TopGear has just got off the new electric Mercedes EQS. You can read the full test report in TopGear Magazine 199 (in stores at the end of December); now the highlights.
Test object: Mercedes EQS
Performance: 580 4Matic AMG Line (not pictured)
Location: The Netherlands
Weather conditions: cold, fairly dry
Wow, is this the Mercedes of the future?
Yes, you could see it that way. The Mercedes EQS is certainly not the first electric Mercedes, but it is the first to be on this new electric platform. The other EVs share their chassis with petrol variants. In addition, this is the flagship; the largest and fattest electric car the brand currently offers. Think of it as the electric counterpart of the Mercedes S-class.
Couldn’t they have made an SUV better?
Electric variants of the GLS or the G-class will undoubtedly come in the future, but a sedan is the smartest move as far as we’re concerned. They are lower and lighter, so you have more favorable air resistance and a greater range. Mercedes went quite far: the EQS is the most aerodynamic production car in the world. You notice that: the windscreen is quite flat and the roof is quite low. As a result, the electric sedan feels a bit cramped on the inside.
But is the Mercedes EQS really cramped?
That was not that bad. The front seats can be set quite low and in the front you will not quickly lack headroom. The rear seat also has a deep seat, which provides more than enough legroom and quite a bit of headroom. People of two meters will probably get into trouble. Normally we are a big fan of dark headlining, but with the EQS we would consider taking a lighter covering to make it look a bit bigger.
Speaking of great things…
Yes, that screen, isn’t it? This EQS features the optional MBUX Hyperscreen. This is a package that includes a 12.3-inch screen behind the wheel, a 17.7-inch screen in the center and another 12.3-inch screen in front of the passenger. For example, the music can be selected on it or Tetris be played. An update is coming that will prevent the driver from watching that screen, so the passenger can watch a movie while driving. Quite funny: when you start the car you get a message that you should not be distracted by the Hyperscreen. Well, success.
But how does the Mercedes EQS drive?
Excellent. We know that electric motors make every car very fast. The EQS is of course on air suspension and that is as if you are taken on a cloud while the massage chairs knead your back. On the gigantic screens you can set a soothing screensaver via the Energizing program, which also determines the color of the mood lighting. A soothing melody is played here. Such a funfair should be just your thing, but for us it was one of the most relaxing rides ever.
Is the Mercedes EQS further than a cumbersome box?
Well no. The rear wheels turn 4.5 degrees and if you buy the optional software, they even steer up to 10 degrees. That gives it a turning circle of 10.9 meters when parking, which is quite acceptable for a car of 5 meters long. You have to practice parking backwards again, because it takes some getting used to. And if you’re not used to it, you’ll quickly shake your passengers because of the quick response to the steering wheel. For its weight of almost 2,600 kilos, the Mercedes EQS is very dynamic. And what you lack in cornering speed, it makes up for when accelerating.
So positive. Surely bribed by the electro lobby?
No, it is not. The EQS is just a rock solid car. But if you’d like some critiques, we’ve got them for you. If you set the cruise control at about 108 km/h, a high tone comes from the electric motor. Pretty irritating. The buttons on the steering wheel work okay, but we preferred physical push buttons. And the infotainment system is sometimes a bit on the slow side, especially if you want to swipe through the navigation map. The placement of the hazard warning button on the center console is also a bit awkward – that’s exactly where you’d normally rest your wrist.
Is it good enough to make you forget the V8 and V12 of the S-class?
Oops, conscience question. You know that at TopGear we love V8 and V12 engines. The theory is that the EQS is simply better. Electric motors are smoother, quieter and more powerful. But even though you can have sound played when accelerating, an electric motor can never match the V8 or V12 in terms of emotion and experience. You just have to ask yourself what is more important with such a sled as the EQS; comfort or experience.
Good enough to forget about combustion engines? No definitely not. Good enough to replace them? Yes, but with a caveat, because the solution is very simple: an EQS for the daily kilometers and something with a lot of noise and even more nasty dust for the weekend. We’re talking about S-class customers: money, you don’t talk about that, it’s just there.
#electric #Mercedes #EQS #good #forget #V12 #Sclass