Launched in the U.S. in late 2022, the Mercedes EQS SUV is the brand’s first locally manufactured EV. The electric full-size SUV is far more luxurious than the gas-powered Mercedes GLS SUV, featuring a sleek and futuristic design and a minimalist, high-tech interior. Mercedes-Benz sold 33,045 full-size SUVs in the U.S. in 2023, and 27% (8,989 to be precise) units of them were of the EQS SUV.
Recently, I had an opportunity to check out the electric three-row SUV in person, and I made some interesting observations during that time:
Individual Design
Unlike the Mercedes EQA and the Mercedes EQB, the Mercedes EQS SUV isn’t a modified version of an ICE vehicle (GLS SUV) with a closed fascia. A new model designed from the ground up, the EQS SUV looks dynamic with proportions that are not possible for a combustion engine product. The EQS SUV measures 201.8 in. in length, 77.1 in. in width, and 67.6 in. in height. It has a 126.4 in. wheelbase.
Compared to the GLS SUV (0.32 Cd), the EQS SUV’s drag coefficient is significantly lower – 0.20 Cd. In the words of Mercedes-Benz Group’s Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener, the EQS SUV is “more seamless, more integrated, more aerodynamic, more futuristic looking,” as per an Auto Express report. Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new ‘Sonoran Brown Metallic’ color with the 2024 model year update.
Sci-fi looks
The Mercedes EQS SUV has a sleek silhouette, more sci-fi front and rear lights connected via a full-width light stripe, low-profile bumpers, and a black closed-off upper grille. A low ground clearance, short length, low height, sloping roofline, and steeply angled back glass give it a sporty stance and the complete identity of an electric vehicle. I’m not a fan of the offbeat front, but I think the slippery silhouette gives a pretty slick look overall.
Front
The black panel unit serving as a faux radiator grille features a customizable 3D star pattern as a reference to the original star of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft company. The black panel surface is not only a piece of decor but also neatly hides the vehicle’s various sensors (radar, ultrasound, and camera) required for its driver assistance systems.
As on the EQS sedan, the A-pillar is steeply raked for a generous passenger compartment. The overhangs and the front-end are short and the rear is smoothly rounded, in what design moguls call a cab-forward design. I don’t find the shape of the Mercedes EQS SUV’s headlights very attractive. However, I like the daytime running lights, as they feature three small triangles below a straight line, a subtle interesting way of ensuring people don’t mistake this EV for the Mercedes EQE SUV.
Side
On the sides, the EQS SUV’s C-pillar lies far back, highlighting its spacious interior. 21-inch wheels, a muscular shoulder section, and standard flush door handles are among the highlights. Mercedes-Benz made 21-inch wheels a standard feature with the 2024 model year update.
Also new on the list of standard features for the 2024 model year are illuminated running boards and an electrically operated charging port door. As for optional features, Mercedes-Benz offers a new option of soft-close doors.
| Dimension | Value |
| Length | 201.8 in. |
| Width | 77.1 in. |
| Height | 67.6 in. |
| Wheelbase | 126.4 in. |
Rear
At the rear, the EQS SUV isn’t upright like the GLS, although aesthetically, I think that’s a good thing. It has a modern crossover-like tailgate with a visibly forward-leaning windscreen. The detailing of the rear lights is in the form of a curved 3D helix, just like in the EQS. Instead of a chrome trim like on the GLS, there’s a narrow light band bridging the lights to endow the SUV with sci-fi and sophisticated styling.
Digital Light
Digital Light headlamps can project guide markings or warning symbols onto the road. They have a light module with three extremely powerful LEDs each, with a combined resolution of more than 2.6 million pixels. These headlamps work in conjunction with the navigation system and take hills into account when projecting anything onto the road. There’s a light band between these headlamps, which gives the SUV a futuristic style at the very first look.
Tech-laden, sumptuous interior
The interior of the Mercedes EQS SUV interior is remarkably different from the GLS SUV and the S-Class. Mercedes-Benz has replicated the EQS sedan’s sensational cabin with SUV-specific touches. Aesthetically, the interior has been very well received, so the company didn’t need to rework that with the MY2024 update. It has, however, tinkered with the equipment lines to adjust the standard/optional features.
