The German automaker was one of the first companies that dived into massive electrification. It all started with compact models like EQA and EQB, and after that, it was time for something bigger—a proper sedan—the thing that every car enthusiast would expect to see from the renowned manufacturer. The new model came in 2021 as the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the flagship sedan in the entire EV lineup.
Can this sedan be considered the S-Class of the future, and can it fill such large shoes? At this point, it looks like the company did a fantastic job and offered a level of comfort and luxury never seen before, even by the super-high standards of the S-Class.
The First Generation of the Mercedes-Benz EQS (2021-present)
As we've just mentioned, Mercedes-Benz was one of the first companies to start massive electrification. The company established the EQ marque for future models and started with electrified versions of smaller-size vehicles.
The first models were EQA and EQB, but then, it was time for the real deal. The company developed a new platform for electric vehicles only for that purpose. It is called Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA), and the EQS was the first to ride on it. These days, we expect two more models riding on this platform to debut—EQS SUV and EQE sedan.
Design
After a few years of development, production started in May 2021, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS Australia version arrived a few months after for the 2022 model year. This was a completely new vehicle, based on the new EVA platform, dedicated to electric vehicles only.
Thanks to the new platform, the company was able to implement many new technical solutions, such as positioning the battery underneath the floor and freeing interior space.
There’s exclusive styling, as expected, with a design language reserved only for the EQ family. There are many advanced technical solutions, starting from the adaptive air suspension, which includes four links, an anti-roll bar, and an independent double wishbone at the front.
The rear air suspension also has a multi-link system and anti-roll bar. Regarding brakes, there are massive 415mm ventilated discs at the front and slightly smaller 378mm ventilated discs on the rear wheels.
Another attractive technical solution that is part of the standard equipment is the four-wheel steering, which allows rear wheels to turn up to 4.5 degrees. This is a helpful tool for maneuvering in tight places, especially if we consider that the wheelbase goes up to 3210mm.
Dimensions
As we’ve just mentioned, this EQS sedan measures 3210mm in wheelbase, so it's clear that we are talking about a pretty impressive size. For comparison, that's 104mm more compared to the conventional S-Class. Other measurements are equally notable, with 5223mm total length, 1520mm height, and 1926mm width.
The kerb weight goes around 2680kg in the EQS 53, which is currently the only version available in Australia. Thanks to the all-wheel steering system, the turning circle is just 11.5 metres, which is impressive for a vehicle of this size. Another interesting detail is the ground clearance, which is surprisingly high and goes around 140mm.
Mercedes-Benz EQS Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: 3210mm
- Overall length: 5223mm
- Overall height: 1520mm
- Overall width: 1926mm
- Ground clearance: 140mm
- Kerb weight: 2680kg
- Turning circle: 11.5m
- Rear track: 1747mm
- Front track: 1754mm
Interior
As you would probably expect, the Mercedes-Benz EQS interior is spacious and offers an impressive level of comfort. Of course, the cabin is super-luxurious and wrapped with top-notch materials, while the fit and finish are exceptional.
Of course, the amount of standard equipment is impressive, but all those features get overshadowed by the impressive 56-inch long Hyperscreen, as the German manufacturer likes to call it. Practically, that’s a system of three screens spreading across the whole dashboard, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch passenger screen, and a massive 17.7 central infotainment screen.
Drivetrain, Battery, Range, Performance
Regarding Mercedes-Benz EQS specs, things are pretty simple, at least on the Australian market. Here, the only version you can get is the EQS53, a dual-motor version with all-wheel-drive and a total output of 484kW and 950Nm of torque. With such an impressive amount of power, strong acceleration isn't a surprise. This sedan needs just 3.4 seconds to reach 100km/h, while the top speed is 220km/h.
These electric motors come with a sizeable 107.8-kWh battery pack, which provides a max range of up to 587 kilometres. Besides great autonomy, the battery also features a pretty impressive charging speed that goes up to 200kW. In ideal conditions, that means you can add 300km of range in just 19 minutes of charging.
Mercedes-Benz EQS Specs
- Electric Motors: 2x Permanent magnet AC synchronous
- Max Output: 484kW
- Max Torque: 950Nm
- Transmission: 1-speed automatic
- Acceleration (0-100km/h): 3.4s
- Top Speed: 220km/h
- Battery Capacity: 107.8kWh
- Max Range: 587km
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Besides the sedan, the EQS marque is also used for an SUV. The new model was presented last year and is expected to arrive in Australia sometime this year. Compared to the sedan, the most obvious difference is in the body style. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is a full-size SUV that features the same mechanics as the EQS sedan and the same wheelbase. Interestingly, it is slightly shorter.
When it comes to the drivetrain, Mercedes doesn't offer the SUV in the EQS53 iteration at the moment. Instead, there are EQS 450, EQS 450 4MATIC and EQS580 4MATIC. Note that "4MATIC" refers to an all-wheel-drive or dual-motor setup in this case.
The base model comes with a single electric motor with 265kW and 568Nm of torque. The dual-motor EQS 450 is powered by two electric motors and features a total output of 265kW but a significantly higher max torque (800Nm). Finally, the EQS 580 features a max output of 400kW and 858Nm of torque.
The SUV’s price, specs, and exact launch date for the Australian market are yet to be announced.
When Will the Mercedes-Benz EQS Be Available?
This all-electric sedan has been available Down Under since last year. The Mercedes-Benz EQS price in Australia starts at around $328,400. On the other hand, the SUV version of the EQS is expected to arrive in this part of the world in 2023.
By Nebojsa Grmusa