The range of Mercedes AMG EQE SUV is less than that of many other all-electric SUVs
The Mercedes AMG EQE SUV is a fast drive – but it’s not so fast when it comes to recharging the battery.
If you’re looking for a fast, luxurious, mid-sized, all-electric SUV, then check out the Mercedes AMG EQE SUV.
It shares a platform with the EQE, EQS sedans, and the EQS SUV. Essentially, it’s the SUV version of the mid-sized EQE sedan. It sits on a wheelbase of 3,030 mm (119.3 in) and is 4,864 cm (191.5 in) long, making it the shortest of these four all-electric models.
My EQE SUV test vehicle was the high-performance AMG version. Mercedes claims it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 220 km/h. Although I cannot verify either number from my test drive, I have no doubt they’re accurate based on the ease of hitting 100 km/h when merging onto Toronto’s 401 expressway.
Power comes from dual AMG-specific electric motors with 460 kW output that produce 677 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are hard to beat.
 The interior of the Mercedes AMG EQE SUV is a delight – especially the dashboard with a huge nav screen in the middle. |
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But its range of 378 km is less than many other all-electric SUVs.
Mercedes says it takes 10 hours and 45 minutes to fully recharge a depleted battery on a 240v charger. On a fast charger, Mercedes says the battery can be recharged from 10 percent to 80 percent in 32 minutes. In my experience, the fast charger was much slower than that: it took me 32 minutes to go from 67 percent to 87 percent. But that was at an outdoor charger on a cold February day – which obviously leads to a slower charging time.
The styling outside is typical for a Mercedes and typical for a mid-sized SUV. There’s nothing extreme, distinctive or game-changing when it comes to exterior styling; this is a Benz that blends in.
But inside, it’s a different story. This Benz shines when you slip behind the wheel; the interior is more impressive than the exterior. The driving position is excellent, the quality is outstanding, and the visibility is very good – which cannot be said of all mid-sized SUVs.
But the highest marks for the interior go to the Hyperscreen, which has three screens under one huge piece of glass that stretches from door to door. The passenger/navigator does not feel left out, thanks to a 12.3-inch touchscreen in front of them. There’s another 12.3-inch touchscreen right in front of the driver. And between them, in the centre of the dash, is a huge 17.7-inch nav screen that’s a pleasure to view thanks to the extremely sharp and detailed display.
The outstanding sound system also makes a ride in the Benz a pleasure. It’s a five-seater, and there is no third-row seating option, which is available on the larger EQE SUV. Hauling capacity is 520 litres behind the rear seat, and with the rear seat folded down capacity increases to 1,675 litres.
There’s not much not to like about this vehicle, although I would prefer a few more physical buttons, rather than having to go through the nav screen for simple adjustments.
Its size sometimes makes it a bit large for the urban environment, especially when navigating tight parking spots – but that’s true of every offering in this mid-sized segment. If it’s an issue and your driving is only in urban areas, plenty of smaller SUVs are on the market. On the other hand, any inconvenience caused by its size on city streets is balanced by the smooth and comfortable ride on expressways and rural roads.
The base price of the Mercedes AMG EQE SUV is $128,900, and my test vehicle included such goodies as Pinnacle trim ($8,000), AMG Dynamic plus package ($5,500), 22-inch black AMG multispoke turbine wheels ($1,755), illuminated running boards ($845) and heated rear seats ($470), bringing the total bill to $148,925.
Dale Johnson is an award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who has worked in TV, radio, print and online. While the manufacturer provided Dale with a vehicle to test drive, the content of this review was not reviewed or accepted by the manufacturer.
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