Mercedes-Benz unveils electric EQS SUV

Say hello to Mercedes-Benz's new luxury electric flagship, the EQS SUV. Designed to go toe-to-toe with the Audi E-tron and BMW iX, the EQS SUV will be on sale at the end of the year.

Built in the USA on the EVA platform shared with the EQS and EQE saloons, power is provided by a lithium-ion 107.8kWh battery that's mounted low and flat under the floor for the lowest centre of gravity out of all the Three-Pointed Star's SUVs.

The EQS SUV measures 5.1m long, 1.9m and 1.7m tall, and Mercedes-Benz believes it to be the most aerodynamically efficient SUV they have built due to a flat undertray, and optional narrow running boards, flush door handles and more.

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What about the oomph?

Two models and three powertrains will be available in the UK. The EQS 450 opens the range, and in EQS 450+ mode it's a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive machine. The dual-motor, four-wheel-drive option is the EQS 450 4Matic; both pack 355bhp though the torque differs: 419lb ft for the 450+ and 590lb ft for the 4Matic.

The 450+ does between 23 and 18.6 kWh/100km, which means you'll see between 333 and 410 miles per charge, which will take 31 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent capacity at a 200kW rapid charge point.

The 4Matic has the same charging capacity, but its range is between 315 and 381 miles. The range-topper is the EQS 580 4Matic, which is dual motor and four-wheel drive, and has 536bhp and 632lb-ft of torque.

The EQS SUV offers three energy recuperation modes – coasting, standard regeneration and enhanced regeneration – while there's also a programme that will automatically move between the modes depending on road conditions.

Ride and interior

To keep the ride smooth the EQS SUV has four-link front and multi-link rear suspension with AirMatic air springs, while damping control is variable.

To help the car become more slippery through the air, the ride height drops by 10mm over 68mph in comfort mode, and 15mm in Sport mode. To make getting over craterous roads and car parks easier, the ride height can be raised by 25mm at speeds of up to 50mph. There's also an off-road mode, though we're not expecting to enter any rally events in it.

Inside there's also the option of a third row of seats to provide pews for seven people in total. There's also a 12.3in digital instrument and 12.8in portrait infotainment display in the dashboard.

No prices just yet, but we'll find out more closer to its autumn release.