Mercedes-Benz EQS Debuts As The All-Electric GLS Equivalent

• Styling highlights include a gloss black grille panel, sleek headlights, a sleek body, aero efficient 19-inch wheels, and wide connected LED tail lamps.

• Cabin highlights include the MBUX Hyperscreen setup, augmented reality navigation, a Burmester sound system, and a panoramic sunroof.

• Second row passengers get twin touchscreens,  and electronically adjustable seats.

• Can be specced in single-motor RWD (450+) and dual-motor AWD (450 4MATIC, 580 4MATIC)  powertrain setups

• Electric powertrain is paired to a 107.8kWh battery pack which helps offer up to a WLTP-claimed 660km of range.

• Global launch in the second half of 2022. India launch likely in 2023.

After a long period of breadcrumbs, including it taking on all sorts of conditions, we’ve finally got an all-electric three-row luxury SUV from Mercedes-Benz. Called the EQS, (also the name of its luxury sedan counterpart), this seven-seater behemoth is the flagship of Mercedes’ electric SUV lineup, and blends the sleek nature of the EQS sedan with the GLS ICE SUV’s presence.

Sure, the EQS SUV is the all-electric equivalent of the GLS ICE SUV, but it already differs by having a lower stance. In fact, there are more similarities to the EQS sedan with the clamshell hood, the clean gloss black front grille panel, and sleek LED headlights. This isn’t a surprise as both models are based on the modular EVA2 platform.  

Delving more into the styling quotient, in true EQ fashion, the EQS SUV is all about being as slick as possible to help achieve good aero efficiency. Even the 19-inch wheels have been specially designed to cut drag, with the flush-fitting door handles also helpling this case. Head towards the rear and here’s where the EQS SUV differentiates itself from the sedan with a squared roofline to accommodate the third row. Full-width connected tail lamps with helix-like styling put the cherry on top of the EQS SUV’s looks. Of course you can also opt for the AMG Line body style which adds a more aggressive front bumper.

Head inside, and you’ve got a cabin big enough to seat seven passengers, with a nice touch of wood on the door trims and centre console, as well as leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof to add to the airy ambience. The big party trick is undoubtedly in true EQ fashion, the MBUX Hyperscreen dashboard setup. It comprises three digital screens -- a 12.3-inch digital driver display, 12.3-inch passenger side touchscreen infotainment, and 17.7-inch central touchscreen infotainment -- spanning a total of 55.5 inches. It comes with the carmaker’s new ‘zero layer’ software that puts all the important apps within the field of vision. 

Other cool bits include a Burmester audio system with Dolby Atmos software to enjoy your favourite tunes, augmented reality navigation, a head-up display as well as OTA updates. Second-row passengers will also have a bit of fun themselves with twin touchscreens, as well as electronically adjustable seats.

Getting to the main party trick in the EQS SUV is its electric powertrain under the hood. It can be specced in either the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive 450+ or the dual-motor AWD 450 4MATIC and 580 4MATIC setups. Here’s a detailed view of what they’re capable of:

Powertrains aside, there’s plenty of performance trickery onboard, thanks to a four-link axle at the front, an independent multi-link rear suspension, as well as air suspension with adjustable dampers. It also gets rear-wheel steering with an angle of up to 4.5 degrees as standard which can be updated to 10 degrees via OTA updates. For those looking for some off-road thrills, the AWD EQS SUV trims also come with a dedicated off-road mode on top of the Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual drive modes.

All three setups utilise a 107.8kWh battery pack. To juice it up, a DC fast charger with a charging capacity of up to 200kW can give a 10-80 percent charge in just 31 minutes. An 11kW standard AC charger does a 10-100 percent charge in 10 hours. 

While the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has broken cover, it will only go on sale globally by the second half of 2022. As for India, considering we’re slated to get the EQS sedan sometime later this year we could expect the SUV by early 2023.