The SUV is built on the same platform that the EQS sedan and has a WLTP range 373 miles.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first modern EV built using an electric-specific architecture last year. It was the aerodynamic, distinctive EQS. This full-size luxury sedan, which is also available in a smaller, lower EQE model, is based on the modular EVA2 platform. The automaker is now moving in the opposite direction and introducing the three-row EQS SUV.
Although the EQS SUV stands taller than its sedan counterpart, many of its features and specifications will be familiar to those who have used the Mercedes EEV line. The EQS SUV is a strong example of the company’s “one bow” styling. It has an aerodynamic, sloping, and tapered greenhouse that make it stand out. The SUV is available in EQS 450 and EQS 450 4Matic forms. It should be able to travel up to 373 miles (albeit using the optimistic WLTP scale, rather than the more realistic EPA). The EQS SUV, like all modern Benz is a technical marvel.
Styled for the Wind
The EQS SUV is futuristic with a gloss black grille panel that houses a centrally located Mercedes star. The smiley grille is complemented by triangular headlights that have three lights (each a Mercedes-family signature). This gives the EQS SUV a friendly look. AMG-Line and Electric Art body styles are available to customers. The former features a smooth front bumper while the latter has more aggressive features such as corner air curtains and a spoiler at the front. AMG cues are more popular among EQS owners as they add visual interest to the somewhat amorphous bumper.
The EQS sedan has a clamshell-hood crossover that fits into the wheel arch. There’s also a pop-out washer fluid filler on left front fender. The windshield’s base is located just above the centerline of the front axle, creating a short visual dash to-axle ratio. It’s clear, however, that this is a visual trick to the styling. The actual dashboard and seats remain far back from the wheel. The passenger cabin doesn’t have a frunk in front of it, so all that space is used to house electrical components only Mercedes technicians can access – the hood does not open from the inside.
The EQS SUV’s cab-forward design features include the one-bow design feature of the sedan that runs from the top edge of the front fender to tapering D-pillar. Although the crossover’s roofline is squarer than that of the sedan, there are still many family resemblances. The full-width taillights feature signature lighting in helix-style that is meant to evoke the filament of an Edison lightbulb. The EQS SUV’s contrasting black roof panel is integrated with the rear hatch glass to give it a sleek, cohesive appearance.
The EQS sedan’s styling is likely to like the SUV. However, the SUV’s sloping front and D-pillar remind us of a minivan in the early 2000s. After the initial shock from its wind-cheating design, the EQS SUV looks a little blander and less featureful. The styling will undoubtedly help EQS maximize its electrons – although Mercedes hasn’t confirmed its drag coefficient, it is close to the 0.20 of EQS sedan and the 0.22 sedan . To become the most sleek SUV in the world, it could even surpass the Tesla Model X’s 0.25.
Take the Long Way!
There will be two trim levels of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: EQS 450 or EQS 580. The former will offer dual-motor all-wheel driving as an option, while the latter will have it as standard. The EQS 450 is available in either single- or double-motor forms and has 355 horsepower. It also has 419 pound-feet and 406 lb-ft, which are both more than the EQS 450 sedan, which had 329 hp, and 406 lb.-ft. The EQS 580 SUV’s twin motors are more powerful and produce 536 hp combined. This is similar to the sedan. The floor houses a 107.8-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery that powers all trim levels.
Mercedes claims that the EQS 450 can travel 600 km (or 373 miles) using the WLTP scale. This is likely to correspond to an EPA number around 300 miles. Although range estimates for the more powerful EQS580 are not available, even the most efficient model should be able reach 275 miles without requiring a jolt. The EQS can charge at 200-kW speeds. A DC fast charger of 110 kW output can charge the battery in just 31 minutes. The 10-to-100 percent charge can be achieved using a 240-volt wallbox in 11 hours and 15 minutes.
The EQS SUV comes with standard four-corner air suspension and adaptive damping. It also has 10-degree rear-axle steering, which will improve low-speed maneuverability as well as highway stability. The crossover will be very similar to the EQS sedan. It is remarkably poised, quiet and smooth at speed, while still offering sportiness due to its well-damped suspension. The EQS sedan’s intelligent regenerative braking system should also be available. This will slow down the crossover in heavy traffic and allow it to cruise on free-flowing highways.
Relaxation Station
Anyone who has ever been in the EQS sedans or the EQE SUVs will instantly recognize the interior of the EQS SUV. Standard equipment on the 450 model includes a 12.8-inch touchscreen display that is portrait-oriented. It is housed in a slanted binnacle, which takes a cue from the S-Class cabin. The headline-grabbing MBUX hyperscreen will be available on the 450 model and the 580. It is a single-sheet of high-strength, clear glass that conceals a 17.7-inch OLED central display and a 12.3 inch instrument panel. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is directly in front of the passengers to allow them to listen to their audio sources or make navigation suggestions.
Mercedes’ zero-layer software is used in both infotainment options. It keeps the navigation map visible on-screen and overlays relevant tiles (phone, comfort, etc. – As needed. Machine learning is also part of the system. If you are a regular caller after work, the EQS SUV will notify you via an on-screen notification that you should call. Burmester 3D’s audio system includes Dolby Atmos technology. It should sound amazing. You can also use wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto if embedded tech is not your thing.
The cabin materials of the 2023 EQS SUV’s 2023 EQS are exceptional. They include beautiful swathes of curved wood at the center console, door armrests, soft-touch plastics, MB-Tex faux leather on dashboard and standard leather seats for all passengers. Mercedes will offer multi-color accent lighting for the EQS SUV – Miami nightclub vibes are just a touch away. Standard panoramic sunroofs should provide plenty of natural ambiance.
The Mercedes EQS SUV has a standard two-row, five seat passenger layout. It offers incredible space. The elevated roofline allows for higher seating, which eliminates the awkward feeling at the EQS sedan’s high floor. The second row can slide and recline electrically, providing space and comfort for cargo and passengers (or more passengers in the case with the optional third row).
Although the sixth and seventh seats are not as spacious as the others, they offer enough shoulder and leg room for adults of average size. The EQS SUV can hold approximately 7 cubic feet of cargo space with all its seats up. This number increases to 71 cubic feet when the back two rows are folded. You can leave the optional rear seats out and have cargo space of between 23-74 cubic feet.
It’s obvious that there isn’t a lot of space in the EQS SUV’s tall stature. The SUV has only 1 cube more than the low-roof model EQS. The crossover measures only 202.0 inches from bumper to bumper and is 5.2 inches shorter than the sedan. Despite being 8.4 inches higher than the four-door, the EQS SUV maximizes its 126.4-inch wheelbase, reducing claustrophobia by a significant extent.
Carpool Cravings
Crossovers are crucial to an automaker’s bottom line. Although the 2022 EQS is a popular vehicle in Manhattan’s posh Silicon Valley, it doesn’t offer the luxury ride that customers want. The Mercedes EQS SUV will be a huge success by combining the best parts from the sedan into a crossover design. The EQS Utilities SUV concept preview is an intriguing addition to the mystery. This SUV is actually a Maybach. It is a super-luxe electric crossover.
We will be the first to see the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV in the US, which goes on sale towards the end of summer. This is a refreshing move for US customers. Although pricing has not been confirmed, the SUV will be a few grand less than the $103,360 or $126,950 respectively. The SUV was built at the company’s Tuscaloosa manufacturing plant in Alabama. It won’t take long before the EQS SUV becomes the darling among private school drop-off lines across the country.
