Driving report: Mercedes EQE 350 SUV
Big coming
Mercedes EQE SUV 350+
© press-inform – the press office
If the Mercedes EQC offers too many combustion engine genes and the EQS is too expensive, you have the best chance of falling in love with the new EQE SUV. In view of the level of quality, spacious interior, balanced driving behavior and long range, it lacks only one thing: a name of its own.
After the Mercedes EQE has been on the international markets for a good year, the crossover variant is now to follow, which is likely to be of significantly greater importance in many countries. At 4.86 meters, the electric SUV is more compact than the EQS SUV and even the EQE sedan, in the latter case an impressive 8.3 centimeters shorter and 7.3 centimeters higher. It is unusual that the wheelbase is also an impressive nine centimeters shorter than the EQE sedan, which is closely related to the EQS. With a luggage volume of 520 liters, it just surpasses that of the BMW iX, but loses significantly to the 630 liters of the Audi Q8 Etron. The backrests of the second row of seats can be adjusted to a more vertical position to increase the trunk volume to 580 liters and if the rear seats are folded down completely, the load volume behind the electric flap can be increased to up to 1,675 liters.
The legroom inside is generous, while the shoulder room should be enough for three slim adults in the back. Up front, it’s hard to tell if we’re in an EQS or an EQE, a sedan or an SUV. The driver looks at fine materials in the dashboard and door panels and is delighted with a huge storage compartment between the two front seats, which contains two USB-C ports. Two more can be found on the outside next to the cup holders and in the wireless charging cradle for smartphones. The Mercedes EQE SUV 350+ has a 12.9-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch central display. You can definitely save yourself the expense of the expensive hyperscreen due to the oversupply of information and invest the money for other extras more sensibly, because the list of extras is lavish.
If desired, the four-link independent wheel suspension at the front and the multi-link suspension at the rear can be equipped with air springs and electronic dampers to control the individual response of the individual wheels in compression and rebound. The air spring keeps the ground clearance constant, regardless of the vehicle’s load, but also allows for variations. For example, the ground clearance is reduced by 20 millimeters at speeds over 120 km/h in sport mode and by ten millimeters in comfort mode in order to reduce drag and increase stability. Below 80 km/h the ground clearance returns to the standard position. Up to 60 km/h, the body can be raised by 30 millimeters at the touch of a button, and from a speed of 70 km/h it is automatically lowered to the normal ground clearance. The more than sensible four-wheel drive versions have an off-road mode that raises the vehicle by 25 millimeters to create more ground clearance. With its optional rear-axle steering, the EQE SUV gains in agility and the turning circle is reduced from 12.30 to 10.5 meters.
In terms of drive, the EQE SUV corresponds to what we know from the sedan. In addition to the EQE 300 with rear-wheel drive and 180 kW / 245 hp, there is the 350+ with 215 kW / 292 hp and rear-wheel drive as well as the volume model of the 350 4matic and the top model of the EQE SUV 500 4matic with 300 kW / 408 hp. Depending on the drive, the electric ranges are between 480 and almost 600 kilometers, with the 140 kW / 190 hp electric motor on the front axle being switched off automatically when the accelerator pedal load is low or when the road grip is good. When it comes to charging speed, the Mercedes EQE is not at the top level, because 170 kilowatts are well behind the 200 kW from BMW or the up to 270 kW that Audi, Porsche, Tesla or Hyundai offer in some models. After all, a range of 230 kilometers can be refueled in 15 minutes.
It doesn’t matter which of the driving programs you use, the package consisting of a 2.4-tonne crossover and a 21-inch wheel set is decidedly tight. The stay value in comfort mode is by far the most pleasant and you should only switch to sport mode if you are driving on very winding country roads, which noticeably sharpens the response of the steering, drive and dampers. There are three levels of regenerative braking, which the driver selects using the shift paddles on the steering wheel if he does not want to leave this work to the automatic mode. The strongest level D+ allows you to drive almost without touching the brake pedal, although the EQE SUV does not have a single-pedal drive system. The driving performance of the 350+ is okay, with a top speed of 210 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds for some customers with sporting ambitions will hardly be enough. Even more important: in real operation, the EQE 350+ consumed 20.4 kWh/100 km, which would allow a range of at least 500 kilometers.
With a starting price of just under 87,000 euros, the Mercedes EQE SUV 350+ should be a good solution for wealthy families for whom all-wheel drive is not important given the coherent overall concept. However, the better package is offered by the EQE 350 4matic or the larger 500. However, it is difficult to accept that the list of options is so long in this day and age. Well, you have to pay extra for the Hyperscreen, Burmester audio system or the air suspension, but at least the head-up display, rear axle steering, 22 kW on-board charger and electronic dampers should be standard in this class.