Is the Mercedes EQE SUV Worth the Hype? A Closer Look at its Performance and Price

Mercedes continues to expand its range of electric models. After putting the EQS SUV on the market a few months ago, now it is the turn of its little brother, the EQE SUV, derived from the EQE, with greater off-road capabilities, a peak power of 687 CV in the most powerful AMG version and a longer range. in the WLTP cycle of 565 km. We have already tried it and we will tell you what the first impressions have been.

The year 2018 is long gone when Mercedes launched the EQC on the market, its first 100% electric car that coincidentally was also an SUV, like the one that concerns us today. Five years have gone a long way in the development of the technology that applies to electric cars, so much so that the EQC is no longer sold because it has become obsolete.

The new EQE SUV occupies its natural place, a car with a conventional SUV-type body 4.8 meters long that sits on a specific platform for this type of model, which allows it to have the wheels located very high. the ends, very short overhangs, and a wheelbase slightly over three meters.

The new EQE SUV follows the design pattern that has marked the Mercedes EQ, with a differentiating style compared to other combustion Mercedes. Its front is marked by a closed front grill, decorated with a pattern of stars in the case of the normal 350 and 500 versions, while in the AMG the bricked-up grill has vertical slats as is the tradition in Affalterbach creations.

His look is marked by somewhat pointed front optics at the ends, which are joined together by an LED light bar. The same pattern applies to the back, where we find light clusters that run the width of the trunk lid, very clean and smooth, with hardly any decorative elements beyond the model name letters.

It is a car with very elaborate aerodynamics, in which elements such as the underbody have been faired to achieve an aerodynamic coefficient of 0.25, very good and curiously 0.01 higher than the EQS SUV which, being longer, improves this record.

Available wheels start at 19 inches and go up to 22 inches on the taller trims.

A quality interior where digitization rules

The interior of the Mercedes EQE SUV also follows the line of other EQ models of the star brand, being almost identical to that of the EQS, EQE, and EQS SUV. We find quality materials, good settings, and a prominent presence on the screens.

In this model, the electronic control panel behind the steering wheel is standard, but also the vertically arranged central screen, which debuted in the S-Class. As an option, you can choose the MBUX Hyperscreen system, more than 141 centimeters wide, and runs across the dash from end to end.

In this configuration, in addition to integrating both the dashboard and the rest of the information sources into a single glass screen, the co-pilot can have their own display where they can see content independent of the rest of the occupants, watch a movie or listen to your own music with wireless headphones.

In the manufacture of the EQE SUV, 70 kilos of recycled materials are used

The space in the rear seats is ample for a model of its size, although it is true that it seemed to us that the bench is located somewhat low, and that forces an adult to have their legs slightly bent.

The trunk has a 520-liter capacity and very flat shapes that make it possible to make good use of the space when loading it. There is also a compartment under the floor of the same where you can store the charging cables.

Three land versions and two AMG

The new Mercedes EQE SUV is already on sale in Spain, and it has three normal versions and two high-performance versions signed by AMG. Starting at the bottom, the EQE SUV 350+ is the only rear-wheel drive version, since the rest push both axles.

The center console that separates both seats is wide, and has two compartments on top, one with a sliding lid at the front and another type of double-door glove compartment at the rear, which serves as a glove compartment.

Underneath there is a lot of space, although this is open. It, therefore, benefits from a completely flat model floor, since that is where the batteries are arranged.

It develops a power of 292 CV and delivers 565 Nm of torque, and at the same time, it is the version that has a greater range of autonomy, with a WLTP approval of 565 km thanks to its 90.56 kWh capacity lithium-ion battery. It is the same battery for all versions of the car.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and the top speed it reaches is 210 km/h.

Above in terms of price, but not in terms of power, is the EQE SUV 350 4Matic, which also delivers 292 hp, although in this case, it has motors on both axles. This version has more torque since it delivers 765 Nm.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and approves a range of between 459-558 km.

The most performance version without reaching the AMG is the EQE SUV 500 4Matic, which with its 408 CV and 858 Nm of torque can already be considered a very high-performance car.

Not surprisingly, it stops the clock from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, while it reaches a top speed of 210 km/h like the other versions.

In AMG versions we find two levels, on the one hand, the EQE 43 4Matic and on the other the EQE 53 4Matic+. The first of them offers 476 hp of power, 858 Nm of torque, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.

Logically, the autonomy of these high-performance versions is diminished, approving the 43 4Matic between 423 and 530 km.

Above and as a more performance version, the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ delivers 628 CV in normal configuration, although with the AMG Dynamic Plus package configured for launch control, it has a peak of 687 CV.

The maximum torque is brutal, with 1,000 Nm, and thus it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and in this case, yes, reach a top speed of 240 km/h.

In the case of the AMG versions, the motors, despite being also two permanent excitation synchronous motors, are of specific development and are not the same as the rest of the versions.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes EQE SUV

We had the opportunity to drive the Mercedes EQE SUV for an hour and a half around Madrid, during which time we had the opportunity to drive it through highway, interurban, and urban sections.

 The first thing that stands out about the EQE SUV is that its driving position is lower than in other SUVs. To sit on the seat you do not have to push yourself up, it is quite low and that makes its driving position only a few centimeters higher than that of the EQE saloon.

As a good electric car, the smoothness and silence in driving set the tone when you drive it, making the feeling in the cabin super pleasant. I believe that these cars, which combine the refinement and quality of materials that we usually expect from a Mercedes with other intrinsic attributes of electric cars, are possibly the most comfortable cars on the market.

Because the most outstanding sound element is the sound of the wind and the little noise from the rolling of the tires, which in the case of the unit we were testing came equipped with the largest available, with 22 inches.

Also, the car we were testing was the 350 4Matic version with two engines, one on the front axle and one on the rear. It has 292 CV and in the case of the test unit, it had the adaptive suspension and the directional rear axle that allows the rear wheels to rotate up to 11 degrees, being able to see that turn with the naked eye.

These two elements condition its positive behavior since they manage to camouflage very well the more than two and a half tons that this car weighs, making it a very agile and quick-reacting car.

In this case, the suspensions also manage to filter the undulations of the terrain well, something especially important in these units configured with such large wheels with low-profile tires that tend to penalize comfort compared to those of 19, 20, or 21 inches.

As for the power, it is sufficient but not excessive. As in the vast majority of electric cars, the initial kick is forceful, capable of sticking your head to the headrest and gaining speed much more easily than combustion cars of similar power and size, but it is true that it does not stretch as much like a combustion car with almost 300 hp.

It is important to know how to use the paddles located on the steering wheel to modulate the level of energy regeneration since it has four different levels, and depending on which one we have selected, you can recover many kilometers when you lift your foot off the accelerator.

Prices of the Mercedes EQE SUV

PRICE	VERSION
EQE 350+	€91,575
EQE 350 4MATIC	€94,375
EQE 500 4MATIC	€95,825
EQE 43 4MATIC	€118,080
EQE 53 4MATIC	€131,005

The Mercedes EQE SUV range is already on sale in Spain with the prices indicated above, and despite the difficulties caused by the deficient public electric charging facilities in Spain compared to other neighboring countries, Mercedes' objective is to sell in a full year 2,000 units of this model.