Mercedes-Benz EQS Review

The market for luxury electric vehicles has been heating up locally in recent years. Consumers are no longer satisfied with a basic electric transportation experience; instead, they are pursuing a combination of performance, luxury, and technology. As the first all-electric sedan under Mercedes-AMG, the 2023 EQS AMG 53 4MATIC+ is targeting this specific demand—it offers not only the signature luxurious cabin of the EQS series but also an AMG-tuned high-performance power system. This time, through an actual test drive, we'll focus on verifying whether its performance lives up to the AMG badge while checking if its luxury attributes have been compromised in the process of adding sportiness.

From the exterior, the EQS AMG 53 continues the streamlined coupe-style body of the standard EQS but adds a touch of aggression in the details. The front features AMG's exclusive closed-off vertical-bar grille, paired with blacked-out smart LED headlights on both sides, achieving high recognizability. The side profile retains the smooth fastback design, with the waistline extending from the fender to the rear, complemented by larger 21-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels (compared to the standard 450+'s 20-inch ones), enhancing the sporty appeal. The rear sports an exclusive AMG spoiler and a diffuser at the bottom, while the taillights maintain the through-type design but with an internal smoked treatment, giving the overall look a more composed style. The lighting system supports adaptive high/low beams and dynamic turn signals, ensuring both a sense of ceremony and practicality when lit at night.

Inside the car, the luxurious feel of the EQS AMG 53 is still at its peak. The 56-inch Hyperscreen on the dashboard is the highlight—a single curved screen composed of the instrument panel, center screen, and co-pilot screen, boasting top-tier resolution and smoothness. The built-in MBUX system supports voice control and gesture operation, responding quickly. The interior materials primarily consist of Nappa leather and carbon fiber trims, with the steering wheel featuring AMG's exclusive flat-bottom design, touch buttons, and metal paddle shifters. The seats use a sporty bucket design, offering better support than the standard EQS seats, and come with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. In terms of configuration, a head-up display (HUD), four-zone automatic climate control, Burmester 3D surround sound system (a higher-end option compared to the standard 450+'s Sound Plus), wireless charging, and other features are all standard. The co-pilot seat also has separate entertainment system controls, attending to the needs of each passenger in detail.

In terms of space, though the wheelbase of the EQS AMG 53 is not explicitly stated, the actual experience is similar to that of the standard EQS (wheelbase of 3,210mm). After adjusting the front seats to a comfortable position, passengers with a height of 180cm have a remaining headroom of one fist; the rear seat legroom exceeds two fists, though headroom is slightly limited by the fastback design but not to the point of feeling cramped. Regarding storage space, the front central armrest box and door panel storage compartments are spacious. The trunk has a regular capacity of 610L, which can be expanded to 1,770L by folding the rear seats, identical to the standard 450+. This should suffice for everyday family use. The rear row also includes independent air conditioning vents, USB-C ports, and seat heating functions, ensuring comfort was not compromised for the performance focus.

The powertrain is the core advantage of the EQS AMG 53. It is equipped with dual permanent magnet synchronous motors on both the front and rear axles, delivering a combined system output of 658PS and a peak torque of 950N·m, which is a significant improvement over the standard version's 450+ with 333PS and 565N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration takes only 3.8 seconds. During the actual test drive, switching to Sport+ mode and pressing the accelerator deeply gives an immediate and powerful pushback feeling. The power delivery is linear and persistent, and overtaking at high speeds can be achieved with a light press on the accelerator, completely avoiding the turbo lag of traditional fuel-powered performance cars. For daily driving in Comfort mode, the power output becomes milder, making it suitable for city commuting.

In terms of handling, the EQS AMG 53 is equipped with an AMG adaptive air suspension and a four-wheel steering system. While cornering, the steering wheel offers precise handling with minimal play. The suspension provides substantial support, and the body roll is much better controlled compared to the standard EQS version. When passing speed bumps or rough roads, the suspension filters out most minor vibrations while retaining some road feel, striking a balance between sportiness and comfort. The all-wheel-drive system responds quickly, ensuring excellent vehicle stability on rainy days, and even during rapid acceleration, no slipping occurs.

As for range and energy consumption, it is equipped with a 107.8kWh lithium battery pack with an official range of 770km (WLTP standard), slightly lower than the standard version's 782km, primarily due to the performance upgrades, which increased energy consumption. During the actual test drive, the energy consumption in urban areas is about 22kWh/100km, and about 28kWh/100km on highways, resulting in a combined range of approximately 650km, achieving about 85% of its rated range. This places it at a mid-to-high level among high-performance electric vehicles in the same class. In terms of charging, it supports 11kW AC slow charging and 200kW DC fast charging. With fast charging, it takes only 31 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, meeting the needs of long-distance travel.

In terms of driving comfort, the EQS AMG 53 exceeds expectations. Although it is a performance car, the cabin insulation is excellent. At speeds below 120km/h, there is almost no wind or tire noise; only during rapid acceleration can the slight whistling of the electric motor be heard (the sound has been tuned by AMG and has a more refined texture than that of standard electric vehicles). The seat massage function is very practical during long drives, effectively relieving fatigue. The energy recovery system is adjustable in three levels—the highest level offers a drag effect similar to braking in fuel vehicles, while the lowest level is barely noticeable, catering to various driving habits.

In summary, the 2023 EQS AMG 53 4MATIC+ has very distinct core advantages: first, the high-performance powertrain tuned by AMG meets the needs of performance car enthusiasts in terms of acceleration and handling. Second, it retains the luxurious interior and technological features of the EQS series, without sacrificing comfort for sportiness. Third, its range is well-balanced, capable of covering both daily commutes and long-distance trips. Compared to the Tesla Model S Plaid in the same class, the EQS AMG 53 offers superior luxury and brand prestige; compared to the standard EQS 450+, its performance improvement is substantial. The price is about 100,000 Malaysian Ringgit higher, but it delivers a more extreme driving experience.

This car is suitable for two types of people: one type is young entrepreneurs who pursue a balance of performance and luxury. They need a car that can meet daily commuting needs while also providing driving pleasure on weekends. The other type is seasoned AMG fans who want to experience the electrified performance without compromising the luxurious feel of a Mercedes-Benz.

Overall, the EQS AMG 53 4MATIC+ is a "comprehensive and flawless" luxury high-performance electric vehicle—it is both a qualified AMG, capable of delivering intense driving passion, and a qualified luxury car, ensuring comfort and advanced technology in daily use. If you have a sufficient budget and wish to own a "well-rounded" performance luxury car in the electric era, it is worth considering.