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    Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 2024 review

    Andrew Chesterton
    Andrew Chesterton
    Contributing Journalist
    26 Oct 2023 • 10 min read

    The EV revolution is bringing plenty of firsts, and this big electric behemoth is yet another one. Meet the EQS450, which Mercedes describes as its first "electric luxury full-size SUV with seven seats".

    That is a bit of a mouthful though, right? So let’s shortcut that a bit, shall we? 

    What you really need to know is that this is one of the few proper seven-seat electric SUVs on sale in Australia, so it will — a little surprisingly — end up being compared with the increasingly premium Kia and its EV9 when it launches in November.

    Read more about Mercedes-Benz EQS

    So what does this electric answer to a high-riding S-Class bring to the table? Well, lots of luxury, of course.

    Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

    Arguably the biggest hurdle the EQS450 has to clear is its asking price, which is a considerable $194,900, before on-road costs.

    Inside, you'll find leather seats and trim, a big 12.8-inch central display (and a head-up display), a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a Burmester sound system with 15 speakers, a panoramic sunroof and cooling and heating in the front seats.

    Outside, there are 21-inch alloys, flush-fitting door handles, illuminated running boards and LED lighting, which Benz calls 'Digital Lighting', and offers 1.3m pixels of light per headlight.

    • The EQS450 wears a price tag of $194,900, before on-road costs. The EQS450 wears a price tag of $194,900, before on-road costs.
    • Mercedes describes the EQS as its first "electric luxury full-size SUV with seven seats". Mercedes describes the EQS as its first "electric luxury full-size SUV with seven seats".
    • Upfront of the EQS450 is a12.8-inch central display. Upfront of the EQS450 is a12.8-inch central display.
    • Inside, you'll find leather seats and trim. Inside, you'll find leather seats and trim.
    • The EQS450 wears 21-inch alloy wheels. The EQS450 wears 21-inch alloy wheels.
    • For audio, there is a Burmester sound system with 15 speakers. For audio, there is a Burmester sound system with 15 speakers.
    • Each headlight has 1.3m pixels of light. Each headlight has 1.3m pixels of light.

    Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

    It’s a handsome SUV, and one that’s not immediately recognisable as electric — especially given there are little exhaust-pipe-mirroring design flourishes at the rear which make you look twice.

    Aussie-spec cars get the AMG exterior treatment, which includes AMG alloys, aluminium-look side steps and the power-domed bonnet, but there's still nothing overly 'shouty' about the design, with the sleek, smooth body panels (accentuated by the hidden handles) making the EQS450 look smaller than it actually is.

    Inside, it’s a super-comfy space to spend time, and the little fluffy pillows attached to the headrests should be standard in every car. The tech on offer is ample, too.

    But it does all feel a little gigantic, with great swathes of wood panelling and massive screens, all of which make you feel bit like you’ve been shrunken down and are now living amongst the giants.

    • Aussie-spec cars get the AMG exterior treatment. Aussie-spec cars get the AMG exterior treatment.
    • The EQS450 features illuminated running boards and LED lighting. The EQS450 features illuminated running boards and LED lighting.
    • The sleek, smooth body panels is accentuated by the hidden handles. The sleek, smooth body panels is accentuated by the hidden handles.
    • Inside you will find great swathes of wood panelling and massive screens. Inside you will find great swathes of wood panelling and massive screens.

    Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

    The EQS450 stretches 5136mm in length, 1965mm in width and 1718mm in height. That's about the size of a Nissan Patrol and long enough to make it a proper seven-seater.

    The middle row can be adjusted forwards or backwards, and with the front seat set to my 175cm driving position, I found I had ample head and knee room to get comfortable.

    USB-A charge points abound, and there's wireless device charging, and because of the sheer size of the cabin, the storage options are plentiful. The central bin between the front seats, for example, seems styled on the Grand Canyon.

    The EQS450 stretches 5136mm in length and 1718mm in height. The EQS450 stretches 5136mm in length and 1718mm in height.

    In the third row, though, things get a little tighter, but it’s perfectly good for kids. My knees were touching the seat in front, however, and it still requires some acrobatics to climb into.

    At the rear, with all three seats in place, you'll find 245L of room (measured to the ceiling), growing to a maximum 1030L with the third row flat. Stow the second row, and you'll find a maximum 2020L of storage space – which, and take my word for it – is plenty.

    One small quirk, though. While the second row is electric, stowing away at the touch of a button, the third row isn't. That means, when it's flat, you have to climb into the boot to pull it back up, or attack it from the rear door. Either way, it's more awkward than it needs to be.