MBUX Hyperscreen
The main attraction of the Mercedes EQS SUV’s interior is the MBUX Hyperscreen, a highly digital dashboard, and as part of the MY2024 updates, this feature has become part of the standard equipment. I think the MBUX Hyperscreen is core to the EV’s futuristic theme.
A large, curved Gorilla Glass surface stretches nearly the entire width, and there are three displays (driver display, central display, and passenger display) behind it. The central and passenger displays are OLED units.
The MBUX Hyperscreen, with its full-width (56-inch), curved 3D glass cover, and the three flush-mounted displays blending seamlessly, brings a whole new in-car user experience. Almost every vehicle function is at the fingertips, from entertainment to connectivity, navigation, massage, energy management, and more.
The 12.3-inch OLED passenger display allows playing video content on the go and automatically dims if the driver is looking at it at that time. With the future of mobility set to become gradually autonomous, carmakers are developing various forms of in-car entertainment while also focusing on safety.
Introducing the MBUX Hyperscreen, Vera Schmidt, Director of Advanced Experience Design, Mercedes-Benz, said that it is a “milestone” in combining analog and digital design. “For me, the Hyperscreen’s clear, minimalist design and strong anchor points make it intuitive and straightforward to use,” she said.
The MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System ensures chauffeured owners stay connected. It has two 11.6-inch displays comprising touch controls on the back of the two headrests.
Premium first- and second-row seats
Power front seats with adjustable cushions, contour ambient lighting, memory, heating, and ventilation functions, and luxury headrests are standard in the EQS SUV. As before, multi-contour front seats with massage functions are optional. However, with the 2024 model year update, Mercedes-Benz has made them standard in the 580 4MATIC variant.
Mercedes-Benz has added the previously optional rapid heating function for the front seats and Nappa leather upholstery options also to the list of the 580 4MATIC variant’s standard features with the MY2024 update.
The 40:20:40-split second-row seats feature power recline (18 degrees) and fore-aft adjustment (by 5 inches) as standard in the EQS SUV. With the 2024 model year update, Mercedes-Benz has added pillows for the rear seats. Luxury headrests, a heating function, and a comfort-type 2nd-row center armrest for the rear seats are available optionally.
I’m six feet tall, and I was able to enter and exit the EQS SUV comfortably. I first sat in the driver’s seat and checked for exterior visibility, which turned out to be great, all thanks to the big windscreen and back glass and the expansive greenhouse. The chunky steering wheel, attached to an electrically adjustable column, felt great to hold.
I had abundant headroom, ample legroom, and enough knee room in the first row. The seats felt supportive, and the extra cushion in the headrest provided more comfort. The quality of the materials was top-notch, just as I expected.
In the second row, there was a 40:20:40-split bench with power adjustment. Here, too, I had abundant headroom and excellent legroom. The knee room was decent. I tried out the middle position, but the integrated armrest there was hard, so I felt that I wouldn’t be comfortable there for long journeys.
Third-row seats
As an option, the Mercedes EQS SUV is available in a 7-seat version with individual third-row seats. The second-row seats feature 5-inch forward and backward electric adjustment as standard in the U.S. Their backrests include a reclining function, which allows moving them by 14 degrees to the front and 4 to the rear. In the five-seat version, the luggage compartment has 23 cu. ft. of space, which can be expanded by about 8 cu. ft. by adjusting the rear seats.
Depending on the seating layout, the Mercedes EQS SUV has cargo space for up to four golf bags. The 5-seat version offers a trunk capacity of up to 74 cubic feet, and the 7-seat version offers 71 cubic feet. A standard Easy Entry function allows easily accessing the third-row seats by moving the backrest forward beyond the usual adjustment range by up to a total of 11.4 in. Third-row seating heating is optional.
