Mercedes-Benz EQV review

Overview
What is it?
Hasn’t it got loads of seats?
What are the good things about the EQV?
And the bad things?
Hang on, what does ‘quite slow’ mean in numbers?
Is it easy to live with?
Our choice from the range
What's the verdict?
Tesla Model X
Citroen e-SpaceTourer
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Driving
What is it like to drive?
Is it comfortable?
Surely it’s not that quick anyway?
But it’s not bad to drive?
Mercedes-Benz EQV review: electric MPV tested
Interior
What is it like on the inside?
Buying
What should I be paying?

Overview

What is it?

This is the Mercedes-Benz EQV, an electric version of the V-Class MPV that was itself converted from the Vito van. The electric option might be new (ish), but the V-Class itself has been on sale since 2014, so it’s not even a recently developed conversion of a conversion. And yet it all works smoothly enough.

Mercedes says that its EQ brand stands for its core values of emotion and intelligence, but then that should really be ‘EI’ shouldn’t it? Really makes you question the intelligence. Still, it’s all part of Mercedes’ efforts to create a shadow range of EQ-badged electric versions of its ‘normal’ cars that will offer customers the full spectrum of choice when it comes to making the big switch.

Hasn’t it got loads of seats?

Well, this is the main feather in the EQV’s cap: so many giant SUVs have had to sacrifice their last two seats in order to make the transition to plug-in hybrid status, let alone going full EV. There are so few options for larger families to go green, apart from walking in a nice, single-file line.

You’ll likely rule out the Nissan e-NV200 Combi after you’ve driven it, the Citroen e-Spacetourer/Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric/Peugeot e-Traveller are cheaper, slightly smaller EV vans (and there are smaller, cheaper-still Rifter, Combo and Berlingo options), while the Tesla Model X is £20k more expensive and now only available in left-hand drive. Merc does actually have its own other options, but the rearmost seats in the EQB are only really suitable for very small children and the EQS SUV has a start price of £129,415. Yikes.

Suddenly £80k+ for an electric MPV doesn’t seem quite so terrible.

What are the good things about the EQV?

We’ll keep it simple. There’s a decent amount of kit thrown in as standard, there’s loads of room for both passengers and luggage onboard and the ride is commendably smooth. Passengers in the back get posher seats than in most converted vans and they’ll have lots of fun playing with the movable table that comes as standard on the Sport Premium and Sport Premium Plus trims.

Oh, and as the driver you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting 200 miles of range out of the 90kWh battery, and when that’s depleted you can fast charge at up to 110kW.

And the bad things?

On the downside, there are a few unseemly van-like squeaks and wind noise issues that come to the fore with silent electric power. Handling is only so-so (the ride might be pillowy soft, but it means there’s a lot of lean through corners) and the EQV is quite slow unless you whack it in Sport mode. But that rather undoes the solid work of the comfort-oriented suspension.

Hang on, what does ‘quite slow’ mean in numbers?

Well, there’s only one powertrain option available – the EQV 300. With it comes 201bhp and 270lb ft of torque to shift something that weighs over 2,600kg. So yes, it’s not exactly rapid. Even with the help of Sport mode it’ll only do 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds, but then again how often does the whole family need to get from 0-62mph in as little time as possible?

Is it easy to live with?

The EQV is an incredibly easy car to get along with: driving it amounts to point and squirt while making sure not to crash into anything (the size might take a bit of getting used to at 2.25m wide and 5.37m long – but then at least it’s all nice and square), while the electric side of things is just as simple.

The charge point is mounted on the front bumper on your left-hand side and the 90kWh battery can be filled from 10–80 per cent in 45 minutes on a 110kW rapid charger. Plug into something slower and you can benefit from up to 11kW thanks to the onboard charger. You also get three years of access to Mercedes Me Charge, which gets you preferential rates when juicing up at the likes of BP Pulse and Ionity.

The EQV is probably the best of the full-size, seven-seat electric options currently available. It’s well specced, comfortable enough for everyone onboard and doesn’t compromise on practicality. That said, it would be a lot cheaper to buy two smaller electric vehicles and some walkie talkies, but who are we to dictate your lifestyle choices?

There are some compromises that have endured in the van-to-MPV-to-electric conversion, and the EQV’s age can’t be disguised that easily. Still, its virtues are more than enough to seal the deal if an expensive seven-seat electric car is what you’re really after.

Driving

What is it like to drive?

The V-Class lends itself well to the electric life. The EQV isn’t a particularly sharp drive and acceleration is blunted, but in an EV you tend to lean towards eco driving anyway so that you can eke the most range out of your battery. Said battery is a 90kWh unit and Merc reckons on a WLTP range of 211 miles (or 213 miles if you go for the entry-level Sport trim).

