Mercedes ramps up its range of large EV models with this EQE SUV. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

If you're planning to switch out of a large combustion-engined Mercedes SUV any time soon in favour of a full-battery model, then this is the car the brand wants you to look at, the EQE SUV. Obviously based on the EQE EV saloon, it faces tough Crossover segment competition but delivers much of the elegant luxury you get in the company's top EQS SUV in a slightly more accessible package.

Background

The EQE SUV. Of all the large fully electric models Mercedes has recently introduced on its latest second-generation Electric Vehicle Architecture platform, this one is the most important. When the S-Class-sized EQS and E-Class-sized EQE saloons were introduced, we were told each would have a separate SUV derivative. Sure enough, the EQS SUV arrived in mid-2022 to compete in Range Rover SUVIP territory. And was followed a few months after by our subject here, the EQE SUV. This model has a far tougher task, taking on accomplished bigger volume large-sized EV players like the Jaguar I-PACE, the BMW iX, the Audi Q8 and the Polestar 3. Mercedes sees it as an electric version of its combustion GLE SUV and a different kind of car to its other large full-battery models. The idea is to aim at younger customers, but with pricing pushing up towards six figures, they'll need to be successful people.

Driving Experience

In terms of powertrain, things kick off with a rear-driven EQE SUV 350+ variant with a 288hp output, which offers 765Nm of torque and up to 376 miles of range from its 96kWh battery. If you choose the same car with 4MATIC AWD, you get the same power and torque outputs, but extra weight and use of a smaller 91kWh battery means range falls to a best of 339 miles. There's also an EQE SUV 500 4MATIC derivative with 402bhp, 858Nm of torque and up to 362 miles of range from its 96kWh battery. In addition, customers are also offered a 4MATIC Mercedes-AMG sporting model - the AMG EQE 53, which can offer 617bhp with 950Nm of torque, makes 62mph in 3.7s en route to 137mph and can manage up to 280 miles of range from its 91kWh battery. Performance further down the range is adequate but can be a little under-whelming in the 350 models, thanks to their prodigious kerb weight (at least 2,580kg). The 500 4MATIC variant is far more satisfying in this regard, improving the base version's 6.9s 0-62mph time to 4.9s. For these stats, you'll need to select the sharpest 'Sport' driving mode (one of four available); you'll need to spend most of your time in either 'Comfort' or 'Eco' if you're to get anywhere near the quoted EV range figures - though the standard heat pump helps to preserve driving mileage in really cold weather. All UK EQE SUV models get AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping, which you should find copes very well with the UK's appalling tarmac. Expect refinement to be excellent, aided by slippery aerodynamics. Owners may also like the range of selectable drive sounds - like 'Serene Breeze', which Mercedes claims sounds 'relaxed and natural'.

Design and Build

It's very possible that if you were familiar with large Mercedes EVs, you might mistake this EQE SUV for its EQS SUV showroom stablemate. Look more closely and you might spot this more affordable model's more heavily sloped roof line and more angled tailgate, both possible because this smaller design doesn't have to accommodate a third seating row. So it can be 262mm shorter, 19mm narrower and sit 32mm lower than the EQS SUV. That means a 4,863mm length that makes the EQE SUV a little more compact than its most obvious rivals: both the BMW iX and the Audi Q8 measure over 4.9-metres in length. The frontal look is familiar from other larger Mercedes EQ models, with a full-width light bar and LED headlamps with two triangular elements (instead of the three on an equivalent EQS). Inside, as with the EQS models, there's a choice of two different dashboard layouts. The most sophisticated uses the brand's ultra-wide Hyperscreen, a 56-inch curved display with three screens, one for the driver, one for the passenger and one in the centre. That'll be an expensive option on mainstream versions of this car, but it really lifts the cabin when fitted. As you'd expect, there's a slightly higher seating position than you'd get in an EQE saloon. And a more spacious rear seat too. There's 520-litres of boot space - that's 20-litres more than a BMW iX. And the 40:20:40-split backrest folds to extend that to 1,675-litres, plus there's space beneath the floor for the charging cables.