The EQS SUV I was sitting in was the 7-seat version. The second-row seat electrically reclined and moved forward when I pressed a button on its shoulder, making the entry easy for me. The space available to enter after that wasn’t bad. After spending a few minutes in the third row, I felt that this space was best suited for children or shorter adults, as the space wasn’t great for a tall person like me.
I felt that the EQS SUV was more like a 5+2 vehicle than a proper 7-seater like the GLS SUV. On paper, the former doesn’t have as much legroom and headroom as the latter, and during my experience, I noticed that these differences were significant. The knee room was also insufficient for someone of my size.
HEPA filter
The Mercedes EQS SUV is available with a feature called Energizing Air Control Plus, which keeps the cabin clear of fine particulates, pollen, and other contaminants using active carbon through a HEPA filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter).
The HEPA filter resides under the aluminum hood of the SUV. Measuring 23/16/2 inches and having a volume of almost three gallons, the filter reduces pollutants in the incoming outside air, making it comparable to a level of a clean home and operating room. It carries the OFI CERT” ZG 250-1 certification for virus and bacteria protection.
The hood remains locked, and in case of a requirement to open it, say to replace the air filter, only a technician at an authorized service station would be able to do it. A service flap for wiper fluid is integrated into the side of the left fender.
A scent called No.6 MOOD mimosa, which Mercedes-Benz designed especially for the EQS SUV, is available optionally. The new scent has an earthy fragrance mixed with subtly sensual hints.
Augmented Reality Head-Up Display
Another visual highlight in the EQS SUV is an optional AR-enabled head-up display, the display area of which is equivalent to a screen measuring 77 inches diagonally. It is available in the 450+ and 450 4MATIC variants as well, which wasn’t the case in the 2023 model year.
Second-row passengers experience a highly digital interior, thanks to MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment. This feature consists of two 11.6-inch touchscreen panels mounted on the front seats’ backrests. The Hey Mercedes voice assistant is operable from the rear as well. One can expect the availability of an MBUX rear tablet with downloadable Android apps.
Acoustic Comfort Package
To make the EQS the quietest Mercedes SUV ever, Mercedes-Benz Group extends its efforts to offer customers additional insulation measures with an Acoustic Comfort Package. With this package, customers get an option to configure their EQS SUV with acoustically effective laminated windows, leading to reduced wind noise and ambient noise when the vehicle is in motion. A panoramic sunroof is standard, and for this feature, there are enough noise reduction measures, such as wind deflectors, covers, and seals with improved geometry.
Advanced climate control
With pre-entry climate control and Thermotronic automatic climate control, the Mercedes EQS SUV offers excellent climate comfort in most situations the very second customers step inside.
With pre-entry climate control, customers can set the departure time and desired cabin temperature in advance using the Mercedes me app or the vehicle’s central display. In the case of preheating, pre-entry climate control would extend to not only the interior air but also the seats.
Thermotronic automatic climate control is an optional four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row occupants can separately set the temperature for their side using a dedicated climate control panel. Moreover, a sensor for air quality and harmful gases keeps a constant watch on the air quality outside the vehicle. It switches the system to recirculation mode if elevated pollutant levels outside are detected.
In the 7-seat version, Thermotronic used to be a five-zone automatic climate control system. However, Mercedes-Benz discontinued the optional five-zone automatic climate control system with the 2024 model year update.
As standard, the EQS SUV comes with the Thermatic dual-zone automatic climate control system. Both systems have an intelligent recirculation mode, but nothing beats the Thermotronic. A sensor continuously monitors the quality of the outside air coming into the cabin. It automatically switches to recirculation mode if it finds abnormally high levels of harmful gases or a low level of air quality.
Active Ambient Lighting
Active Ambient Lighting, which Mercedes-Benz includes on the list of standard equipment for the EQS SUV following the MY2024 update, changes the vehicle’s ambient lighting as per the current drive mode. Moreover, it gives color feedback when using the vehicle’s climate control system, voice assistant, or other features. That’s not all. It is integrated into the vehicle’s driver assistance systems to complement their alerts with visual warnings. When I sat in the EQS SUV, I felt that Active Ambient Lighting gives a high-tech and posh vibe in the cabin and makes a world’s difference in the whole experience of the EV.
