Review: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV comforts the budding three-row electrical class

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV joins the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S as the one sensible (however impractically costly) battery electrical crossover SUVs that may seat as much as seven. 

The newest three-row electrical crossover comes from an automaker that helped launch the inner combustion engine revolution, as a substitute of simply accelerating its demise. There are extra to come back, together with the Kia EV9, and the VinFast VF 9, allegedly. The Mercedes EQB and Tesla Model Y could be geared up with seven seats, however we advise towards stacking passengers in like a sleeve of Solo cups.

The Alabama-built EQS SUV seems like essentially the most acquainted of the small bunch, although it’s associated to the gas-powered GLS in idea solely. Its aerodynamic curves, stately cabin, S-Class degree appointments, and superior expertise orients the tri-star towards the electrical age. 

It’s the fourth automobile for the U.S. in Mercedes’ budding EQ household, and the third and largest Mercedes driving on the model’s EVA2 devoted electrical platform. It shares a lot with the EQS liftback—the eventual successor to the S-Class—together with a 108.4-kwh battery pack, a base 450+ mannequin with single-motor rear-wheel drive, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive 580 variant. Unlike the EQS sedan, Mercedes slips in a mid-grade dual-motor 450, however doesn’t supply an AMG model. 

Big physique, good strikes

With a typical air suspension and rear-axle steering, all three 2023 Mercedes EQS SUV variants hustle and deal with like a automobile one measurement smaller than it’s. 

The base EQS SUV 450+ makes use of a single 265-kw motor to energy the rear wheels. It makes 355 hp and 419 lb-ft of torque, and hits 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. It’s not as fast off the road as some electrics, however it surges forward when known as upon. 

The two different variants make use of everlasting magnet motors on each axles for all-wheel drive. The dual-motor setup within the 450 4Matic makes 355 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, which helps launch it to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, in accordance with Mercedes. 

The EQS SUV 580 makes use of two motors at 400 kw to supply 536 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque. It sheds its 6,228 lb curb weight with a shrug on its strategy to a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, however what impresses extra is the way it’s delivered. The clean linear surge of the EQS 580 stays in character for the three-row SUV as a substitute of slamming occupants again as in twitchier electrical vehicles. 

Despite its punchy potential, Mercedes builds the EQS SUV for consolation. The efficiency SUV within the EQ household arrives subsequent month with the smaller EQE SUV AMG. But with a typical air suspension and adaptive damping that routinely adjusts by means of a variety of 4 drive modes, the EQS SUV has sufficient variability to each cushion occupants from street rash but in addition give drivers extra confidence in pushing it than many different three-row SUVs. The decrease middle of gravity and heavy weight helps it really feel secure and planted, whereas the damping helps combat again towards lateral motions so the motive force hardly ever leans into the door.

Rear-axle steering additionally comes normal, and it turns the rear wheels as much as 10 levels. At speeds above about 35 mph, I couldn’t assist however push it on lengthy winding sweepers and really feel it reduce into fictional apexes with a precision that belies its measurement. Thick A-pillars chunk up some outward imaginative and prescient, however a collection of superior driver-assist features, together with automated emergency braking and blind-spot displays that detect vehicles and pedestrians at intersection crossings, supply a 3rd eye.  

With the rear-axle steering turning the rear wheels reverse the fronts, it successfully negates the three-point flip. At one cramped trailhead parking space, with parking spots on one facet and a fence barrier reverse, I used to be in a position to flip 180 levels with out stepping into reverse, successfully shaving off the ends of the lengthy 126.4-inch wheelbase, which, by the way is about three inches longer than the wheelbase within the GLS.  

That trailhead turnaround led to a short jaunt off-road past an outdated Rocky Mountain mining city. All-wheel-drive fashions add an Offroad mode that routinely raises the suspension an inch to make about 9 inches of floor clearance. The rear-axle steering helped clip corners dense with timber or brush, and slid the rear finish out so the EQS SUV made improbably tight turns. A hill-descent management functioned like an off-road cruise management at speeds as much as 11 mph, and an obtainable digicam system makes use of roof-mounted cameras in addition to cameras within the entrance, rear, and facet mirrors to challenge a large number of views, together with one underneath the entrance axle. Its off-road functionality is simply restricted by the dearth of all-terrain tires supplied from the manufacturing facility. 

