Mercedes EQS SUV review: High on EQ

The auto industry loves surprises and Mercedes-Benz just delivered a big one. Barely a month after launching the Maybach EQS SUV – a model many assumed would be their last foray into the ultra-high-end EV market – Mercedes dropped another bombshell with the EQS SUV 580 4Matic. No leaks, no teasers, no spy shots – just the sudden debut of what is now the flagship Mercedes electric SUV. But the real shocker wasn’t just the surprise launch, it was the price. At just Rs 1.41 crore, it’s not only a massive Rs 84 lakh cheaper than the Maybach EQS SUV but also just a mere Rs 2 lakh more than the smaller EQE SUV, making the EQS SUV an unexpected value offering in the luxury EV space.

How has Mercedes managed to price the EQS SUV so competitively? The answer lies in local assembly. By assembling the EQS SUV 580 in India, Mercedes benefits from significantly lower customs duties, and they’ve passed those savings on to the customers. In contrast, the EQE SUV is an import, so it's subject to steep taxes. This raises a tricky question: what happens to the EQE SUV, which sits a segment below but is priced nearly the same as its larger sibling? Mercedes has been forced to offer discounts to the tune of Rs 25 lakh on the EQE SUV to give it a fighting chance, and it remains to be seen how long Mercedes will offer it here as it's now overshadowed by the EQS SUV that's bigger and better value.

Quite frankly, the EQE SUV could end up as collateral damage in what is a high-stakes EV game for Mercedes-Benz. The German luxury brand has struggled to sell the EQS sedan, which seems like a step too far into the electric world. Mercedes got it wrong with the sedan by going too extreme with the design, which prioritises aerodynamics to a fault. The low slung, radical shape that compromises ground clearance and the all-important rear-seat comfort seems to have alienated traditional Merc buyers. It has also steered some of them to the BMW i7, which offers a more traditional car experience. But can Mercedes lure back sedan customers with its new all-electric luxury SUV line-up?

The strategy appears to be a pincer movement, with the ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV at the top and the standard EQS SUV below, squeezing the BMW i7 (priced at Rs 1.95 crore) from both ends of the luxury EV spectrum. The Maybach EQS is possibly the most luxurious EV you can buy in India today, but the regular EQS SUV also has enough to pamper the uber rich. It also comes with a three-row, 7-seater configuration just like its ICE counterpart, the GLS.

Mercedes EQS SUV exterior, design

However, the EQS SUV 580 doesn’t look like the GLS and bears a striking resemblance to the EQE SUV. It’s got the same smooth and rounded shape, and the relatively short clamshell bonnet, which, like in the EQS sedan, can only be opened at a service station. It’s a bit of a dead space as there’s no frunk.

One look at the EQS SUV’s silhouette tells you that aerodynamic efficiency was the main priority, one reason why the side mirrors are mounted on the doors.

Though the EQS SUV is not as imposing as the GLS, it’s got the requisite road presence thanks to its sheer size. This is a 5.1-metre-long SUV, suitably propped up by 275/45 R21 tyres sitting on multi-spoke 21-inch alloys – anything smaller would have looked lost in this SUV’s gargantuan sides. Another standout feature is the blanked-off grille that's finished in gloss black with small, precision-cut three-pointed stars scattered across the surface.

The EQS SUV clearly looks a segment higher than the EQE SUV. The grille is bigger and so are the lights, which now get three LED Daytime Running Light elements instead of two. Also, the EQS SUV gets framed windows instead of the frameless design seen on the EQE SUV. The sides are smooth and uncluttered with flush door handles, which contribute to its incredibly low drag coefficient of 0.26. An illuminated metallic side step, which stretches under the doors catches your eye and serves to highlight the ultra-long 3,210mm wheelbase. Things are more understated around the rear, with a complex LED light design and a chrome bumper insert adding a touch of flair.

Mercedes EQS SUV interior, features

The EQS SUV’s cabin is a familiar place thanks to the 56-inch Hyperscreen which is a signature feature in high-end EQ models. This vast black glass panel, which stretches from pillar to pillar and houses three separate screens, is still the benchmark for digital displays combing functionality and aesthetics like no other system. As always, the infotainment screen’s high-res graphics are sharp and easy to operate thanks to the large icons that sit on a very logically thought out menu. Whilst there are no buttons for the aircon controls, you get permanent digital controls that sit at the bottom of the screen and are quite easy to operate.

You sit nice and high in the infinitely adjustable driver’s seat for a bird’s eye view of the road, and if you’re in the mood, you can treat yourself to a ‘hot stone’ massage – one of the seat's myriad functions. The head-up display is absolutely brilliant with virtual, high-resolution images in full colour projected on the windscreen directly in your field of vision.

Interior quality, as expected, is top-class and befitting of a luxury Merc. You enter a superbly crafted cabin that is a mix of metal, wood and leather finish, and high-grade plastics. It’s feature packed too. You get connected car tech with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fabulous 15-speaker Burmester 3D sound system, and a suite of safety kit that includes 9 airbags and Level 2 ADAS. For a car this big, the 360-degree camera is particularly useful. And given the polluted cities we live in, so is the air purifier. So why would you want the massive sunroof that’s standard on the India-spec car? Just because it’s there! There’s lots of storage space, especially in the centre console area which is free with no transmission tunnel intruding the space. The glove box, too, is huge and there are more USB charging ports (all type-C) than it can fit passengers.

So all perfect then? Not quite. The touch sensitive or rather insensitive steering-mounted controls are still annoying to operate and are a pet peeve in this latest generation of Mercs. But that may not bother most EQS SUV owners because they'd be spending more time at the rear than behind the wheel.

