If you’ve been waiting for an all-electric Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury sedan, then the EQE 350 fulfils the brief
- How much does the Mercedes-Benz EQE cost?
- What equipment comes with the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
- How safe is the Mercedes-Benz EQE?
- What technology does the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 feature?
- What powers the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
- How far can the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 go on a charge?
- What is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 like to drive?
- What is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 like inside?
- Should I buy a Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE bolsters the German luxury car-maker’s local electric vehicle range, joining the larger EQS as a luxurious and well-equipped coupe-sedan with great safety credentials and impressive technology. It’s priced to be a genuine alternative to existing ICE competitors, too. As we’ll discover, there’s plenty to like about the EQE, but it’s not perfect.
How much does the Mercedes-Benz EQE cost?
Pricing for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE range starts at $134,900 plus on-road costs for the EQE 300 and stretches to $214,900 plus ORCs for the EQE 53 AMG.
The EQE 350 tested here sits in the middle at $154,900 plus ORCs..
Depending on how wide you cast the net there are either few rivals or many for the EQE 350. The only direct competitor at this price point currently is the Porsche Taycan RWD (just bumped up to $165,700 plus ORCs), although you could make a case for the Genesis G80 Electrified ($145,000 plus ORCs).
The BMW i4 ($102,900 plus ORCs) is also similar in concept, albeit a little smaller.
Otherwise, you might look at the Audi e-tron Sportback 55 (from $158,900) or the Jaguar I-PACE (from $148,800), which fulfil a very similar role despite technically being SUVs.
The EQE 350 is covered by Mercedes-Benz’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and up to five years of capped-price servicing which will cost $1700 (three years), $2500 (four) or $2950 (five).
What equipment comes with the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
The days of German premium cars coming with an options list as long as the Nullarbor Plain are, largely, over. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 comes stacked to the hilt with features as standard.
The AMG-Line exterior pack with 20-inch wheels and adaptive multi-beam LED headlights are included and nine colours are available, with no extra charge for the five metallics which is nice, though the three ‘Manufaktur’ premium paints attract an additional $2200 charge.
The interior also scores the AMG-Line treatment, with heated sports seats, Nappa leather sports steering wheel with galvanised shift paddles, black fabric roof liner, illuminated door sill panels, stainless-steel pedals, ambient lighting and various bits of fancy wood and leather trim.
Another $1500 turns the big slab of dash wood into open-pore walnut called ‘Ship’s Deck’ and I’d absolutely tick that box so I could mention it to all my passengers. There’s also swathes of standard tech that we’ll cover in the next sections.
Other options worth mentioning are the 21-inch wheels from the 53 AMG ($1700), adaptive air suspension ($3800), rear-wheel steering ($2900) and 22kW AC charging capability ($1800).
How safe is the Mercedes-Benz EQE?
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE has been awarded the full five stars by ANCAP to coincide with its launch today.
This follows an impressive Euro NCAP assessment in which the EQE received 95 per cent for adult occupant protection, 91 per cent for child occupants, 83 per cent for pedestrians and 81 per cent for safety assistance features.
There are honestly too many safety systems to mention, but rest assured that as you drive along the car is looking out for you to the front, back and sides to ensure you don’t run into anything, nothing runs into you and, if a collision is inevitable, it can prepare the vehicle to keep the occupants as safe as possible.
Just as importantly, this vast array of systems works unobtrusively, melting into the background rather than continually beeping at you and wrestling the wheel.
The one exception we found on the EQE 350 is the speed sign recognition, which during our test drive was wrong as often as it was right (110 instead of 80, 40 instead of 60, etc).
On the other hand, the steering wheel has pressure sensors in it now so it knows it’s being held, preventing the need to constantly wiggle the steering to keep active cruise control functioning. A very welcome feature.
Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera aid in parking, but if you’re still struggling the car can park for you in parallel or perpendicular spaces.
What technology does the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 feature?
Also standard in local versions of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 is the Premium Package which throws in all of Merc’s toys.
The most obvious is the 12.8-inch central display which runs the MBUX infotainment system and includes a fingerprint scanner for different driver profiles, wireless smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and augmented reality satellite navigation, which uses the front camera feed and overlays direction markers to show you where to place the car and where to turn. It works very well.
In addition to this there’s wireless phone charging, keyless entry/start, electric boot lid, a comprehensive head-up display, 12.3-inch digital instruments and memory seats.
Essentially it turns it into a proper luxury car as standard, whereas in overseas markets you’d have to tick quite a few boxes to bring it up to the same spec.
What powers the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
All EQE models use the same 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack, designed and built by Mercedes itself.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 sends this energy to the wheels via a pair of electric motors, one at each end.
