Luxurious Mercedes EQE electric SUV can travel up to 366 miles between charges. Here's everything else you need to know, including its price, specs and release date...
On sale Spring 2023 | Price from £83,000 (est)
When McDonalds first opened in 1955, it offered a single size of fizzy drink: 207ml. Today, you can order your beverage in three different sizes, ranging from 354-887ml. Not only does this show you how appetites have grown, but it also explains the thinking behind the new Mercedes EQE SUV.
You see, having started with just one electric SUV, the sizable EQC, the Mercedes EQ SUV range now also encompasses the smaller EQA, bigger EQB and supersize EQS models. The EQE slots neatly in between the EQC and EQS – retaining a price tag closer to the former by not being as vast as the latter.
Underneath, the EQE SUV shares much of its technological makeup with the EQE saloon launched earlier this year, including using that car’s 90kWh battery.
Four versions of the EQE SUV will initially be available, with the entry-level EQE 350+ using a single 288bhp electric motor to drive its rear wheels. Officially, this version can travel up to 366 miles on a charge, according to the WLTP test cycle. Both the EQE 350 4Matic and EQE 500 4Matic, as their names suggest, receive four-wheel drive, thanks to a second electric motor driving the front wheels.
In the EQE 350 4Matic, the output of both motors is the same 288bhp as in the 350+ model, but range is reduced slightly to 346 miles. The EQE 500 4Matic has 402bhp and can travel up to 339 miles between charges.
A range-topping AMG EQE SUV is also available, with sportier styling and even more power from its dual electric motors. Together, these produce 617bhp, which is enough to haul the EQE to 62mph in just 3.5sec. That means even entry level versions of the EQE will travel farther on a charge than the rival BMW iX or Audi E-tron.
The EQE SUV can charge at a rate of up to 170kW, meaning a 10-80% charge could take as little as 30 minutes if you can find a suitably powerful charging point. A heat pump also comes as standard, to efficiently heat the car’s interior in colder weather, thus reducing strain on the EQE SUV’s battery.
With the car’s regenerative braking – which harvests energy usually lost while you slow down and feeds it back into the battery – at its highest setting, buyers will be able to drive the EQE SUV using only one pedal.
Optionally, the EQE SUV is available with rear-axle steering, where the rear wheels turn in an opposite direction to the fronts at low speed to aid manoeuvrability. This trims the car’s turning circle from 12.3m to 10.5m.
The centrepiece of the EQE SUV’s interior is its huge 17.7in infotainment screen, which controls almost every function. There’s also a separate 12.3in digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and, as in the EQE and EQS, buyers can optionally have the EQE SUV with a third 12.3in screen for the front passenger. Together, the three displays measure larger than most TVs, at 55in, and can display a wealth of content, from navigation and entertainment to efficiency and personalised recommendations for the driver.
Our experience of this so-called Hyperscreen setup in the luxurious EQS revealed that, although the system looks impressive, it’s still not as usable as rivals that provide physical buttons for the most frequently used functions. As is increasingly common, the EQE SUV also comes with a virtual assistant which can respond to natural speech, and online music streaming.
The EQE’s infotainment system and battery management software each benefit from wireless updates throughout the car’s life, so the features it offers – or even slight improvements to battery range – could come later.
Families will be able to fit slightly more luggage in the EQE SUV’s boot than they would into the iX3’s, but an E-tron can hold more still. In any case, your holiday luggage or a large weekly shop won’t pose any trouble,and the rear seats split and fold in a handy 40/20/40 configuration should you find yourself in need of even more space. There’s also a ski hatch for loading longer items while keeping two outer seats available for passengers.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and a reversing camera are expected to come as standard in the UK, while optional kit is likely to include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and a system which will allow the EQE SUV to control its own positioning on the motorway.
Prices for the EQE SUV are yet to be announced, but entry-level models are expected to start from around £83,000, making it competitive next to the rival BMW iX, but considerably more expensive than other electric SUVs.
Keyword: 2023 Mercedes EQE SUV revealed