Mercedes EQS review

Mercedes EQS verdict

Mercedes was the first premium player to launch a large electric luxury limousine when the EQS went on sale in 2021. On paper, it’s an accomplished all-rounder, with a long range, fast charging, plus a premium-feeling interior loaded with tech. But while that’s all well and good, the subsequent launch of the BMW i7 has proved it’s possible to offer all of that, plus a genuinely engaging driving experience and a spacious rear cabin.

The Mercedes EQS is still a worthy flagship for the brand, however, and the dazzling Hyperscreen infotainment system needs to be seen to be believed. If you want a luxurious, long-range, futuristic-feeling grand tourer, Merc’s offering brings with it plenty of appeal.

Range details, specs and alternatives

Mercedes is embracing the electric future, with plans to introduce an EV in every segment by 2025, before transitioning to an electric-only brand by the end of the decade. To usher in the zero-emissions era, the company has launched what it believes is the ultimate luxury EV: the completely new, designed-from-the-ground-up EQS.

Not to be confused with the similar-sounding Mercedes EQS SUV, the rivals the saloon-bodied BMW i7 – which we named the Best Luxury Electric Car for 2023. The Tesla Model S saloon is another competitor because of its similar focus on range and technology, although it isn’t as luxurious as the EQS. The Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan are also flagship electric saloons, and certain versions can be just as expensive as the EQS, but they’re both smaller and sportier than the Mercedes.

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There are two versions available in the UK: the ‘entry-level’ EQS 450+ gets a single 324bhp electric motor powering the rear wheels only. Then there's the EQS 53 4MATIC+, cooked up by the AMG performance division, with two electric motors (one on each axle) producing 751bhp and 1,020Nm; we’ve reviewed it separately here. There's also a non-AMG EQS 580 4MATIC that produces 516bhp, but it's not available to UK buyers.

Thanks to both a very aerodynamic body and a gigantic 107.8kWh battery, the EQS boasts a Tesla-troubling 452-mile range for the rear-drive 450+ model and around 350 miles for the sportier AMG version. For reference, the latest Tesla Model S Long Range is capable of just over 400 miles, while the bigger battery Porsche Taycan variants can only just crack 300 miles.

The EQS 450+ is offered with a choice of five trims: AMG Line, AMG Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus, Luxury and Exclusive Luxury. Even the cheapest models cost more than £100,000, but for that you get 20-inch wheels, keyless go, a panoramic roof, LED lights and rear-wheel steering designed to improve manoeuvrability around town, as well as stability at higher speeds. Inside, you get heated leather front and rear seats, and a twin-screen infotainment system.

Moving up the range adds luxuries like bigger wheels, digital lights, additional parking cameras and a Burmester stereo. Luxury-spec cars swap out the AMG Line’s sporty styling for additional chrome and unique 22-inch wheels, plus acoustic glass, and comfort seats, as well as open-pore wood for the dashboard. 

The full-fat AMG 53 model is the raciest of the lot, with unique styling and wheels, red brake callipers, climatised seats and that eye-catching Hyperscreen infotainment setup. Prices for these cars start from more than £160,000, with buyers able to choose from either sporty Night Edition, or luxurious Touring specifications. 

Click here to see why you can trust DrivingElectric reviews, or for more on the Mercedes EQS, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…