Sound system with Dolby Atmos
As standard, the sound system of the Mercedes EQS SUV features Dolby Atmos, a spatial audio technology that adds more space, depth, and clarity to the music to give listeners an immersive experience. Moreover, it can please comfort-focused customers who desire peace on the go and when using ‘Energizing Nature’ programs that play the calming sounds of nature (forest, sea, rain, etc.) for relaxation.
No virtual mirrors
As Wagener had hinted, the Mercedes EQS SUV doesn’t feature digital exterior mirrors. The Audi e-tron was the world’s first mass-market model to feature virtual exterior mirrors. Wagner told Autocar that virtual exterior mirrors are more aerodynamically efficient, but they aren’t a smart idea. They eat up so much power that they don’t make sense, “especially on electric cars,” the world-renowned car designer said.
Dedicated BEV Platform
Mercedes-Benz Group has developed the EQS SUV on a dedicated electric skateboard architecture called Electric Vehicle Architecture or just EVA that debuted in the EQS sedan. This platform allows an “exceptionally quiet ride” and clever interior packaging for more space in dimensions similar to or smaller than an equivalent combustion engine model.
A report from JESMB says that keeping the Mercedes EQS SUV’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) under 3.5 tonnes (7,716.18 pounds) was a challenge during the development. If a car’s GVW isn’t under 3.5 tonnes, customers in the European Union countries cannot drive it with the standard B category driving license for cars.
Air suspension & Offroad mode
The AIRMATIC air suspension with continuously adjustable damping ADS+ is standard in the Mercedes EQS SUV. Comfort, Sport, Eco, Individual (custom), and Offroad are the available selections of drive mode. AIRMATIC also keeps the ground clearance of the vehicle constant no matter what the vehicle load is. Raising the body with this air suspension at slow speeds should be possible.
The driver can raise the body by 1 inch at speeds below 37 mph, and once the vehicle reaches above 43 mph, the suspension automatically lowers back to the normal level. In the Comfort and Sport modes, the body lowers down by 10 and 15 mm, respectively, at speeds above 68 mph. However, once the speed reduces to below 50 mph, the body level gets back to normal.
The Offroad mode, usable with or without ESP, raises the vehicle by 25 mm. The vehicle lowers back to normal on reaching above 50 mph, but on decelerating to below 31 mph, it raises again.
Specifications
Performance
As I established above, the Mercedes EQS SUV line-up includes three variants: 450+, 450 4MATIC, and 580 4MATIC. The 450+ is a RWD variant with a single motor that generates 355 hp and 419 lb.-ft. of torque. It takes 6.5 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint, and it can achieve a top speed of 130 mph.
The 450 4MATIC variant uses two motors, with the additional motor propelling the front wheels and enabling AWD. These motors produce 355 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing the EQS SUV to finish the 0-60 mph sprint in just 5.8 seconds. The 580 4MATIC variant has the same setup but with more capable motors that generate 536 hp and 633 lb.-ft. of torque and let the electric SUV accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Both these variants have the same top speed – 130 mph.
Mercedes-Benz has improved the feel of the EQS SUV with the 2024 model year update. In the 450 4MATIC and 580 4MATIC variants, it has introduced a new 4MATIC DISCONNECT function that disengages the front motor when not required to reduce energy consumption and increase range.
