The configurator for Mercedes’ mid-sized EV saloon is now live, revealing the model’s pricing
Mercedes’ Tesla Model S-rivalling EQE costs £76,450 and up, the model’s new online configurator has revealed. At present, only prices for the EQE 350 version have been put online – we’re still waiting to find out how much the AMG 43 and 53 will cost. As for the 350, the cheapest version comes in AMG Line trim.
Next up is the AMG Line Premium for £81,450, while the AMG Premium Line Plus is £88,450. Also costing £88,450 is the Exclusive Luxury. The only optional extras available are different paint finishes – otherwise, the spec is dictated by the trim level.
Two notable absences in the configurator are the 1.4-metre wide ‘Hyperscreen’ display that spans the whole dashboard, and the rear-wheel steering system. We’ve contacted Mercedes regarding these omissions and were awaiting a response at the time of writing.
New 2022 Mercedes EQE: exterior design and chassis
The EQE is an all-electric counterpart to the E-Class saloon and the second model in Mercedes’ all-electric EQ line-up to be based on a purpose-made electric car platform.
These dimensions, coupled with the streamlined, almost four-door-coupe-like design, mean that the EQE is more similar in profile to the CLS than the E-Class saloon. The overhangs are kept shorter than on the EQS, with wheels sized from 19 to 21 inches available.
It takes plenty of design inspiration from its larger EQS sibling, integrating a similar front-end design, with a large black panel in place of the grille. Behind this fascia sits the various sensors and cameras required for the car’s driver assistance features. The bonnet is fixed in place and designed to be opened only by Mercedes mechanics at a service, with an access flap for washer fluid integrated into the left wing.
At the rear, a traditional saloon boot lid is headlined by a full-width LED tail-light bar and a small integrated lip spoiler. Items such as the car’s aerials are hidden underneath the bodywork, and the reversing camera is placed beneath the rear badge.
As standard, the EQE rides on steel-spring suspension, but adaptive air suspension is optional, as is the four-wheel steering system used on the EQS.
New 2022 Mercedes EQE: interior design and infotainment
Inside, it takes heavy inspiration from the larger EQS. In fact, the dashboard is near-identical when the EQE is optioned with the MBUX Hyperscreen system – a full-width OLED display encompassing the entire surface area of the dashboard with three interactive display areas.
The digital dash comprises a 12.3-inch area behind the steering wheel, while on the other side of the dashboard is another 12.3-inch display with touchscreen functionality for the passenger. The central area of the Hyperscreen system measures up at 17.7 inches. They all blend together to look like one seamless unit.
The UK’s entry-level AMG Line trim includes sports seats clad in Artico faux leather, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, anthracite-finished wood trim and 19-inch wheels.
AMG Line Premium ups the wheel size by an inch while also adding a remote-closing boot and keyless entry. Meanwhile, AMG Line Premium Plus equipment highlights include 21-inch wheels, a Burmester sound system, a head-up display and the Driving Assistance Plus package.
The Exclusive Luxury trim drops back to 20-inch wheels, switches the Artico for Nappa leather, and clads the dashboard in ‘Ship’s deck’ open-pore walnut trim.
New 2022 Mercedes EQE: battery, drivetrain and performance
Mercedes says that two variants will be available from launch and that 4MATIC versions are coming, and it’s not hard to imagine the arrival of AMG versions in the future too. But for now, the brand has detailed just one version, the EQE 350.
The EQE 350’s battery has a usable energy content of 90kWh. An electric motor system is mounted on the rear axle, developing 288bhp and 530Nm of torque, and while Mercedes has not issued any performance figures, it has said that pending final WLTP homologation a range of up to 410 miles on a single charge is possible.
Not too dissimilar to the Porsche Taycan, the brand says that the EQE will deliver reproducible performance with the ability to accelerate hard multiple times without overheating. Four regenerative braking settings are found, ranging from a one-pedal driving mode to a setting that allows the car to glide with no intervention from the motor.
DC charging at up to 170kW is possible for a top-up in 32 minutes. The standard AC charging rate is 11kW, and from a charge point or wallbox rated at this power it will take eight hours and 25 minutes to replenish the battery. An optional 22kW AC on-board charger is available, reducing this time to just over four hours.
Several intelligent charge modes and settings are included. For example, the owner can enable a ‘take-it-easy’ mode that reduces max charge to 80 per cent and takes other battery lifespan increasing measures, while it’s also possible to specify time periods for AC home charging to take place, so owners can charge using an off-peak energy tariff to save money.
Keyword: Mercedes EQE UK pricing revealed - range starts at £76,450