25 September 2023
“Don’t get a desk job” they said. “It’s boring,” they said. Well, there will be no desk sitting today! Look at me now – driving a Mercedes EV SUV to Te Karaka Luxury Lodge near Port Waikato, metaphorical wind in my hair, soaking in the views, salivating the imminent gourmet lunch about to hit my welcoming stomach. This is as far from the daily grind as one can get; this is fair dinkum living the life of Riley.
As the AA’s second-string motoring writer, car launches are infrequent, breadcrumb-like affairs for me. It’s like primary school lunchtime sports – waiting expectantly to be chosen, but usually overlooked for the more athletic specimen. But today, there will be no selection humiliation or breadcrumbs. Today, we feast at the high table of opulent motoring goodness with the unveiling of the latest Mercedes-Benz luxury EV SUV.
Three models were on offer at the launch, the EQE 300 5-Seater, EQE 350 4Matic 5-seater SUV and the flagship EQS 450 4Matic 7-seater SUV. Don’t be confused by the naming coincidence, EQE and EQS badges are also used on the latest electric Mercedes-Benz sedans. The only way to tell them apart is with the naked eye. However, EQE and EQS SUVs both share the Mercedes-EQ modular electric platform shared with the sedans and ten different EQ models.
Mercedes-Benz has committed $10 billion for the design and development of future EVs and $1 billion in capital expansion projects of its global battery production, half of which will be at its lithium-ion plant in Kamenz, Germany.
The same 90 kWh lithium-ion 10-cell battery is used for both EQE SUV variants, with slight changes in power. The 300 boasts 180kW/550Nm and the 350 4Matic dual motor has 215kW/765Nm. Stated range is up to 539km (NEDC). The EQS 450 carries a larger 120kW battery to off-set the heavier weight (300/350 are 2,385kg/2975kg compared to 2,690kg) and boasts a range of 592km (NEDC).
Let’s get the dollar bills out of the way. The entry EQE 300 SUV starts at $139,900 and jumps to $149,900 for the EQE350 dual motor. The EQS 450 4Matic 7-seater will cost $196,500 without extras. The EQE 300/350 look identical but the main difference is rear-wheel drive for the 300 while the 350 comes with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
Missing from the launch but soon to be available in New Zealand is the AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ SUV, boasting 460kW and 950Nm (0-100km in an eye-watering 3.5 seconds). One of these will set you back a cool $199,900 (current clean car fees are excluded on all prices, as of September 2023).
But wait, there’s more. Why not add the optional Hyperscreen ($6,700) to any model, or Rear Entertainment package for the EQS ($11,700). Rear-axle steering is available on the EQS ($2,900) which adds 10 percent steering angle adjustment (makes U-turns and parking a breeze).
What’s a Hyperscreen you ask? Mercedes describes it as the “jewel of interior design” – it’s a dashboard OLED display that stretches across 56 inches (it’s actually three screens beneath one panel of silicate glass), giving passengers intelligent access to suggested functions at any given time. Controlled through the MBUX (Mercedes Benz User Experience centre console) it offers AI data processing capabilities for intuitive driver suggestions. Sadly, none of the test vehicles were Hyperscreen-equipped so I am unable to confirm if it can transform the dashboard into a goldfish-swimming screensaver.
Hyperscreen: the "jewel of interior design"
As one would expect, technology in the electrified Mercs is next-level awesome. Even the EQE 300 gets AMG line enhancements to both exterior and interior, panoramic sunroof with touch slider, augmented reality navigation and the Dolby Atmos capable Burmester 15-speaker sound (although Dolby Atmos is currently only compatible with an Apple Music account).
Further tech worth mentioning is the customisable five-cluster dash gauges and ambient LED strip lighting, huge heads-up display and the affable ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice activation feature – Mercedes’ own digital assistant (think Siri for your car). However, even after several attempts of “Hey Mercedes, tell me a joke,” we couldn’t extract any levity from our vehicle’s digital assistant.
This symphony of peripheral distraction makes you wonder what sort of gadgets will influence consumer behaviour in the future. Is the law of diminishing marginal returns inevitable for these toys? Tech-savvy EV buyers lap up digital innovations, and AI is on the verge of pushing in-car tech offerings to exponential levels. Sixty nine percent of EV buyers want more digital solutions in a vehicle based on a recent McKinsey survey, putting pressure on OEMs to identify features and services that consumers most value and use, and more importantly, which features will need to be discarded.
One thing is certain, tech that can radically change the safety realm for passengers and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians is a bona-fide winner. Mercedes EV SUVs carry a multitude of hidden safety gems, such as Dynamic Body Control, Safe Exit (which won’t allow doors to open if bikes are coming), Pre-Safe Systems (snugs seat belts if crash is imminent) and Transparent Hoods (otherwise known as ‘the invisible bonnet’). Invisible bonnets, developed by Continental Automotive in Germany, are basically 360-degree cameras that display a virtual view under the front of the vehicle so you can see obstacles in advance. Watch a video of it working here.
It would be remiss at this point to not mention the delectable lunch at the mid-point of our journey. Nestled in the foothills of Te Karaka Station, the lodge is on a working farm 18km south of Port Waikato. The surroundings are a slice of heaven on earth, with sweeping vistas to the sea. Heaven also sent a food angel in Chef Dominic, who prepared a complete farm-to-table three course masterpiece featuring carpaccio of Waikato beef, lamb or salmon in parsnip puree and finished up with salted caramel crème brûlée. The AA is actually paying me to do this? How can I wrangle more of these launches?
So, how do we sum up these new Mercedes EV SUVs? Well, to start, while there are plenty of 5-seater EV mid-size SUV options around, the EQS presents the first spacious, 7-seater option for the New Zealand market until the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90 hit our shores. Both the EQE and EQS have ample passenger space, so getting the whole family to soccer won’t be a problem. Headroom and legroom are generous, even for the tallest of reviewers.
Standard equipment across the range is impressive and the upgradeable options like four-wheel steering add genuine utility to make the extra investment worthwhile. The MBUX infotainment system and AI driver assist technology is intuitive and even helpful, but the onboard augmented video navigation may take some getting used to (we opted to turn it off and project Google Maps through Apple Car Play).
Electric motor power is delivered smoothly across models, and the recuperative braking modes (Mercedes-speak for regenerative braking) are fun to use for one-pedal coasting on any road type. Range is decent, considering these SUVs weigh over two and a half tonnes. Handling and ride are more than capable across the range, but the EQS elevates stability and minimises body roll with its continuously adjustable air suspension. Road noise? Forget about it, you can hear a pin drop inside these machines.
The EQE and EQS are practical, yet elegant SUVs and represent a new bar in the advancement of EV design and tech. We are salivating at the opportunity to spend another day (toiling away) driving the AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ SUV when it touches down in Aotearoa.
For more specs and stats on the EQE & EQS:
EQE: https://www.mercedes-benz.co.nz/passengercars/models/suv/eqe/overview.html
EQS: https://www.mercedes-benz.co.nz/passengercars/models/suv/eqs/new.html
Article and images by Avon Bailey
Avon has spent three long decades doing everything there is to do in the car universe, from the car auction podium to wrenching on a race car team he has seen it all. He brings an open mind and a sharp pencil to give an honest review of anything with four wheels.