The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has been revealed, slotting in between the EQC and EQS in Mercedes’ electric SUV lineup. It’ll be a rival to models like the BMW iX and Audi e-tron.
Mercedes-Benz EQE styling and interior
The Mercedes EQE SUV looks like a regular SUV that’s been smoothed by water. Sharp edges are out and in come flowing lines, a bluff nose, recessed door handles, aero-friendly wheel designs and a customary rear light bar. The AMG EQE 53 version gets a slightly more aggressive stance with lowered suspension, big wheels and the hallmark of Mercedes performance models, a Panamericana-style grille.
If you want real wow-factor, you’re better off getting inside, where you can option the EQE SUV with Mercedes’ stunning Hyperscreen infotainment display, which stretches the length of the car’s dashboard. It’s powered by Mercedes’ MBUX operating system that can understand colloquial voice commands, and sports eye-catching features like augmented satnav that appears to draw sat-nav directions directly onto an image of the road ahead on the car’s screen.
The big appeal of the EQE SUV is that you get the posh interior of a Mercedes in a practical SUV body with loads of room for tall adults, and a boot that’ll swallow more than you could ever get in the firm’s standard cars. What these pictures don’t capture is how much roomier the EQE will feel next to a conventional SUV, thanks to its flat floor and floating centre console, both possible because of the neater packaging of its battery packs and motors.
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Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV specifications
You get five versions of the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV to choose from, and all come with a 90kWh battery that can be charged at speeds of up to 170kW.
The large battery means the entry-level EQE 350+ has a maximum range of nearly 370 miles between charges. It’s powered by a single 288bhp motor that drives the rear wheels. The same model is also available with an additional motor at the front for four-wheel drive. Want a slug of added performance, without a sporty chassis setup? Then the 402bhp EQE 500 could be the model for you.
Serious performance models come in the form of the AMG 43 and AMG 53 variants, both of which are four-wheel drive. The 43 has 469bhp and gets from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, the 677bhp 53 slashes that down to 3.5 seconds when equipped with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package that includes a Race Start mode and gives the performance EV a top speed of 149mph. Both the 43 and 53 come with comfy air suspension fitted as standard, and rear-wheel steering – which will massively boost low-speed manoeuvrability – will be on the options list.
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Mercedes EQE SUV price and release date
The new Mercedes EQE SUV is expected to start from around £80,000, however, the AMG 53 performance variant will likely cost well north of £100,000. The EQE SUV is set to go on sale at the start of 2023. We’ll have a full review of the new EQE in the coming months.