Rear-axle steering
The Mercedes EQS SUV features rear-axle steering in two variants: 4.5° and 10°. The rear-axle steering with a steering angle of 10° is standard in the U.S., and it can reduce the turning circle from 39 to 36 feet.
| Aspect\Specification | EQS 450+ SUV | EQS 450 4MATIC SUV | EQS 580 4MATIC SUV |
| Drive System | RWD | AWD | AWD |
| Output | 355 hp | 355 hp | 536 hp |
| Torque | 419 lb.-ft. | 590 lb.-ft. | 633 lb.-ft. |
| 0-62 mph Acceleration Time | 6.5 seconds | 5.8 seconds | 4.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 130 mph | 130 mph | 130 mph |
Range & charging
The Mercedes EQS SUV has received a new 118 kWh battery pack for increased range with the 2024 model year update. I expect the new unit to consist of hardcase cells with lithium-ion NCM chemistry, just like the old 108.4 kWh unit.
| Aspect\Specification | Mercedes EQS SUV Charging Time |
| Maximum AC Charging Power | 9.6 kW |
| AC Charging Time (0-100% SoC) | 14 hours |
| Maximum DC Charging Power | 200 kW |
| DC Charging Time (10-80% SoC) | 31 minutes |
The U.S.-spec EQS SUV features a Combined Charging System or CCS, which allows plugging in AC and DC chargers via the same connection. With the 2024 model year update, Mercedes-Benz will offer it with a dual-voltage (110-volt/240-volt) charging cable as standard.
The 118 kWh battery pack is chargeable at the same rates as the 108.4 kWh unit – 9.6 kW (AC)/200 kW (DC). It takes 14 hours time for a full charge, 1.5 hours more than the latter. I expect it to deliver an EPA-est. range of around 325 miles in the 450+ variant and approximately 305 miles in the 450 4MATIC variant.
In the 580 4MATIC variant, the 118 kWh pack delivers the same EPA-est. range as the smaller unit – 285 miles, as per the order guide MBWorld shared on October 18, 2023. I find it strange that neither the near-10 kWh bump in the battery pack capacity nor the drive disconnect function helped improve the EPA-est. range of the EQS 580 4MATIC.
| Aspect\Specification | EQS 450+ SUV | EQS 480 4MATIC SUV | EQS 580 4MATIC SUV |
| Battery Pack Type | Lithium-ion NCM | Lithium-ion NCM | Lithium-ion NCM |
| Battery Pack Energy Content | 118 kWh (net) | 118 kWh (net) | 118 kWh (net) |
| EPA-est. Range | ~325 miles (expected) | ~305 miles (expected) | 285 miles (confirmed) |
Plug & Charge
Mercedes EQS SUV customers in the U.S. benefit from Plug & Charge functionality at many charging stations. All that the customers need to do to charge the electric SUV is open the flap and plug in the charger. The charging station would automatically identify the connected vehicle, and the supply would start flowing without further interactions. The preferred payment method saved in the ‘Mercedes me Charge’ app would automatically debit the payment for charging.
The Plug & Charge functionality, which works on the ISO 15118 standard, is available across the entire Electrify America DC fast charger network. Mercedes EQ customers benefit from ChargePoint’s wide network of 60,000 public charging places in the U.S.
We have partnered with ChargePoint in the U.S. Together we will establish a new benchmark charging network with access to almost 60,000 public charging places nationwide through all relevant charging networks. And as an industry first, the additional integration of more than 60,000 semi-public chargers at shopping malls, hotels and workplaces make Mercedes me Charge the largest integrated network in the US – with just one account!
Sajjad Khan, former Chief Technical Officer, Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Strategy Update: electric drive)
Free charging
Mercedes-Benz bundles every new EQS SUV in the U.S. with two years of unlimited 30-minute free DC fast charging sessions on the Electrify America network. Electrify America has 3,892 fast chargers across the country.
Autonomous driving
Drive Pilot is the first and only certified SAE Level 3 autonomous driving system. By April 2024, Mercedes-Benz will start selling the EQS and S-Class equipped with this feature in Nevada and California. I expect the EQS SUV to receive Drive Pilot later in 2024. Whenever that happens, I’m confident that existing EQS SUV customers will be able to enable it in their SUVs via the Mercedes me connect store.
Drive Pilot uses data collected by the vehicle’s radar, ultrasound sensors, camera, moisture sensors, and LiDAR. In addition, a digital HD map offers a 3D image of the road and the surroundings with road geometry information, route characteristics, traffic signs, and special traffic events, if any (e.g. maintenance works or accidents). The vehicle performs certain driving tasks automatically but requires a driver. The driver has to remain alert and may need to take back control at any time.