This brings us to the all important back seat, or the middle row in the case of the three-row EQS SUV. Can it deliver the level of comfort a typical Merc owner wants? The seats themselves are pretty comfy with generous cushioning all around, especially in the lower back and under-thigh areas. The large 122kWh battery that sits under the floor doesn’t really intrude into the cabin and push up your feet, so the seating position is spot on. You also get a good view outside through the large windows. And if you’re bored of the view outside, you get a pair of 11.9-inch rear screens that come with noise-cancelling headphones. Rear passengers can control infotainment and seat functions via a detachable 7-inch tablet in the central armrest.

The rear seat reclines by 30 degrees, but we would have liked it if it reclined more. The rear seats get heating and not cooling, which is quite pointless in our climate. Like in the EQS sedan, the EQS SUV doesn’t come with electric side window blinds and Mercedes has given a rather tacky alternative by providing a pair of loose blinds that have to be manually fixed onto the side windows.

Compared to the EQS sedan, the EQS SUV has a far more comfortable back seat with no shortage of headroom; travelling three abreast is also made easier by the flat floor. A nice touch, though, is a pair of loose pillows that you get as standard – particularly useful for the occasional middle passenger who has a folded armrest jutting into his back, and hence, would welcome some extra cushioning. But how does the EQS SUV compare with the S-Class? It's short on legroom and can’t quite match the rear-seat comfort of the legendary long-wheelbase sedan. For that level of comfort, you’ll have to save up for the Maybach EQS SUV that has the most luxurious back seat of any EV.

Access to the third row is via a button that's conveniently located at the top edge of the middle seat and moves forward electrically. The seat doesn’t tumble forward, so you have to wiggle past the backrest to slide into the back. The third row is best for kids, but you could squeeze in a couple of adults for short trips.

Most owners keep the third row folded down to maximise the boot space. You can dramatically increase the luggage-carrying capacity by folding the middle row down, and even this can be done electrically via buttons in the boot.

Also impressive is the luggage space with the third row in place, which is good for a couple of overnight bags.

Mercedes EQS SUV performance, ride, handling

Driving out of the cobbled stoned courtyard of the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad and onto tarmac, the first thing that strikes me is how astonishingly quiet the EQS SUV is. Refinement in the Mercedes EQS SUV is truly world-class, setting it apart from most EVs in the market. The cabin is a haven of tranquility where road, tyre and wind noise are sealed off. There’s no motor whine at all and even the air suspension makes no sound.

The air suspension, paired with adaptive dampers, work brilliantly and the EQS SUV glides over bad roads with a suppleness that other electric SUVs would struggle to match. The suspension is calibrated to be on the softer side, so in the softest Comfort mode the big and heavy EQS SUV tends to gently heave up and down on an uneven road. Switching to Sport mode firms things up nicely without making the ride unduly harsh. Even in the stiffest of settings, the suspension nicely rounds of sharp edges and it's only big ruts that thump through. There are no ground clearance issues either, and to play it safe, you’ve got an extra 25mm.

Belting down the Ring Road in Hyderabad felt rock steady, like nothing could shake it from its intended path. The long wheelbase and low centre of gravity, and the effect of a heavy battery low down in the floor give the EQS SUV unflappable poise. This is truly an incredibly effortless car to drive and you can go on all day without any stress, except when the battery runs out. Speaking of which, you can charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent SOC in 31 minutes on a 200kW charger. Max range is a certified 809km, which should equate to a stress-free 600km in the real world.

You can feel the size of the EQS SUV on narrow roads, but this massive SUV is a breeze to handle once you judge the extremities. The rear-axle steering, which turns the rear wheels up to 10 degrees, gives it a shot of agility and you’ll be shocked at how easy it is to manoeuvre and park this behemoth. It doesn’t feel heavy or ponderous in the least, and it's hard to believe that the EQS SUV 580 weighs over 2.8 tonnes!

And who would have thought that an SUV this heavy could accelerate to 100kph from rest in 4.7 seconds. That’s as quick, if not faster, than many high-performance combustion SUVs from storied brands. Armed with two permanent synchronous motors (one for each axle) developing a combined 544hp, the EQS SUV has no shortage of power. Floor the accelerator pedal and you’re pinned into your seat by the instant unleashing of 858Nm. You don’t overtake cars but rocket past them. You don’t realise how fast you are going, and the way the EQS SUV swiftly and silently builds up speed is surreal. But, at the end of the day, this is a chauffeur-driven car. Although owners will likely get behind the wheel for some electrifying weekend soirees, for the most part, there will be a chauffeur whose job will be to feed in power gently. So its Comfort mode for him all the way, because the last thing he would want is his boss’ head thrown back into the soft head rest with a sudden burst of acceleration.

Mercedes EQS SUV price and verdict

The EQS SUV 580 is a better and a much more practical alternative to EQS sedan. It addresses the two main weaknesses of Mercedes’ flagship electric sedan – poor ground clearance and a compromised back seat. The high-riding SUV is happy on any surface, and overall comfort is several notches above the sedan. It’s an easy-to-live with daily driver that's a fantastic highway car for the weekend, and is backed by best-in-class range. And to top it off, at Rs 1.41 crore, it's an absolute bargain. What’s not to like? It’s still not an S-Class and traditional owners may still want something that’s not so futuristic and is still a sedan.

Also see:

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV video review

Mercedes EQS to be replaced by S-Class electric for next-gen