Regenerative braking

The regenerative braking system is curious. Mercedes calls the settings three plus one, with an Intelligent or automated perform that, when accessed by means of the paddle shifters, will inform the motive force the optimum time to take their foot off the accelerator and the system will alter the regen primarily based on what lies forward. Otherwise, the three important settings embrace a D- coast perform that operates just like a gasoline automotive. A default regular D setting provides strategy to a D+ sturdy regen mode that may go all the way down to a cease. 

There’s nothing uncommon about any of that. What’s uncommon is that the regen brake setting impacts the texture of the accelerator. The D+ mode corporations up the accelerator, so altering the regen setting from D to D+ requires extra foot strain on the accelerator to maintain it going on the identical fee. There’s no technical purpose for it, VP of EV structure at Mercedes-Benz Christoph Starzynski informed Green Car Reports. It’s meant to offer consistency in pedal really feel between the modes and to remind the motive force of the chosen mode. It’s simple sufficient to assimilate to, however it’s nonetheless an oddity.

Charging and effectivity

The EPA hasn’t licensed the effectivity of the three-row electrical SUV in any motor configuration, however Mercedes pegs the 450+ with a 305-mile vary, and estimates 85 MPGe mixed and a pair of.5 miles per kwh. The dual-motor variants have a 285-mile vary. Mercedes estimates the 450 4Matic at 79 MPGe mixed and a pair of.3 miles per kwh, whereas the 580 and its 21-inch wheels attain for 77 MPGe mixed, and are available simply shy of two.3 miles per kwh. 

In phrases of effectivity, it splits the distinction in a restricted pattern measurement. The Tesla Model X with 20-inch inventory wheels goes about 3.0 miles per kwh. The Rivian R1S three-row SUV has an effectivity ranking of simply 2.0 miles per kwh.

The present EQ household has a 400-volt structure that limits fast-charge instances in comparison with the forthcoming 900-volt structure anticipated to debut with the EQG electrical G-Wagen. Mercedes charges the battery pack for 200-kw DC fast-charging, and guarantees on the 110 kw that fast-charge periods settle into, that the battery could be recharged from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes. On a 240-volt Level 2 outlet, and with a 9.6-kw onboard charger, it takes 12.5 hours to go from 10% to full cost. 

Mercedes-level luxurious, three-row house

With a beginning worth exceeding $105,000 for the EQ SUV 450+ Premium, Mercedes adorns the cabin with the type of refinement and class that has outlined the model as a lot as the inner combustion engine. Power leather-based seats with heating and cooling come normal up entrance, and magnolia wooden trim lined with laser-etched metal bars or metal Mercedes stars grace the cabin. Small however essential touches, similar to how the leather-based padded armrests on the doorways cushion elbows earlier than the floor curves into wooden trim the place the wrist bends, guarantee Mercedes’ peerlessness in relation to inside finishes. Throw in massaging seats, fast seat heaters, and 56 inches of screens, and the EQS SUV 580 Pinnacle begins to justify its $133,350 worth. Perhaps.

The kaleidoscope of screens often called Hyperscreen consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch middle touchscreen with wonderful 3D map graphics and augmented navigation, in addition to a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger with web search and different leisure choices. The final bit is overkill, in my view, and could be higher served by showcasing the beautiful wooden trim. The lesser fashions characteristic a less-distracting structure with a 12.8-inch middle touchscreen and no passenger display screen. 

Five seats come normal, and the second row has energy performance that slides and tilts ahead in lockstep with the entrance seats, so there’s no fear about having to fold headrests or transfer the entrance seats. At its lengthiest, there’s greater than 41 inches of leg room again there. The non-compulsory third row of seats gained’t match bigger American adults in consolation, however children can be fantastic with their very own armrests, cupholders, and USB ports. Fold down the seats with an obtainable energy choice and the cargo house grows to 31 cubic ft behind row two. A warmth pump for the HVAC system gained’t arrive till after the EQE SUV launches, however subsequent EQ fashions could be fitted with it. 

The EQS SUV lacks the journey way of life method of the Rivian R1S, and the tech and efficiency cachet of the Model X, however it additionally lacks the X’s packaging complexities. It’s a extra acquainted, forgiving tackle the three-row electrical SUV, constructed on luxurious consolation whereas not skimping on functionality. From an automaker that popularized the inner combustion engine greater than a century in the past, the EQS SUV is a promising reboot. 

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Mercedes-Benz paid for airfare and lodging for Green Car Reports to draft this firsthand report.