Like many manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz has been on a bit of an EV roll lately. We recently wrapped up testing one of its latest, the midsized, five-seat EQE SUV, which is quick, quiet, and luxuriously appointed. Distracting controls and mushy brakes bring down its road-test score, however, and Mercedes’ below-average brand reliability hurts its Overall Score.
Still, there’s a lot to like here. The standard 288-horsepower dual-motor powertrain in the EQE SUV 350 4Matic (Mercedes’ term for all-wheel drive) we tested zips off the line and scoots from 0 to 60 mph in an effortless and nearly silent 5.9 seconds. Unfortunately, its 9.6-kilowatt onboard charger makes for slower at-home replenishment than other EVs: using a 240-volt 40-amp circuit, the EQE SUV needs about 11 hours to fully charge from empty and will add about 25 miles of range per hour of charging. Its 170-kW max acceptance rate at public DC fast-charging places isn’t a standout, either. Although we only saw a peak power of 126 kW, the EQE SUV gained 170 miles of range during a 30-minute stop, which is comparable to other EVs.
We saw 284 miles in our own 70-mph highway range test, which is competitive but not class-leading. For example, that’s a shorter driving range than the similarly priced BMW iX, which covered 370 miles in this same highway test.
To its credit, Mercedes pays attention to what most EV owners care about, such as displaying the range and battery level prominently as soon as the driver opens the door to get in. The navigation system allows filtering between AC and DC public charging places and automatically adds stops on long journeys. While charging, the speed of charging is displayed on the driver's instrument screen. We think all of these features make life with an EV easier and helps owners understand their cars better.
One sticking point that we’ve experienced with a number of tested Mercedes EVs lately is a spongy brake feel and its unnervingly long pedal travel. This seemingly disconnected sensation made it seem like the SUV wasn’t slowing appropriately or confidently. That said, all of our braking tests yielded impressively short stopping distances.
Other than the unsatisfying brake feel, the EQE SUV drives quite nicely. The ride is super comfortable, with the suspension absorbing bumps well, barring an odd sharp-edged hit on occasion, and it keeps the body settled. And even though this is a very heavy vehicle, the EQE doesn’t mind hustling on a curvy road, either, with quick steering and a responsive chassis. Indeed, the playful handling encouraged us to dive enthusiastically into corners as this hulking Mercedes showed uncharacteristically athletic chops. And, the EQE also proved secure in all of our at-the-limit track handling tests.
The interior is impeccably finished, highlighted by the huge swaths of matte wood on the dash, the brushed aluminum switchgear, and plush carpeting used throughout the cabin. There are other thoughtful details that make this car feel special, such as the clever rotary turbine dash vents which are not only eye-catching, but also highly functional. Riding in the EQE truly feels like you’re flying in first class.
The front seats are very comfortable and supportive, although the bottom cushion could use better side bolsters to hold your legs in place. Our more pressing gripe, however, is the driving position, as the steering wheel rim blocks the upper part of the instrument-panel display, for some drivers even cutting off the digital speedometer readout. The rear seat has good headroom and lots of foot space under the front seats. The easy to access cargo area can accommodate three large suitcases and one overnight duffel bag behind the rear seat, which is decent for a two-row midsized SUV.
Sadly, Mercedes has committed to fitting their cars with painfully complicated controls. Just about every media and climate function is controlled through the large infotainment touchscreen, which is distracting. The system requires wading through many layers of menus in order to make simple adjustments, such as tuning the radio. We also don’t like the finger-sliding actions for adjusting audio volume and cruise control speed on the steering wheel, which require way too much precision and a supremely deft touch while driving.
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Buyers have to opt for the mid-level Exclusive trim to get adaptive cruise control with lane centering assistance and automatic lane-change ability.