When Mercedes-Benz decided it was time to firmly plant its flag in the world of electric vehicles, it did so by whipping up the EV equivalent of its most iconic model. Where the S-Class has stood for the epitome of internal-combustion-powered luxury for decades, the new EQS is meant to do the same for battery-powered vehicles — a task it accomplishes with flying colors.
But as much as car enthusiasts extol the virtues of sedan (and station wagons, and coupes, and, well, cars), buyers these days want SUVs and pickup trucks above all else — and many folks in America want them large and in charge. So, while the brand has already begun expanding its EQ range into smaller sedans, an electric full-size SUV seemed like an obvious move, especially for the U.S. market. Which is why the all-new EQS SUV will be Mercedes-Benz USA‘s first electric sport-utility vehicle to go on sale.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is, well, an SUV version of the EQS
Mercedes-BenzThe EQS SUV doesn’t just share its name and its face with the electric flagship sedan; it shares an awful lot beneath the skin, too. Both SUV and sedan ride on the same platform, and have the same 126-inch wheelbase — although the SUV is nearly eight inches taller. As such, the EQS SUV seems unlikely to match the sedan version’s impressive 0.20 coefficient of drag, though it should still be quite slippery by sport-ute standards.
The EQS SUV comes in RWD and AWD flavors
Mercedes-BenzIf you live in warmer climes and prioritize maximum range over maximum performance, you’ll likely prefer the base model, the EQS 450+ SUV, which uses a single rear-mounted electric motor that generates 355 horsepower. Most buyers, however, will probably want the EQS 580 4Matic SUV version, which packs all-wheel-drive courtesy of electric motors on both ends and makes 536 horsepower. (And, yes, if the EQS sedan is any indication, an AMG version is all but inevitable.)
As for the all-important question of range, Mercedes is staying fairly quiet for now, only going so far as to cite a range of at least 310 miles on the relaxed WLTP testing standard. That said, the EQS sedan has proven very capable of meeting or exceeding its already-impressive EPA ranges of 340-350 miles, so we’d bet the EQS SUV will come close to 300 miles of real-world range — at least, in the right weather.