They combine for 215kW of power and 765Nm of torque, which Mercedes claims is good for 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds.
How far can the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 go on a charge?
Two figures are quoted for the maximum range of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350. The one you’ll find on Mercedes’ website is an impressive 590km which is the NEDC figure, while under the more stringent WLTP testing guidelines the claim is 462km.
They are in effect the same number, just two different testing procedures, but WLTP is more indicative of real-world driving so you’re probably better off expecting around 450km from your EQE rather than 600km.
Nevertheless, it’s a competitive number and the near-250km test route, with plenty of enthusiastically driven twisties, was completed with absolutely no drama and plenty of juice left in the tank. Er, battery.
In terms of charging times, it’s the usual deal. Use the AC wallbox at home ($2475 plus installation) and you’ll go from 0-100 per cent overnight (8.25 hours), but find a DC charger and you can top up – say from 10-80 per cent – in an hour or so.
At a DC fast-charger (the EQE supports up to 170kW) you’ll need a little over 30min, as long as the charger is operating at peak capacity.
What is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 like to drive?
In general, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 makes a good account of itself. It’s quiet and comfortable on most road surfaces, the power is delivered in a nice, linear fashion and there’s some pleasing weight to the steering that provides some connection to the car.
Despite a highly dynamic test route packed with great roads, the EQE 350 is not a performance car and isn’t intended to be. The suspension is too soft and at 2465kg there is an enormous amount of weight to manage.
Thankfully, it’s at its best as a cruiser, the electric motors providing instant and generous torque, the steering making the car easy to place and the suspension soaking up most road imperfections.
There are issues, though. On poor surfaces the EQE feels heavy in the way it deals with potholes and craters. None of the EQE 300 or 350 models on the launch had the adaptive air suspension fitted, but experience with the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 – which has it standard, albeit fettled by AMG – suggests it might be an option worth ticking.
The brakes also struggle to provide consistent response, often feeling soft underfoot. Brakes in electric cars are difficult to get right due to the demands of regenerative braking, and the EQE 350 hasn’t quite nailed it.
Again, experience with the 53 AMG, which feels much more natural, suggests it’s a calibration issue.
What is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 like inside?
In terms of size, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 is a touch bigger than the current E-Class. The difference is the wheelbase, with the EQE’s axles stretched substantially in order to accommodate the battery pack.
The upside of this is plenty of interior space, particularly in the rear. Legroom is vast, the bench is very comfy – albeit quite short beneath your legs – and providing you aren’t over 6ft tall (183cm), the coupe roofline and panoramic sunroof don’t impinge on headroom too much.
Material quality remains very good, there are a pair of USB-C ports but separate temperature controls and heated seats are conspicuous in their absence, features you’ll find in much cheaper cars.
Boot volume isn’t as big as an E-Class, for instance, but the 430-litre space is still certainly very useable though there is no spare tyre of any kind, just a repair kit.
In the front, the interior is unusual. This isn’t a criticism, it’s just… different. Cramming all the features into the central touch-screen has reduced the button count and the huge slabs of wood on the dash front and the strip of ambient light that encircles the cabin give almost a nautical theme.
Perhaps not everyone will love it but it feels expensive, the driving position is very good and there is sufficient storage for drinks and phones and odds ’n’ ends.
Mercedes-Benz does love a haptic control, however, but we remain unconvinced. Adjusting the cruise control or changing the volume or moving the seat aren’t difficult tasks, but nor are they as easy as when the controls were simple buttons.
The ability to tap and swipe through various functions might sound good but in reality it doesn’t provide the level of fine control often required, especially if you have something on your fingers which then gets transferred to the pad.
It’s not some ergonomic disaster, it’s just not an improvement over what came before.
Should I buy a Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?
In essence, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 performs its role perfectly.
Anyone familiar with the Mercedes brand who wants to move into an electric car will feel immediately comfortable in the EQE and enjoy a luxurious, feature-packed vehicle with plenty of range.
However, there are two issues.
The first is that while the EQE is good, it’s not great. The need to option adaptive suspension, the brake feel and missing equipment you might expect at this price point – ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and tri-zone climate control, for example – hold it back from being a slam dunk.
Furthermore, while there’s nothing wrong with the EQE 350 per se, the fact that the EQE 300 looks exactly the same inside and out, is identically specced and offers more range for $20,000 less makes it the smarter buy.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 at a glance:
Price: $154,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two permanently excited synchronous motors
Output: 215kW/765Nm
Transmission: Single-speed direct drive
Battery: 90kWh lithium-ion
Range: 462km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 22.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Keyword: Mercedes-Benz EQE 2023 Review