertrain of the Mercedes EQS SUV – which will be launched in the Netherlands this year – corresponds to that of the EQS. This means that the delivery program starts with the EQS 450+ (rear-wheel drive, 360 hp, 568 Nm) and the 580 4Matic (4WD, 544 hp, 858 Nm). Both can fast charge with 200 kW. Both the 450 and the 580 have a top speed limited to 210 km/h. The models sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 and 4.6 seconds respectively. With a fast charger, fifteen minutes is enough for 250 km of driving range. Also handy is its trailer weight of up to 1,800 kilos.

Form follows function

Apart from the design, which for some may be a bit too slick and not enough SUV-like, the car is right on all sides. The state-of-the-art technology works superbly, it is fast and quiet, drives well and the steering is light and direct. The EQS SUV is also luxurious and comfortable and also performs above average in the off-road. Add to this the large range and the fast charging time and you can only conclude that Mercedes-Benz is at the top of the electric options with this model.

Asia and United States much more important

Whether you like it or not is a matter of personal taste. Fortunately for Mercedes-Benz, the main competitors are the Tesla Model X and the BMW iX, and they do not end up in the Museum of Modern Art because of their design. Moreover, nowadays almost half of all new Mercedes sold disappears to Asia. The United States is in second place and then – after a long time of nothing – Europe comes. Because megalomaniac models do not do well here at all, what we think of a large Mercedes-Benz or BMW is not important at all. It’s fine if we want to buy a few of these large SUVs as well, but it’s still a rumble in the margins at the bottom of the line.