OVERVIEW
The Mercedes-Benz EQS should be at the top of your list of options if you're looking for the most cutting-edge luxury sedan. It boasts the newest and greatest technology, including Benz's enormous Hyperscreen touchscreen, driver profiles based on fingerprint scans, and a staggering six USB-C ports.
It is the company's effort at an electric equivalent to an S-class. Its spacious interior, exquisite cabin materials, headrest cushions, massaging features, and neck-and-shoulder heating pampers its passengers. You will, however, be dissatisfied if you want your automobile to function more like a living room than transportation.
When it comes to the foundational elements of regular driving dynamics, the EQS leaves a lot to be desired. Driving is neither enjoyable nor intriguing. It has syrupy reflexes, average handling, and a weird brake pedal feel that makes you uneasy.
The S-class sedan fueled by gasoline from Mercedes-Benz is the benchmark by which other luxury automakers compare their creations. Unfortunately, the EQS EV requires much more polishing if it is to take the same place among luxury EV sedans.
What Has Changed For 2023?
The mid-level EQS450+ 4MATIC model combines the less powerful EQS450+ with the all-wheel drive capacity of the more powerful EQS580 4MATIC model, is now available in the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan portfolio.
Rear seat cushions and comfort pillows have been updated for the Pinnacle trim level, and a new Executive Rear Seat Package now includes adaptive lighting. Additionally, all EQS variants are now available with 20-inch AMG wheels.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS: EV Motor And Performance
A 329 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque electric motor is placed on the back axle of the EQS450+. An electric motor is located on each axle of the EQS580 4Matic, providing all-wheel drive and a combined system output of 516 horsepower and 611 pound-feet of torque.
The new EQS450 4Matic sits in between the two variants described above and has all-wheel drive capability along with increased power output: The 4MATIC variant has a remarkable increase in horsepower to 355 from 329 and torque to 590 pound-feet from the rear-drive car's 417. According to Mercedes, the rear-drive EQS450+ will reach 60 mph from 0 in 5.5 seconds.
In our tests, the more potent EQS580 reached 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Although the carmaker hasn't released data for the EQS450 4Matic model, we anticipate that its acceleration will fall somewhere between 450+ and 580. We'll update this story when we put a 450+ 4MATIC through our entire testing process.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS: Battery Life, Charging, And Range
A lithium-ion battery pack with a useful capacity of 107.8 kWh is standard equipment on all EQS variants. The EQS580's range is rated at 340 miles by the EPA, whereas the EQS450+ at 350 miles.
The EQS can reportedly recharge 70% of its battery—from 10% to 80%—using a DC fast charger in around 35 minutes, in addition to being able to charge the battery from 10% to 100% in roughly 11 hours and 15 minutes using a 240-volt (Level 2) charger. We noticed an astounding 350 miles of range with the EQS580 on our rigorous testing protocol's 75 mph interstate fuel-economy test route.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS: Interior And Comfort
The EQS's interior is lined with exquisite, high-quality materials and furnished with a wealth of opulent extras. Numerous headrest cushions for front and rear passengers, ambient inside lighting, and an executive rear seat package are among the attractive amenities.
The latter has heated neck and shoulder areas, movable back chairs with massaging features, and a personal tablet for operating the MBUX infotainment system. The most remarkable option, though, is what Mercedes calls Hyperscreen, a huge wall-to-wall glass panel that wraps around the infotainment system and spans the instrument panel.
The EQS does have a more conventional dashboard as standard, even though the digital panel seems futuristic. The EQS boasts a roomy interior thanks to a totally flat floor and a long 126.4-inch wheelbase. Due to its big hatchback, the cargo room is likewise exceptionally generous.
Connectivity
One of the EQS's most notable interior elements is the MBUX infotainment system, particularly the 56-inch-long Hyperscreen. The optional Hyperscreen functions as a single large display that combines three separate panels, in contrast to the conventional setup, which is a tablet-like touchscreen that extends from the center console and hovers above the dashboard.
These include the 17.7-inch main touchscreen, the 12.3-inch passenger-side touchscreen, and the 12.3-inch gauge cluster. The EQS has a fingerprint scanner, the "Hey Mercedes" voice-command system, augmented reality navigation in the head-up display, along with an eye-catching array of screens. Additionally, every model has a Burmester audio system and six USB-C ports spread around the interior.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS: Pricing
The base price of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan is $104,400. The dual-motor EQS 580 starts at $125,950, while the AWD-equipped 450 4Matic variant starts at $107,400. The EQS Sedan is priced similarly to the Tesla Model S.
Which One To Purchase?
The 2023 EQS sedan comes in three different body styles, three different powertrain options, and three possible trim levels. The top Pinnacle grade in the rear-wheel drive EQS450+ configuration, which offers conveniences like heated and ventilated front and back seats, massaging for passengers in the front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, a head-up display, and more, is recommended.
Even though it only produces 329 horsepower, the base powertrain has enough punch, and if a customer so chooses, they can now match it with the company's all-wheel-drive system, which also greatly increases performance.