Mercedes EQS: First Look Review

Introduced in April 2021, the Mercedes EQS aims to be the S-Class of the electric world. Featuring an extremely aerodynamic design, many innovative and best-in-class comfort and convenience features, and brilliant chassis systems, it’s one of the most refined proper luxury EVs on the market. Recently, I saw a Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC on display and spent some time exploring its design and many of its key features in detail. Here are my observations of the German-built flagship electric sedan:

Design

The Mercedes EQS is clearly a car designed in the wind tunnel, as indicated by its low and slim front, curvy side profile, and smoothly rounded rear. Its dimensions are comparable to the long-wheelbase S-Class (V223), but I think its sleek exterior helps it look smaller than it actually is.

The Mercedes EQS has a high-tech front with a covered upper grille, the light band above it, and the three light dots in the headlamps. I don’t think it beats the allure of the 223-series S-Class, though, and that’s mainly due to the design of the faux grille and the shape of the headlamps.

The side profile, though, is absolutely stunning, with a long, bow-shaped greenhouse, an arched beltline, frameless doors, and a fast-sloping roofline. At the back, the slim tail lamps are connected by a light stripe to match the look of the front.

Interior

Inside, the Mercedes EQS is a cut above the 223-series S-Class, which itself has one of the most opulent interiors in a full-size sedan. In the 580 4MATIC variant that I saw, the dashboard houses a full-width curved glass panel under which there are three displays: 12.3-inch diigtal instrument cluster, 17.7-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system, and 12.3-inch OLED passenger screen.

The curvy dashboard and front door panels beautifully blend into each other, looking like one continuous structure wrapped around the driver and front passengers. The generously used silver trim gives the cabin a rich look and expansive 64-color mood lighting system creates a lounge-like ambience.

I’m six feet tall, but I had no issues with the ingress or egress in the Mercedes EQS. However, I felt that the floor was a little higher because of the placement of the battery pack underneath it. The all-around visibility was okay, as expected in a car designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency (0.20 Cd).

When I sat in the multicontour front seats of the EQS, I felt that Mercedes-Benz designers made a lot of efforts on them, as they offer exceptionally good lumbar support and under-thigh support. Tired after a whole day exploring and photographing tens of new cars, I decided to give their massage function a go, and it transported me to a deep state of relaxation.

In the back, the EQS didn’t use to offer great under-thigh support earlier. With the 2024 model year update, Mercedes-Benz extended the rear seat bench by 2 cm (0.8 in.) to fix that. The company also extended the recline by up to 38º.

I found the headroom a bit tight, but the lumbar support and shoulder room were good. The floor was almost flat, and I had abundant knee room. Thanks to the panoramic roof and the stretched-back glasshouse let in plenty of natural light, so even though the side windows were narrow and the interior was dark, I didn’t feel claustrophobic at all.

Specifications

The Mercedes EQS is based on a dedicated EV platform, simply called Electric Vehicle Architecture or EVA. In the U.S., it comes in 450+ RWD, 450 4MATIC AWD, and 580 4MATIC variants. A 108.4 kWh battery pack, air suspension with adaptive damping, and 10º rear axle steering are standard in our market. 

The EQS 450+ uses only one motor, mounted at the rear and tuned to produce 355 hp and 419 lb.-ft. of torque. It takes 5.8 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint, and it has a top speed of 130 mph. It delivers an EPA-estimated range of 352 miles.

The EQS 450 4MATIC adds a front motor, and its two motors together develop 355 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque. It can do 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, but it has the same top speed as the EQS 450+ – 130 mph. It can cover a distance of 345 miles on a full charge, as per EPA.

The EQS 580 4MATIC, the car featured in this story, sports a twin-motor powertrain with 536 hp and 633 lb.-ft. of torque. It takes just 4.1 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint, but it, too, maxes out at 130 mph. Interestingly, the EQS 580 4MATIC’s EPA-estimated range is also 345 miles.

Price

The prices of the Mercedes EQS in the 450+, 450 4MATIC, and 580 4MATIC variants start at USD 104,400, USD 107,400, and USD 125,950, respectively, all excluding a USD 1,150 destination charge.

TopElectricSUV says

The Mercedes EQS may not have the same appeal as the legendary S-Class from the outside, but without a doubt, it’s a head-turner. It offers a lavish interior with plenty of comfort, convenience, and entertainment features. It’s not the sportiest of the lot, but it doesn’t disappoint in performance, and it delivers a decent range, too. Save for a slight lack of space in the back and steep pricing, I think it’s a great pick in the electric full-size sedan segment.

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