When Mercedes-Benz announced a bold plan to be all-electric by the end of the decade, its strategy included launching a vehicle with battery-electric capabilities into every segment where it competes within the very near future.

Here in Australia and New Zealand, we have so far welcomed the EQA as an electric equivalent to the petrol-powered GLA compact SUV and the EQC as an alternative to the mid-size GLC SUV. The EQS saloon is soon to arrive as an electric alternative to our flagship luxury S-Class, as is the E-Class-equivalent EQE saloon and GLB-equivalent EQB.

Are you with us so far? Excellent, because the next arrival set to shake up the electric SUV segment is bigger and bolder than any to have come before it. 

Space with a capital ‘S’

The EQS SUV draws some of its proportions from the hugely popular GLS large SUV, offering space with a capital ‘S’ for up to seven passengers. This is thanks to a 3,210mm wheelbase (75mm longer than the GLS), which maximises room in the interior.

The rear of the vehicle can comfortably fit four golf bags. For those partial to more traditional forms of measurement, that roughly equates to a whopping 2,100 litres of available boot space when the rear seats are folded.

The EQS SUV sports a sleek, stylish frame that measures 5,125mm in length, 1,959mm in width and 1,718mm in height (200mm higher than the EQS sedan). 

It has taken some design cues from the EQS saloon that aid in superior aerodynamic performance such as custom wheels, bumper and side skirt designs, as well as wheel spoilers to manage airflow.

The exterior also features pop-out door handles, full-width front and rear light bars, and a black panel grille that is available in an optional hexagonal pattern.

Luxurious interiors

This eye-catching aesthetic carries through to the luxurious interior. The pièce de résistance is the MBUX Hyperscreen, which incorporates three separate displays into one vast 141cm glass panel that spans almost the entire width of the dashboard.

Although the model variants offered in Australia and New Zealand are yet to be announced, the overseas market will have three powertrain options to choose from, all featuring a powerful 107.8kWh battery pack at their core. 

The overseas EQS 450+ utilises a single electric motor over the rear axle that delivers outputs of 265 kW of power and 568 Nm of torque, with an estimated driving range of between 536 km and 660 km. 

Kicking things up a notch is the EQS 450 4MATIC, which comes with all-wheel drive via dual electric motors that dish up 265 kW and 800 Nm. 

The top-of-the-range EQS 580 4MATIC also boasts all-wheel drive and its outputs reach an impressive 400 kW and 858 Nm. 

Comfort and technology 

Adaptive AIRMATIC air suspension and ECO, COMFORT, SPORT and INDIVIDUAL Dynamic Select drive modes are available as standard across all models in the European market. The overseas 4MATIC variants are also equipped with a special intelligent OFFROAD mode designed to handle conditions such as ice and snow. 

Technology-wise, the EQS SUV is also setting new benchmarks overseas, with a Drive Pilot Level 3 semi-autonomous system that – subject to local road rules – can allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road on specific sections of freeways, at speeds below 60km/h.

Charging your EQS is also a breeze thanks to Navigation with Electric Intelligence features. This feature can plan the fastest and most convenient route to drive, while taking into account where you’ll need to stop to charge, current driving conditions, and who’s behind the wheel. 

A raft of safety features are fitted as standard, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking and traffic-sign recognition. 

The all-electric EQS SUV will also perform the handy trick of eliminating your fuel costs, leaving you with a vehicle that is as technologically advanced as it is stylish, and as high-performance as it is environmentally conscious. This is a future we’re very much looking forward to.

Register your details for all the latest information on the EQS SUV.

By Jonathan Weller


*Some features may not be available in New Zealand at the time of publication due to legal or licensing limitations.