This is far short of the European WLTP estimated range 478 miles.
In April 2021 , the new Mercedes-Benz flagship EQS was unveiled. In July, we had our first driving experience in the luxury electric sedan. We had our European WLTP range estimate at 478 miles. It was all in our heads. We wondered how different an EPA rating would make it. It was expected to be lower but it wasn’t 350 miles.
This is the official word of the EPA for the less powerful EQS 450+ with all-wheel drive. The EPA range for the EQS 580+ 4Matic is slightly lower at 340 mi. These statistics are lower than the Tesla Model SLong range, which has an EPA range rating at 405 miles. This is a gap even greater than the LucidAir’s 520-mile range which has the highest EV rating of the EPA.
The Lucid Air 500-mile version is a little more expensive than the EQS. It starts at $139,000, whereas the 450+ has a starting price $102,310. We wonder if this price gap will be a problem for buyers who are looking to buy in this segment. The Model S Long Range is available for Tesla starting at $89,000.
The US-spec EQS that we just drove is identical to the Euro version we had back in July. The EQS 450+, EQS 580+, and EQS 580+ both use a 108-kilowatt hour battery. Each trim has a 0.20 drag coefficient. The 450+ has a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels. It generates 329 horsepower (245 Kilowatts) as well as 406 pound-feet (405 newton-meters). The 580+ has an additional motor at the front for all-wheel drive grip. It produces 516 horsepower (385 kW) combined with 611 lbft (828 Nm). The 580+’s range is slightly lower because of the extra motor.
EPA range estimates can sometimes be seen as too optimistic. The 2020 Porsche Taycan was rated by the EPA at 201 miles. An independent company was brought in to verify the results. It returned with a much higher rating. These results were further supported by additional real world tests performed by our colleagues at Inside EVs.
However, this doesn’t mean that the EQS won’t reach the 478-mile WLTP range. Based on our own experiences with the EQS in Europe, and our recent drive in America, we believe Mercedes’ flagship EV may be able to exceed the EPA rating. We don’t think it will go beyond 478 miles.
Later this fall, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS will be available at dealerships.