As its name suggests, the 2024 Mercedes EQS SUV 450+ is the company’s huge, slicked-back EQS luxury sedan’s high-riding SUV rival. Both vehicles have similar wheelbases and share the same chassis, but only the SUV has a third row with room for up to seven people. Because it has more headroom than a sedan, the inside seems lighter and more spacious, and the design and materials are highly caliber. It’s also offered with Mercedes’ brand-new 56-inch hyper screen, but while being mesmerized by the enormous glass panel’s Starship Enterprise-like look that spans the dashboard from door to door, we find its absence of physical controls to be off-putting.
The 2024 EQS SUV is the most recent addition to the Mercedes EQ sub-expanding brand’s lineup of electric vehicles. The first SUV to be constructed on Mercedes’ modular electric vehicle system, which also serves as the foundation for the EQE and EQS sedans, is anticipated to go on sale later this year.
The 450+, 450 4MATIC and 580 4MATIC are the three versions of the Mercedes EQS SUV that will be offered. The EQS 450 4MATIC SUV, which wasn’t mentioned during the model’s debut a few months ago, will cost $107,400 when it hits dealerships. The cost of the 580 4MATIC will be $125,950.
The EQS SUV’s interior is furnished with the kind of luxurious components and cutting-edge technology that characterize contemporary Mercedes-Benz cars.
A fully customizable lighting system, heated and ventilated front seats, a leather interior, a panoramic sunroof, and wireless charging are all included in its list of standard interior options. Optional is the 56-inch Hyper-screen. The fit and finish are excellent, and there are several well-thought-out storage areas around the cabin, including a sizable bin beneath the floating dashboard.
The EQS has two rows of seats as standard, which can hold up to five passengers. A third row, which can seat an additional two passengers, is available.
On five-seat vehicles, the space behind the second row may hold up to 31 cubic feet (0.88 cubic meters) of goods. Models with the third row of seats have a maximum volume behind the second row of seats of 28 cubes; however, when the third row is occupied, that volume drops to 7 cubes.
The EQS SUV is simply a re-bodied EQS sedan with a raised sitting position and increased interior space. Although not identical, its electric drivetrains are similar. A 335-hp electric motor drives the rear wheels of the EQS450+. All-wheel drive is provided by the EQS580’s front and rear installed electric motors, which together provide 536 HP and 633 pounds (ca. 287 kilograms)-feet of torque. The rear-axle steering system and adjustable air suspension that come standard on the EQS SUV give it startling agility. In contrast to the sedan, the SUV has an Off-Road driving mode that elevates the suspension and modifies the performance of the motor.
Even though we are certain that the majority of individuals who purchase an EQS SUV would never undertake such activities, we experienced similar settings first-hand on rough terrain during a ride-along in a prototype model and were delighted with the vehicle’s capabilities. We saw considerably more enthusiastic acceleration from the EQS580 during our initial test drive of the production vehicle, and we anticipate a 4.2-second run to 60 mph (ca. 97 kilometers per hour) when we eventually get on in our office for testing. However, the EQS450+ is no slouch, and we anticipate that most drivers will find its power to be more than sufficient.
Given the EQS SUV’s focus on luxury, we don’t find the handling to be especially pleasant and the steering input to be excessive, but we do find the on-road comfort and relaxation to be acceptable.
The estimated driving range of the EQS SUV is not as amazing. It employs the same 107.8-kWh battery pack as the EQS sedan. The all-wheel-drive EQS450 4Matic and EQS580 4Matic give about 285 miles (458.66 kilometers) of driving before requiring a plug-in, compared to the entry-level EQS450+ model’s advertised range of 305 miles (490.85 kilometers) per charge. Fortunately, the EQS SUV has a charging capacity of 200 kW, which Mercedes claims will enable it to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes when connected to a suitable DC fast charger.
Mercedes offers a stunning 56-inch Hyper-screen that spans the whole width of the dashboard for the EQS SUV. It also has a 12.3-inch display in front of the passenger, a 17.7-inch touchscreen, which is mostly used for infotainment, and the digital instrument cluster.
The mystery of the glass-covered dash will undoubtedly draw customers, but we can’t help lamenting the nearly complete absence of tactile switchgear. Digital gauges and 12.8-inch touchscreens in portrait orientation are still available to those who choose not to acquire the Hyper-screen. The Burmester music system, wireless device charging, and wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto will all be standard on every EQS SUV.
Standard forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking; Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance; and Standard adaptive cruise control are some key safety features.
A wide range of driver support technologies is included with the EQS SUV. Along with standard safety features like automatic high-beam headlights and adaptive cruise control, the SUV also offers a self-parking function.
The duration of Mercedes’ warranties is comparable to that of other luxury automakers like Audi and BMW. But Benz-branded cars do not come with any free maintenance, unlike its German rivals. A four-year limited warranty or 50,000 miles (80,467.2 kilometers) is included. Ten years or 100,000 miles (160,934.4 kilometers) of coverage is provided for electrical components. There is no free-scheduled maintenance.
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