    • At the rear, with all three seats in place, you'll find 245L of boot space. At the rear, with all three seats in place, you'll find 245L of boot space.
    • With the third row flat, there is 1030L of boot space in the EQS. With the third row flat, there is 1030L of boot space in the EQS.
    • With all seats stowed, there is a maximum 2020L of storage space. With all seats stowed, there is a maximum 2020L of storage space.

    Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor?

    There are two electric motors delivering the driving power, one at the front axle and one at the rear, which will deliver a combined 265kW and 800Nm, fed through a single-speed transmission and with all four wheels being powered.

    That's enough for a sprint to 100km/h of 6.0 seconds.

    There are two electric motors delivering the driving power to the EQS450. There are two electric motors delivering the driving power to the EQS450.

    Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time?

    There's a huge 107.8kWh on board here, but the EQS450's driving range is a less impressive 483km. Maybe something to do with the 2918kg weight of this big SUV.

    Don't get me wrong, 483km is plenty to cover almost anyone's weekly commute (and then some), but early promises had pointed to a range of more like 600km.

    When it comes time to plug in, you'll find the EQS450 is set up for 200kW DC fast charging, which should see you go from 10 to 80 percent charged in just 31 minutes.

    Home charging is, of course, a slower proposition. A three-phase 11kW supply should take 10 hours, while a 7.0kW wallbox will be slower again, and more like 15 hours.

    The EQS450's driving range is a less impressive 483km. The EQS450's driving range is a less impressive 483km.

    Driving – What's it like to drive?

    The drive experience is, well, unremarkable. But I don’t want that to sound negative, because that's not how it's intended.

    The EQS450 SUV does exactly what you expect a circa-three-tonne, premium electric SUV to do, and it does it all well.

    It's powerful enough without being exhilarating, comfortable enough, and laden with enough tech to satisfy almost anyone.

    It's just that it also doesn't exactly ignite the senses. But the question must be asked, what seven-seat family-focused SUV does? Few, if any.

    The EQS450 is laden with enough tech to satisfy almost anyone. The EQS450 is laden with enough tech to satisfy almost anyone.

    So, surely the real test is if electrification has improved the formula here, and I'd argue that it definitely has.

    For one, the EQS450 is properly whisper-quiet in the cabin, with Benz employing multiple sound-deadening techniques at once to lock out road noise. And with no pesky engine to interfere, the cabin is about as serene as they come.

    The power delivery is predictably smooth and easy, too. There is no headline-stealing acceleration figure here, but the power is potent and plentiful, and more than enough for any real-world situation you might encounter.

    The EQS SUV is powerful enough without being exhilarating. The EQS SUV is powerful enough without being exhilarating.

    The ride, too, is commendable. Aided by Mercedes' air suspension, it glides over all but the most broken road surfaces. And it is fitted with rear-axle steering, which really does cut down a turning circle that would otherwise surely resemble that of a cruise ship.

    It feels heavy at times, though, and even the most high-tech suspension can't eliminate body roll entirely through tighter corners (physics and all that).

    But unless you're really pushing – and why would you be – the cabin is calm, comfortable and cosseting.

    So, exciting? Not really. But comfortable and calming, which are probably the traits its owners will value much higher.

    Aided by Mercedes' air suspension, the EQS SUV glides over all but the most broken road surfaces. Aided by Mercedes' air suspension, the EQS SUV glides over all but the most broken road surfaces.

    Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

    The EQS450 SUV is yet to be ANCAP crash tested, but you can expect an extensive suite of active safety equipment, including AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist, adaptive cruise control, active lane keep assist, lane change assist and steering assist, traffic sign recognition and eight airbags.

    The EQS450 SUV features an extensive suite of active safety equipment. The EQS450 SUV features an extensive suite of active safety equipment.

     

    Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

    The Mercedes EQS450 is covered by Mercedes-Benz's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 25,000km.

    You can prepay your service costs, coming in at $2350 for three years, $3695 for four years or $4280 for five years.

    The battery its covered for eight years or 160,000km.

    The EQS450 has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. The EQS450 has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

     

    Pricing & SpecsInsurance Quote
    Verdict

    Does electrification enhance the seven-seat SUV experience? In the case of the EQS450, the answer is yes. Smoother, quieter and with plenty of easy-flowing power, the brand's family-focused luxury electric SUV behaves exactly as you might expect.

    Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

    $194,900

    Based on new car retail price

    VIEW PRICING & SPECS

    Score

    3.9/5
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    Price Guide

    $194,900

    Based on new car retail price

    See pricing and specification for 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS pricing & specs
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