Market and Model

You're going to need to think in terms of a price starting point of around £75,000 for EQE SUV ownership; that's for the entry-level EQE SUV 350+ 4MATIC model with base 'AMG Line Edition' trim. Most customers will want a plusher variant, either mid-range 'AMG Line Night Edition Premium' or the top 'AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus' models. You'll need around £5,000 more to progress from the base rear-driven 350+ version to the 4MATIC variant. The faster EQE SUV 500 4MATIC is priced from around £90,000. You'll need a lot more for the high performance Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+, offered in 'Night Edition' and 'Night Edition Premium Plus' forms; prices start from around £115,000. One key cabin ingredient for all EQE SUV models is the 55.5-inch digital MBUX Hyperscreen set-up borrowed from the EQS. It's a £5,000 option on the 350+ variants if you avoid base spec; but it's standard on all 500 4MATIC and Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 variant. Standard equipment on all models includes AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping, an 'EASY-PACK' powered tailgate, heat-insulating glass, keyless entry, LED headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist and 'Active Park Assist with PARKTRONIC', plus a reversing camera. There's also a wireless charging mat, THERMATIC two-zone automatic climate control and an automatically dimming rear view mirror. Mid-range 'AMG line Night Edition Premium'-spec includes a panoramic sliding roof, the brand's 'DIGITAL LIGHT' projection function and a Burmester sound system. 'AMG Line Night Edition Premium Plus' trim replaces the usual 21-inch alloys with 22-inch rims, plus adds a head-up display and climatised front seats. The Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ models come with a range of AMG dynamic select drive programs - 'Slippery', 'Comfort', 'Sport', 'Sport+' and 'RACE START'.

Cost of Ownership

Mercedes still persists with an older-tech 400V electrical infrastructure for its EVs. Both the 91kWh and the 96kWh lithium-ion batteries can be charged at speeds of up to 170kW, which allows the EQE SUV to be DC-charged from 10-80% in 32 minutes. A 10-100% 22kW AC home charge would take 5 hours 15 minutes; with a more typical 7.4kW home wallbox, you'd need 15 hours, so you might struggle to complete an overnight charge. We like the clever choice of different charging programmes - 'Standard', 'Home' and 'Work', each of which allows you to pre-set things like departure time, maximum charge level and air conditioning settings. There's also a feature that Mercedes calls 'Eco-charging', which lowers the load on the battery during charging in a way that improves the longevity of the lithium-ion cells. As usual with an EV, you can lower the battery's charge state to a pre-set limit; or delay charging take advantage of off-peak electricity. As you'd expect, the battery can be replenished on the move by regenerative brake energy, a recuperation system that allows for single-pedal driving on its highest setting. Mercedes makes much of what it calls its 'holistic approach to the battery life cycle', which sees EV batteries taken out of the company's cars at the end of their usable lives and employed in energy storage facilities, rather than being recycled instantly. The brand says over-the-air software updates that work with the EV-specific navigation system extend the battery's life in-car as long as possible, because they determine the best heating and cooling cycles for optimal performance.

Summary

The EQE SUV hits the sweet spot in the fast-growing market for executive-level large EV Crossovers and you can expect it to out-sell all the brand's other EQE and EQS models combined. Out-selling tough rivals from Jaguar, Polestar, BMW and Audi will be a different matter, particularly as most EQE SUVs will be sold at well over £80,000. But this model's very Mercedes look and feel will stand it in good stead in that regard. It'll be interesting to see if owners of the equivalent combustion-engined Mercedes GLE are quite ready to convert into this, that car's direct EV counterpart. Perhaps that might take a little time yet. We're certainly surprised that Mercedes still doesn't think that an 800-volt fast charging electrified infrastructure is necessary for this class of car. The brand's EV revolution it seems, has a little way to go yet. But it's taken another step forward with this car.