Review: Mercedes EQE SUV
Mercedes EQE Review
The range of SUVs currently offered by Mercedes is wide and varied, but it isn’t stopping there. No, it has recently added this car - the EQE SUV - to its line-up of high-riding battery-powered models, joining models like the EQC, EQS SUV and EQB to offer something of a middle ground option.
It’s essentially a raised-up version of the standard EQE saloon, which is a car that has gone down very well with buyers. Can this raised-up model deliver the same experience? We’ve been finding out.
What’s new?
Essentially, the EQE SUV takes the learnings from the saloon and applies them to a slightly larger scale. We’ve got a large battery underneath - more on that shortly - a tech-filled cabin and a well-sized boot. All versions of the EQE SUV ride on air suspension as standard, too, allowing it to iron out lumps and bumps in the road.
The exterior also features a similar look and feel to the larger EQS SUV, incorporating an aerodynamic design which aims to help the EQE SUV to cut through the air as effectively as possible.
What’s under the bonnet?
You can get the EQE SUV with a number of different motor setups, including high-performance AMG versions, but the one we’re looking at today brings 288bhp through a dual-motor setup. With this system you get all-wheel-drive, and Mercedes claims that you should be able to manage 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.
Plus, with an 89kWh battery underneath, the EQE SUV comes accompanied by a range of up to 341 miles while a maximum charging speed of 170kW means that a 10 to 80 per cent charge could be completed in 32 minutes. Plug in at a home 7.4kW wallbox and a full charge will take 14 hours in total.
What’s the Mercedes EQE SUV like to drive?
The EQE SUV is a big car first and foremost, so it can take a little getting used to - particularly if you’re coming from a more compact model. However, thanks to well-judged steering and a variety of cameras, the EQE SUV is easier to position than you might think, while the inclusion of rear-wheel steering - which moves the rear wheels in an opposite direction to the fronts as a way to help reduce the car’s turning circle - makes it a lot more nimble than you might expect.
The performance is more than adequate for a car of this size and type, too, and though the car’s ride does sometimes struggle to deal with the EQE SUV’s weight, at motorway speeds it feels really settled and refined.
How does it look?
Mercedes has taken a distinctive approach with the look of its new electric SUVs. It’s very swept-back and almost insect-like, with the smoothed-off front grille blending almost seamlessly with the headlights. Around the back, you get a full-width lightbar which has become an on-trend styling touch in the EV segment.
There are some aspects to focus on, however, such as the futuristic pop-out handles which sit flush when the car is locked or moving, or the intricate Mercedes star pattern which is applied to the front grille.
What’s it like inside?
It’s a tech-heavy experience inside the cabin of the EQE SUV, with a number of different screens all jostling for position on the dashboard. Fortunately, the displays themselves are clear and easy to operate while the wood veneer on our test car looked particularly sharp and added a sense of warmth to the cabin.
In the rear, there’s more than enough space with loads of headroom and plenty of room for your feet and knees. Plus, you’ve got independent controls for the heating and ventilation back there, so rear-seat occupants can get the temperature just as they like it without having to disturb those sitting up front.
What’s the spec like?
The EQE SUV is definitely a premium model, which is probably why it’s equipped with plenty of features and technologies. You can get it fitted with the ultra-wide ‘Hyperscreen’ setup - which has one massive display which stretches nearly the entire width of the dashboard - but even regular models come with a 12.8-inch portrait-orientated system which is packed with features. It’s easy to use and very responsive, too.
Our AMG Line Premium car came with loads of extra equipment, too, including four-zone climate control, a 360-degree parking camera and even a remote parking assist function which allows you to park your car using a smartphone - all while standing outside the vehicle.
Verdict
The EQE SUV is another decent EV to enter the Mercedes line-up. It’s got all of the functions and features that you’d expect from a Mercedes, while the roominess and space that you get inside will mean it’d suit family duties down to the ground.
Its dynamics may not be the most polished, but buyers after a comfortable and well-specified premium SUV with a decent amount of range could do a lot worse than opting for the EQE SUV.
