Electric Mercedes EQE saloon goes on sale in 2022 with 410-mile range
- Available with a single-motor powertrain at launch
- Capable of up to 410 miles on a full charge
- On sale in summer 2022 priced from around £60,000
The all-new Mercedes EQE saloon has been unveiled. It’s the brand’s latest addition to the electric ‘EQ’ range and offers a range of up to 410 miles.
The new EQE is billed as an electric equivalent to the existing E-Class saloon and aims to steal sales away from the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. It gives Mercedes a significant advantage over its German competitors, with electrified versions of the next-generation BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 still far from production.
When it arrives next summer, the EQE will launch with a single motor in two different power outputs, with prices estimated to start from around £60,000.
2022 Mercedes EQE: platform, powertrains and charging
Two versions of the EQE will be available at launch, both using a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. Dual-motor versions are expected after the car’s launch.
Mercedes has confirmed that one of the launch models will be badged EQE 350 and will be powered by a 288bhp electric motor and a 90kWh battery. Performance figures are yet to be revealed but Mercedes has said that a range of up to 410 miles between charges should be possible.
DC rapid-charging at up to 170kW is standard, with a full top up of the battery taking 32 minutes. Using an 11kW wallbox, a full charge takes around 8.5 hours. Buyers can also upgrade to a 22kW AC on-board charger, cutting the charging time to around four hours.
To help top the battery up on the move, the EQE is fitted with four regenerative braking modes, including a single-pedal driving mode. Owners can also schedule charging start and finish times.
Design and size
The EQE sits beneath the flagship EQS luxury saloon in Mercedes’ electric range but shares several design cues with that car. At the front, there’s a gloss black closed-off grille to aid aero-efficiency and a pair of upswept LED headlights. The car’s sweeping side profile is similar to the CLS saloon.
At the rear, the car has a full-width LED light bar that connects the wraparound style tail lights, along with a lip spoiler mounted on the boot lid. Buyers will be able to spec a range of alloy wheel designs ranging from 19- to 21-inches in size.
While the EQE is effectively the electric E-Class saloon, it offers more shoulder room than the conventionally powered car for front passengers and improved interior space generally thanks to a longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels). Boot space is respectable at 430 litres.
According to Mercedes, the bonnet of the EQE can only be opened by a service centre technician, with the left wing incorporating an access flap to allow owners to fill up the windscreen washer fluid. The car’s aerials are hidden away beneath the bodywork, along with a series of cameras and sensors behind the front grille, and a reversing camera fitted into the badge on the boot.
Interior and technology
The interior bears a near-identical design to the larger EQS, with Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen setup incorporated into the dashboard with three OLED display screens. A 12.3-inch digital dial cluster sits behind the steering wheel, with a matching 12.3-inch display on the passenger side. In the middle of the dashboard, a 17.7-inch screen joins the other two displays together to make them look like one seamless unit.
Regular versions of the EQE won’t get the Hyperscreen setup, getting a slightly different centre console instead. The full details and design of this are expected to be revealed later this year.
As standard, buyers get the ‘Electric Art’ interior trim, with the option of a sporty AMG Line version adding sports seats. A majority of the interior is trimmed in NEOTEX, which is a high-quality neoprene designed to imitate leather. There’s also a variety of contrasting trim options, including grey magnolia wood, brown open-pore wood and an anthracite-look version.
Keyword: New Mercedes EQE takes on Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S