The upcoming Mercedes EQS SUV can be described as one of the most anticipated automotive releases of the year, as the company wants to offer the SUV market its leading electric car technology. Riding on the Mercedes GLS’s platform, the Mercedes EQS SUV will have battery power as opposed to gasoline and will offer high range, fast charging, and technological advancements. However, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that a few strategic errors could hinder it from becoming the grand slam Mercedes envisioned for it.
Exterior Styling
The Mercedes EQS SUV has a polarizing design with angular body shapes and sweeping, fluid lines seen in other Mercedes models such as the EQS and EQE sedans. This is due to the fact that it has a large grille with integrated lighting, which in turn makes it different from the Mercedes SUV powered by gas. However, there is a critical opinion that some are overstyled and do not fit the reserved design that a luxury SUV buyer is ready to pay for. The 23-inch alloys also appear to be unnecessary for a large EV not designed for performance, let alone a towing vehicle.
Luxury Interior
Inside the EQS SUV, Mercedes-Benz has created a very luxurious space almost entirely centered around the 56-inch Hyperscreen display. At 12.8 inches total, the Hyperscreen hopes to integrate most vehicle controls in one bit of digital wonderment that stretches across the entire width of the car’s dashboard.
This visual spectacle, however, hides behind the screen a complicated and somewhat impractical interface. Advanced switchgear elements such as climate control adjustment would be more convenient than searching for a particular setting within a sub-menu.
Powertrain and Driving Dynamics
It can be motivated by a 536 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive powertrain. Although not as obscenely potent as the 751 horsepower EQS sedan, there is still an endless surge of torque that makes acceleration a very relaxed affair. 22-inch Michelin tires reduce sporty handling mostly due to the air suspension, but it does provide a comfortable ride.
Steering is poor in this regard because it does not have feedback but offers the possibility of a very small turning radius. At 6,754 lbs curb weight, one will find that the Merces EQS SUV drives better than expected, although it will not offer much in the way of fun to drive.
Range and Charging
One of the biggest batteries currently, a 112 kWh battery pack, allowed Mercedes to assume that the EQS SUV would be capable of delivering up to 285 miles on a single charge.
Although not as high as some of the other cars in its class, that should be enough for most drivers in their day-to-day use of a car. 200 kW DC fast charging support enables the battery to be charged in one hour and thirty-one minutes, from 10% to 80%, at par with industry standards. Currently, the lack of home and public charging facilities is still a major concern for most electric vehicle owners.
Pricing and Trims
The Mercedes is only releasing the EQS SUV in one specification with loads of features to make the buying process easier. The current generation starts from 125k USD and even in this price range, it still offers a lot more than its gasoline counterpart, the GLS.
While Catia’s range and power figures are somewhat lower than in sedans such as the Mercedes EQS SUV and Lucid Air, that value proposition is debatable. The buyer might anticipate more variants in the configuration or the powertrains for an automobile in this price bracket.
Conclusion
The EQS SUV that Mercedes-Benz has planned for the 2023 model is interesting in many aspects, namely in technology, design, and the electric range. However, its ability to provide value based on its price and the popularity of the Rivian R1S and Audi e-tron will restrict its sales. Mercedes was maybe too ambitious to apply the same recipe of the EQS sedan, which is one of the leaders in its segment to a more traditional luxury SUV.
That is why it is like a tech demo for an SUV that does not capture what customers want from this kind of vehicle. While test driving this electric Benz is already sufficient to warrant the gorgeous interior alone, we doubt its prowess in going head-to-head with its rivals in the luxury EV segment.
