Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 2024 Review

The luxury electric vehicle market in Southeast Asia has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with the executive-level SUV segment being a key battleground for major brands. Consumers not only seek the sense of identity that brand premium provides but also have higher expectations for range and intelligent features in the electric vehicle era. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV has been launched in this context, with clear core selling points: practical space with a 7-seat layout, the luxury DNA of the Mercedes-EQ family, and balanced performance for both urban commuting and long-distance travel. In this test drive, we primarily examine whether its luxury experience meets brand standards, whether the 7-seat space is practical, and whether its motor-driven dynamic performance is well-balanced.

Starting with the exterior. The EQS SUV continues the EQ family’s "one-bow" body design, with rounded and smooth overall lines, lacking the ruggedness typical of traditional fuel-powered SUVs, likely resulting in an excellent drag coefficient. The front features a closed "Night Star Wing" grille, paired with an illuminated three-pointed star emblem and a full-width LED daytime running light, giving it high recognition. The side of the vehicle avoids overly complex lines, with 22-inch multi-spoke wheels adding a stately appearance, and chrome decorations on the side skirts and wheel arches enhancing the luxurious feel. At the rear, the most noticeable feature is the full-width LED taillight, which lights up to present the distinctive light strip effect of the EQ family. The silver skid plate on the lower rear bumper retains the crossover characteristics of an SUV. The entire design exudes a sense of futuristic electric vehicles while maintaining Mercedes-Benz’s trademark sophistication.

Stepping inside, the first thing that catches your eye is the Hyperscreen system—a 17.7-inch OLED central control screen paired with screens on both sides creates a strong visual impact. The screen boasts high resolution, fast touch response, and a user operation logic that is consistent with the MBUX system found in fuel-powered vehicles, making it easy to use. The interior materials are solid, with the dashboard and inner door panels wrapped in Nappa leather, while the armrest box and seats are covered in perforated genuine leather, offering a refined tactile experience. The air conditioning vents are designed as a hidden integration with the dashboard, and together with the 64-color ambient lighting, create an excellent atmosphere when illuminated at night. Feature-wise, the front seats support electric adjustment, heating, ventilation, and memory functions, with good back and seat cushion support for long-distance comfort. The rear row comes with an independent air conditioning control panel and USB-C ports. The second-row seats can slide forward and backward, and fold down in a 40:20:40 split. The third-row seats are split 50:50 and can be folded down as well. When folded, the trunk offers a storage capacity of 195L, which can be expanded further when the third row is collapsed, easily accommodating luggage needs for family trips.

Space performance is a major highlight of the EQS SUV. The vehicle measures 5125mm in length, 1959mm in width, and 1718mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3210mm, making it quite large for an executive-level SUV. After adjusting the front seats to a comfortable position, there is a headroom of about a fist and two fingers. When the second-row seats are pushed all the way back, the legroom can reach up to two and a half fists, and there is about one fist of headroom, so even three adults can sit relatively comfortably. The third-row space is more compact, suitable for passengers under 170cm in height; it’s fine for short trips, but might feel a bit cramped for longer journeys. In terms of storage space, door storage compartments can hold two water bottles, the center armrest box is quite deep, and the front row also has a wireless charging pad, demonstrating thoughtful attention to details.

Dynamic experience-wise, the EQS 450 4Matic SUV is equipped with dual front and rear permanent magnet synchronous motors, with a total power of 265kW and a total torque of 800N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration is 6.1 seconds. In actual driving, the start is very smooth, and the throttle (accelerator) responds linearly; even in normal mode, the acceleration is very smooth and there’s no sudden jerking. When switched to sport mode, the power output becomes more direct, and when stepping hard on the accelerator while overtaking, the pushback is notable. Accelerating from 80km/h to 120km/h on the highway is effortless. The motors are exceptionally quiet, with almost no noise heard at low speeds, and wind and tire noise are well controlled at high speeds, which aligns with the positioning of a luxury car.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is precise with very little play. It feels light at low speeds and weighs up at high speeds, offering a good feel. The suspension system features a front four-link and rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned for comfort. When passing through speed bumps or bumpy roads, most vibrations are filtered out, and the body doesn’t have excessive bouncing. In corners, the body roll is well-controlled, which is impressive considering the vehicle weighs over 2.8 tons. The all-wheel-drive system performs reliably on slippery roads. During the test drive on a rainy day, despite wet roads, acceleration and braking remained stable without any skidding.

Range and charging are key aspects of electric vehicles. The EQS SUV has a battery capacity of 118kWh and an official pure electric range of 673km. During our test drive, which was split about evenly between urban roads and highways, with the air conditioning set at 24 degrees and energy recovery set to medium, the actual range reached approximately 580km, achieving about 86% of the estimated range. This is an excellent performance. In terms of charging, it supports fast charging. According to official data, it takes 0.51 hours to charge up to 80%. Using a fast-charging station during our test, it took around 40 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%, which is close to the official data. Long-distance travel charging doesn't require excessive waiting.

For ride comfort, the seats provide excellent support and cushioning, and the rear seats are also well-padded, ensuring comfort during long journeys. Noise control is well-done; apart from slight wind noise at high speeds, there’s almost no other noise. The energy recovery system has three levels of adjustment; when set to the highest level, releasing the accelerator results in significant deceleration, making it almost unnecessary to use the brake, which is very convenient for urban stop-and-go traffic. The panoramic sunroof is very large, and when opened, the interior feels bright and spacious, ensuring rear-row passengers won’t feel constrained.

To summarize, the core strengths of the EQS 450 4Matic SUV are clear: First, its practical 7-seater layout makes it suitable for family users. Second, the luxurious experience provided by the Mercedes-EQ family, with high-quality interior materials and configurations, is remarkable. Third, its well-balanced dynamic performance makes it suitable for both city commuting and long-distance travel. Compared to its competitors like the BMW iX and Audi e-tron GT, the EQS SUV offers more interior space, a stronger sense of luxury, and better range performance.

Who is this car suitable for? Firstly, families who value brand luxury, as the 7-seater layout meets the travel needs of multi-child families. Secondly, business professionals who pursue a sense of technology, as the Hyperscreen and intelligent configurations enhance daily driving convenience. Finally, high-income individuals with strong environmental awareness, as the electric vehicle fits with their lifestyle values.

Overall, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV is a well-balanced luxury electric SUV with no significant weaknesses. Whether it's space, luxury, or driving dynamics, it aligns with the Mercedes brand positioning. If you're looking for an electric vehicle that meets family needs without compromising on luxury, it's worth considering.