On activating Drive Pilot, the system for conditionally automated driving controls the speed and distance and keeps the vehicle within its lane. It can perform evasive maneuvers and also apply brakes if needed during unexpected traffic situations and handle the vehicle independently. It works at speeds of up to 40 mph.
In the future, Mercedes-Benz will introduce SAE Level 4 fully automated, driverless parking with a feature called Intelligent Park Pilot. The Mercedes EQS SUV is technically ready for SAE Level 4 autonomous driving.
New automated driving features should be progressively enabled with software upgrades at various stages during the EQS SUV’s lifecycle. For example, since April 26, 2023, EQS 450 4MATIC SUV customers can increase the maximum power from 355 hp to 435 hp (+80 hp) and reduce its 0-60 mph acceleration time from 5.8 seconds to 4.9 seconds with a lifetime upgrade at USD 2,950, a yearly upgrade at USD 900/year, or a monthly upgrade at USD 90/month.
Made in America
The global production of the Mercedes EQS SUV, like Mercedes EQE SUV, takes place at the Tuscaloosa plant in the U.S. Given the high demand for SUVs in the U.S., it’s understandable why Mercedes-Benz Group has decided to make its larger electric SUVs in Tuscaloosa. The American factory in the State of Alabama produces the GLE, the GLE Coupe, and the full-size GLS SUV as well.
According to an Automotive News report dated November 28, 2023, to make room for the Mercedes EQC successor in the Tuscaloosa factory, Mercedes-Benz plans to relocate the production of the EQS SUV when it enters its second generation to the German factory located in Bremen. The company may kick off GLC EV production in Q1 2026 and make 50,000 units of the electric mid-size SUV in the first year of manufacturing.
Unlike the EQS SUV’s prices, the GLC EV’s prices should make it eligible for federal tax credit under the Clean Vehicle Program, as its MSRP, at least in some configurations, would not be higher than USD 80,000. SUVs with a price tag higher than USD 80,000 don’t qualify for this incentive, for which North American assembly is also one of the several mandatory requirements.
The EQS SUV uses batteries manufactured at an in-house factory located in Bibb County, which is only 7 miles away from the Tuscaloosa plant. Dura Automotive Systems’ 200,000-sq.-ft. factory in Muscle Shoals (Colbert County, Alabama) supplies the battery enclosures required for Mercedes-Benz EVs made in Tuscaloosa.
To reach our goal until the end of the decade, we will need a capacity of more than 200 Gigawatt hours. Therefore, I’m happy to announce today that we will set up eight new gigafactories together with our partners around the world. One of the gigafactories will be set up in the U.S. to produce the majority of batteries for the cars and vans from our Tuscaloosa and Charleston plant.
Mercedes-Benz Cars COO and Mercedes-Benz Group R&D head Markus Schäfer (Mercedes-Benz Strategy Update: electric drive)
Price
Following the 2024 model year update, the Mercedes EQS SUV’s prices start at USD 104,400 in the 450+ variant, USD 107,400 in the 450 4MATIC variant, and USD 127,350 in the 580 4MATIC variant.
TopElectricSUV says
The Mercedes EQS SUV aims to establish itself as a top-tier electric luxury SUV in the U.S. market. With its upscale appeal, it will offer buyers a plethora of comfort, convenience, and connectivity features. However, it may not be the optimal choice for customers seeking ample third-row space, performance, or extended range. For those specific requirements, competitors such as the upcoming Lucid Gravity and the currently available Rivian R1S are likely to offer more suitable options.
Mercedes EQS SUV FAQs
What is the Mercedes EQS SUV release date & price?
The Mercedes EQS SUV is available at U.S. dealerships.
What is the Mercedes EQS SUV range?
The Mercedes EQS SUV range in the 2024 model year is expected to be around 325 miles.
Which EVs are the Mercedes EQS SUV rivals?
The future Lucid Gravity and Range Rover EV will be the EQS SUV’s challengers in the United States.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
