Mercedes-Benz EQE Review

The competition in the luxury electric vehicle market is becoming increasingly fierce. Executive-class all-electric sedans, as the first choice for many business people and middle-class families, require brand recognition and balance in terms of range, configuration, and driving comfort. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ AMG Line is a new contender in this niche market. With its sportier exterior package, longer wheelbase, and richer safety features as its core selling points, can it meet users' dual demands for practicality and performance while maintaining a sense of luxury, compared to the older model and the entry-level Electric Art version? Through a comprehensive test drive, we specifically evaluated its space performance, actual range, and dynamic driving experience to provide potential buyers with a reference.

Approaching the EQE 350+ AMG Line, the first noticeable difference compared to the Electric Art version is the front face, which features a larger black starlight-patterned grille complemented by black smoked LED headlights. The daytime running lights continue Mercedes-Benz's classic tri-star light strip design, offering high recognition. The body side lines are smooth, and while the fastback silhouette isn’t as exaggerated as the EQS, it still helps to reduce air resistance. The 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels feature AMG’s exclusive sporty pattern and are paired with 255/45 R19 wide tires, giving a more powerful visual impression. The continuous LED taillights at the rear also have a smoked design, and the small spoiler on the trunk lid along with the bottom diffuser shape further enhance the sporty attributes. The overall design retains Mercedes-Benz’s luxurious genes while adding youthful vitality through the AMG package, ensuring it doesn’t look too dull even when parked in a business parking lot.

Opening the door, the luxurious feel of the interior is immediately apparent. The center console is wrapped in large areas of soft leather, accented by metal trims, offering a refined tactile experience. The 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen is the visual centerpiece, boasting high interface fluency, supporting CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The operational logic hasn't changed much compared to the previous models, allowing users familiar with the Mercedes system to quickly get accustomed. The instrument cluster uses a full LCD design and, together with the HUD heads-up display, enables drivers to access information like speed and navigation without taking their eyes off the road. In terms of features, the front seats support electric adjustment and memory functions, and also include heating, which is very practical in winter. The rear seats come with independent air conditioning vents and USB ports to meet passenger needs. However, the steering wheel adjustment is manual, which is a slight letdown for a luxury car in the 400,000 RMB price range.

The space performance is one of the highlights of the EQE 350+ AMG Line. Its wheelbase has reached 3210mm, 90mm longer than the 3120mm of the 2023 model, directly enhancing rear legroom. A passenger standing 175cm tall sitting in the back seat would have about two fist-widths of space between their knees and the front seatback. While the fastback design slightly limits headroom, there’s still about a fist-width of clearance, so it doesn’t feel oppressive. The trunk offers medium standard storage space, but the rear seats support a 60:40 split, making it adaptable for occasional large items. Regarding storage, the front and rear door storage slots can accommodate two bottles of water, and the central armrest box and glove compartment offer sufficient capacity for daily use, providing full practicality.

In terms of dynamic driving, the EQE 350+ AMG Line is equipped with a rear-mounted electric motor, delivering a maximum power of 214.8kW (292.1PS) and a maximum torque of 565N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 6.4 seconds. During actual driving, the start is very brisk, and as soon as you press the accelerator pedal, you can feel the torque output, making overtaking on city roads very easy. It offers three driving modes: Eco, Comfort, and Sport. In Eco mode, the power output is milder, suitable for daily commuting; in Sport mode, the throttle response is more sensitive, and the steering wheel becomes heavier, providing a certain level of driving pleasure. However, as an executive sedan, its chassis tuning is still oriented towards comfort—the front and rear multi-link independent suspension filters out most road bumps, and there is no harsh impact when going over speed bumps. The body roll is well-controlled during cornering, and the suspension provides adequate support without making passengers feel uncomfortable.

Range testing is the point that concerns electric vehicle users the most. Simulating daily commuting scenarios, we split the trip equally between urban roads and highways, set the air conditioning to 23℃ in automatic mode, and adjusted the energy recovery to a medium level. The official claimed range is 669km, and in actual testing, after driving 200km, the displayed remaining range was 420km, achieving about 85% of the claimed range. This result is among the upper-middle level for electric vehicles in the same class. In terms of charging, it supports fast charging, taking about 40 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. For daily use, as long as it’s not for long-distance continuous driving, charging convenience is quite good. Noise control is also commendable—at speeds below 80km/h, wind and tire noise are almost inaudible inside the car. Only at highway speeds exceeding 120km/h does a slight wind noise become noticeable, but it does not affect normal conversations.

To summarize, the main advantages of the 2024 EQE 350+ AMG Line are clear: the longer wheelbase provides a more spacious rear cabin, the AMG sports package enhances the youthful appearance, and the 9 airbags and full suite of active safety features (such as ACC adaptive cruise control and active braking) ensure driving safety. The actual range performance can also meet daily needs. Compared with its competitors in the same class, it boasts stronger brand value, richer configurations than the Electric Art version, and a price increase of only 1,000 Ringgit compared to the 2023 model (from 419,888 to 429,888 Ringgit). However, it includes a longer wheelbase and the AMG package, offering better value for money. Its manually adjustable steering wheel and lack of air suspension (which the older version had) are minor drawbacks, but considering the price, these shortcomings are still within an acceptable range.

The target audience for this car is very clear: those who require a luxury brand to support their business identity but also want a car that is practical and suitable for family use; young families who like a sporty appearance but do not pursue extreme performance; or consumers looking to transition from gasoline cars to electric vehicles with demands for brand value and comfort. If your budget is between RM400,000 and RM450,000 and you want a well-balanced luxury electric executive sedan with no significant weaknesses, the EQE 350+ AMG Line is worth considering.