Is it comfortable?

The EQV’s ride is soft and pillowy, providing a plush drive for passengers, which is useful given that most of these things will be used as airport transfer shuttles for posh hotels. But of course, that does come with a side dish of body roll and bounce, which means a tentative approach to corners and gingerly making your way across roundabouts.

Surely it’s not that quick anyway?

You’d be correct with that statement. Thanks to 201bhp and 270lb ft of torque, the converted van will do 0–62mph in 12.1 seconds. Not exactly Porsche Taycan Turbo S speeds. Although to say that launches in this thing are unnecessary would be one of the understatements of the century.

But it’s not bad to drive?

Not really given its inherent limitations. Paddles behind the steering wheel let you flick between four levels of regen, from pure coasting to nose prints on the steering wheel. When we originally drove the EQV we found that when the mechanical brakes were engaged (after the first portion of pedal travel, which is all regen) they were extremely snatchy, but it would seem as though Mercedes has fixed that particular problem – at least for cars in the UK.

Behind the wheel you can understand why people go for such high-riding beasts – you have an imperious view of the road ahead matched only by other van drivers. There are downsides to the size of the EQV though: it doesn’t really fit in normal parking spaces and you have to leave a load of space behind it to make sure the boot can open.

It can also be a bit of a squeeze getting in and out of multi-storey car parks. But then if you’re in this much need of a seven-seater then you’ve no doubt already made peace with your life choices.

Interior

What is it like on the inside?

It’s low-key plush inside the EQV, and in space terms it’s positively luxurious. There’s bags of legroom for everyone and you’ve got comfortable leather seats in the back that recline a decent amount for a bit of a snooze. There’s no quilted Alcantara on the roof or shagpile carpeting, but the EQV feels both comfortable and durable inside.

There are various seating configurations available in the back: a row of two seats then three, three seats then two or two seats then three with a nice table in the middle. With the two individual seats in the middle row you can turn them round for the executive VIP shuttle look – you won’t want to do it too often, mind, as there’s no fancy mechanism here. You have to physically unlock the seat from the guide rails and hoik it round. They’re not particularly light, either.

Whatever set-up you end up with, there’s 1,030 litres of space in the boot for loading luggage and whatnot, although the electric opening tailgate does need a good amount of space behind to open. It gets pretty awkward you have to try and get your stuff out through the cabin…

Up front you’ve got heated seats as standard in a roomy cockpit that has a decent flat space between the seats for a bag or two, and some storage in the centre console and door pockets.

The dials are classic analogue units with a small screen between the two, but there’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash on all trim levels. You’ll need to upgrade to either Sport Premium or top spec Sport Premium Plus to unlock Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, though.

If you do make that jump, you’ll also get memory seats, a 360-degree camera that replaces the standard reversing camera, a pop-up table in the rear and some real wood trim.

Buying

What should I be paying?

Fortunately, the EQV range is fairly concise. Not cheap though. Prices start at £83,530 for the Sport model, and you can expect to pay £86,170 for the Sport Premium and a whopping £91,190 for the Sport Premium Plus.

Pay monthly and you’ll be looking at numbers well north of £1,000, but shop around Mercedes dealers and you can find some spicy discounts. You’re looking at a £16k premium over the standard V-Class, though, so you’ve got to be sure you want the electric version.

Spec levels are decent: as standard you get the MBUX system with its large touchscreen (although it’s far from a Hyperscreen), electric side doors and boot, adaptive LED headlights, roof rails and 17-inch wheels.

Upgrade to the Sport Premium and you’ll get darkened windows, chrome splashes around the outside of the car, 360-degree parking cameras, Apple and Android connectivity, electric memory seats up front and the fancy moving table at the back.

The Sport Premium Plus adds a Burmester surround sound system and adjustable air suspension, which it’ll probably need with the 18-inch wheels Mercedes will fit.

Grey and red are the free colours, otherwise you’ll need to find another £744 down the back of the sofa for a nice metallic number. The EQV looks at its most ‘world leader at a G20 summit’ in black, you might even convince people there’s someone important inside.

Beige leather is a no-cost option inside and you can order some accessories, like tablet mounts for the backs of the front seats, but that’s your lot. Mercedes really chucks a lot in there for you.

There are few EVs that make a 50kW fast charger feel quite so slow, such is the hugeness of the EQV’s 90kWh battery. Fortunately, it can take up to 110kW if you can find a plug that will keep up.

Otherwise, if you’ve got the time there’s an onboard 11kW charger that should have you filled up before the end of your holiday. Hook the EQV up to one of these at home and a full charge should cost around £30 at current domestic rates.