The 10 Coolest Features Of The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
The battle for dominance in the high-end luxury electric SUV sector is heating up, with the BMW iX on the way andthe Tesla Model X and Audi e-tronalready in the hands of customers. Mercedes-Benz has now joined the fray, withits new EQS SUV, that’s slated to begin deliveries in late 2022. The SUV shares many of its features with the EQS sedan that’s already in dealerships, which is itself an electric versionof the S-Class. The EQS SUV promises traditional Mercedes luxury mixed with cutting-edge design and plenty of features to keep both driver and passengers happy on the road.
The question is: Can the brand’s latest offering stand out in what’s becoming an increasingly crowded field? Ifthe success of the EQS sedanis anything to go by, the answer is yes. Mercedes has developed a new suite of features specifically for the EQS line, all while maintaining the same level of refinement and luxury that buyers expect. The car is packed with all manner of options, modes and packages, but these ten stand out above the rest.
Up to 536 horsepower on tap
Achoice of two specswill be available on launch, either the base-spec EQS 450+, which sports a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup and delivers 355 horsepower, or the top-spec EQS 580 4Matic, with a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that makes 536 horsepower. This is very similar to what’s offered on the 2022 EQS sedan, although it’s worth noting that the sedan alsocomes with an AMG variantthat makes 649 horsepower in regular mode, and a huge 751 horsepower in optional boost mode. Whether there will be an EQS SUV AMG remains to be seen, but it’s certainly possible, as both the sedan and SUV version of the EQS share the same platform and many of the same internal components.
For now, 536 horsepower remains the maximum output available for the EQS SUV, but if an AMG variant does emerge, it may well boast an even bigger horsepower figure than the EQS AMG sedan. There’s no official word on pricing so far, butestimates have putthe asking price around $110,000 and $130,000, slightly more than the EQS sedan and roughly equivalentto the price ofa new S-Class.
At least 315 miles of range
According tothe brand’s press release, the EQS SUV will be capable of at least 315 miles (507 km) of range in all-wheel-drive form, and at least 333 miles (536 km) in rear-wheel-drive form. However, Mercedes does note that these figures have been obtained through its internal WLTP test procedure and that no officially recognized agency ratings exist to date. Tom’s Guidepoints out that theEQS sedan offers up to 453 miles of range according to WLTP testing, but the EPA rates it at just 350 miles. So, it’s quite possible that the EPA rating for the EQS SUV might be significantly less than Mercedes' own estimates.
Nevertheless, its current WLTP range puts it roughlyon par with the BMW iXandahead of the Audi e-tron, but behind theclass-leading Tesla Model X. The Tesla offers a minimum of 335 miles of range in high-performance Plaid spec, or 351 miles in Long Range spec. The EQS SUVwill be compatible with200kW fast chargers, which will be able to boost up to 186 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Charging from 10-80% on a compatible rapid charging system should take just 31 minutes, according to the brand’s official data. Owners in the US will get free access to Electrify America charging points for their first two years of ownership. As it stands, buyers in international markets across Europe and Asia receive no such perk.
Off-road mode
Including an off-road mode on a $100,000+ electric SUV that most owners will only ever drive around suburbia might seem pointless, but it’s certainly a way to make the car stand out from its rivals. And anyway, Mercedes alreadymakes the almighty G-Class, a highly capable all-terrain SUV that’s more likely to be seen crawling through LA traffic than crawling over a rocky trail, but that Mercedes still develops with new off-road tech every few years regardless. So, it’s no surprise to find out thatthe off-road modefor the new EQS SUV is comprehensive, with specific setups for mud, gravel, and sand.
The brand has been keen to show off the EQS SUV’s all-terrain chops by inviting select members of the press out to ride-along demonstrations, andSlashGear went along to one such event. The car easily waded through standing water and mud, and its four-wheel steering helped it navigate tight, tree-lined corners. The air suspension can lift to give the car extra clearance over rough ground, so all but the rockiest of trails should be no problem. Make no mistake, this isn’t a G-Class by any stretch of the imagination, but if its owner wants to take it off the asphalt, the EQS canhandle more off-roadingthan any other SUV in its class.
World-class interior
High-end Mercedes vehicles are known for their top-tier interiors, and the EQS SUV is no different. Theinterior is coveredin fine leather with polished metal accents throughout, and the whole cabin remains very consistent with the styling of the S-Class and EQS sedan. Climate control is more of an exact science than ever thanks to a pre-entry feature, where the driver can set the expected departure time and desired temperature via the Mercedes app or the in-car display. Four or five zones of climate control are available throughout the car, with each passenger able to individually customize the temperature through a dedicated panel.
To keep the air quality inside the cabin as high as possible, the EQS SUV also comes witha large HEPA filter, which filters pollen, particulates, and other pollutants through active carbon. The filter resides under the hood and is capable of cleaning the air to the level of an operating room, according to TopElectricSUV. For buyers who want the most tranquil interior, Mercedes offers an Acoustic Comfort Package, which adds laminated windows, wind deflectors, and revised seals for better insulation from road and ambient noise.
Futuristic 56-inch hyperscreen
Step inside the EQS SUV and there’s one particular feature that immediately stands out. The huge screen that dominates the front of the caris called the MBUX(Mercedes-Benz User Experience) hyperscreen, and it’s responsible for everything from displaying the speedometer to the climate controls. The screen is built with three separate units that blend seamlessly into one, and measures around 56 inches in length. It uses OLED technology to provide a crisper image in all lighting conditions, with self-actuated pixels that remain switched off when not in use, leading to a deeper black color than what’s available on a conventional screen. Eye-tracking technology is also employed to ensure the driver doesn’t take their eyes off the road for too long, as the screen is automatically dimmed if the car detects that happening.
Hyperscreen might be an impressive piece of technology, but it’s not without its flaws. In their review of the 2022 EQS sedan,Car and Driver reported thatin bright sunlight, the screen is prone to reflections, not ideal considering it’s responsible for all the gauge clusters and readouts that a driver needs to be able to read clearly at all times. There is no indication from Mercedes that the screen in the EQS SUV differs in any way from the sedan, so it’s likely that the new car will also suffer the same problem.
Infotainment including Dolby Atmos
The car is packed with infotainment features, including the latest connectivity features and a built-in movie player for the rear-seat passengers and, in some markets, the front-seat passenger too. But, the best part of the EQS SUV’s infotainment package is the inclusion of Dolby Atmos,a cutting-edge audio systemthat reportedly gives more depth and clarity than a traditional system. The carcomes equipped with15 Burmester speakers as standard, and Atmos ensures that the audio can be heard in a “3D” effect all around the car.
The system is of course useful for listening to music with greater clarity than traditional speakers alone can achieve, but it also has another useful function. When paired with Mercedes' wellness package, Atmoscan play various soundsfrom nature throughout the car (for example rain, forest, or sea ambient sounds), to help relax the driver and passengers. The EQS SUVisn’t the only carto have such a system, as the Mercedes S-Class and its Maybach variant, along with the Lucid Air, are also shipping with Atmos from summer 2022.
Active ambient lighting
One of the most distinctive features on recent Mercedes-Benz models is their ambient lighting, and the EQS SUV providesan updated versionthat stretches throughout the car. The lighting can be configured remotely to the driver’s preference and is stored under their individual driver profile. That profile can then be transferred and used in other cars that also featurethe Mercedes MBUX system. The lighting can intelligently change to match the brightness of the hyperscreen, with a feature that Mercedes calls, “Discreet Mode,” dimming the lights and screen as much as possible.
The ambient lights around the car are also key to executing the theme of wellness that Mercedes has focused on with the EQS range. When"Energizing Comfort" modeis enabled, a spa-like assortment of sounds is played, the lighting is adjusted accordingly, and even the seats massage patterns that are tailored to the driver’s mood. A separate mode, called “Nap Mode,” allows the driver to sleep when pulled over in a service station. According to TechCrunch, enabling Nap Mode will recline the seats, close the side windows and blinds, dim or turn off the ambient lighting, and show a depiction of a starry sky on the hyperscreen.
Distinctive one-bow design
The new EQ line of cars featuresa distinctive design languagethat Mercedes calls “one-bow,” and it’s markedly different from the rest of the brand’s gas and diesel range. The EQS sedan andthe long-awaited EQC crossoverare styled very similarly, although the EQC sports a more traditional grille at the front, and looks better for it. It’s arguably not the brand’s prettiest design, but it’s certainly distinctive, and the huge star emblem on the front makes sure that no one will mistake the Mercedes EQ range for any of its competitors.
TheEQS SUV featuresa more streamlined shape than many of Mercedes' other SUVs, with a sloping roofline and a tapered greenhouse. This new, rounder shape is most likely used in the name of aerodynamics, asstudies have provedthat better aero can significantly improve an EV’s range. This focus on optimal aero stretches to the design of the wheels, which Mercedes has extensively tested in wind tunnels to reduce their air resistance as much as possible.
A new, unique fragrance for the car
One of the most unique-but-intriguing features of the EQS SUV doesn’t concern its function as a car at all, but rather the smell that drivers are greeted with when they sit inside it. To make the car even more distinctive, Mercedes has taken the unusual step of creating a fragrance specifically for the interior of the EQS, calledNo.6 MOOD Mimosa. The “No.6” in its name is apparently in reference to the fact that electric vehicles were first added to the Mercedes range in 1906, with the “Mercédès Electrique” line. TheEQS SUV press releasealso gives a breakdown of the scents that make up the composition of this fragrance, and it’s predictably long and complex.
The smell is apparently split into three phases, with the top note consisting of violet, orange, and berries, and the middle of plants like jasmine and geranium. The base note, according to Mercedes, “smells the longest” and contains tobacco, sandalwood, cedar, and honey. It’s hard to imagine what this actually translates to in terms of a real-world smell, but either way, it’s infinitely better than the diesel fumes that waft through most people’s air-con systems when they’re stuck in city traffic. The fragrance is shared with the EQS sedan, and at present, it’s not known whetherthe cheaper EQC crossoverwill get such an option when it eventually arrives in the US.
Seating for up to seven
As well as being able to smell the inside of their car, buyers of the EQS SUV will be relieved to know that they configure it in a variety of ways too. The car seats up to seven with an optional third row or up to five in dual-row spec. TheEQS SUV comes witha great deal more legroom in the second row than other models in the EQ range, and despite its tapered roofline, there’s more headroom as well. The third row will only be suitable for children or adults on short journeys, as it’s quite cramped in comparison.
Being an SUV, there’s also more room for cargo than in the EQS sedan. Mercedesadvertises the EQS SUVas having up to 880 liters of trunk space without the third row equipped, which translates to about 31 cubic feet. Fold the second-row seats down and space is increased to a huge 74 cubic feet, enough to fit four golf bags, according to SlashGear’s own review. With all three rows up, however, cargo space drops to just 7 cubic feet. Anyone who needs to transport seven people and a lot of luggagecan tow a trailer, as the EQS SUV has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lb, a far cry from other Mercedes SUVs, but a respectable figure for the electric SUV segment.
