Driving report: Mercedes EQT 200: With a plug into family happiness

Driving report: Mercedes EQT 200
With a plug into family happiness

So now the 4.50 meter long Mercedes T-Class as a car offshoot of the Citan with a plug. Visually, apart from the black radiator grille and the missing exhaust tailpipe, there are hardly any differences to the well-known T-Class with a combustion engine. The EQT also offers two large sliding doors on either side, which make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle and facilitate access to the third row of seats on the long-wheelbase version, which is due to be presented later this year. Practical: the three seats in the second row have a 1/3-2/3 split and can each accommodate a child seat.

While the rear seats of the five-seater version can be easily moved or folded down, the seats of the XL-EQT can be completely removed. The loading area of ​​the trunk is 56 centimeters above the ground and is completely flat, which makes loading and unloading considerably easier. In the open compartment on the left side there is a pocket in which the charging cable is housed somewhat casually. The standard one-piece tailgate can only be opened upwards without electrical support. However, two smaller, horizontally opening doors can also be ordered as an option in order to reach the luggage compartment. The large trunk cover is stable, well made and protects the load from sunlight and prying eyes. With the optional roof rails, more storage space is created in the electric van and if that’s still not enough, the trailer hitch (up to 1.5 tons) can still help.

As with other high-roof station wagons, the electric Mercedes EQT 200 shines with its spacious interior. The space in the cabin is decent in terms of legroom, gigantic when it comes to headroom and narrow for the shoulders. A maximum of three children can sit next to each other in the second row and two adults also have to make do with the 60 centimeters of legroom. Since the battery pack is installed in the rear underbody, the rear passengers sit around five centimeters higher than the driver and front passenger. Especially children up to 1.60 meters will love the unobstructed view to the front. One downside of the electric version compared to the T-Class with gas: when the front seats are in the lowest position, the feet of the second-row occupants cannot be put under them, while there is a high step between the floor of the luggage compartment and the folded rear seats affects the functionality of the cargo area when trying to load bulky items. The loading volume: 551 to 1,979 liters.

Inside, the EQT is only limited to star level. The interior is dominated by black hard plastic and the high position of the shifter with the usual positions P, R, N and D. While the Renault Kangoo Electric sister model has digital instruments, the driver of the Mercedes EQT sees antiquated analogue instruments and a small digital display between the clocks. The central touch display also has a very manageable size with a seven-inch screen diagonal. Not much fancy for a car that starts at 49,000 euros. The Kangoo Electric costs at least 39,300 euros and a Mercedes T 180 with a similar motor costs little more than 32,000 euros.

In contrast to other electric models in higher market segments, only one electric motor with an output of 90 kW / 122 hp / 245 Nm and a 45 kWh battery is available for the Mercedes EQT. The battery pack can be recharged with alternating current up to 22 kilowatts, but a fast charger is already over at a narrow 80 kilowatts. A heat pump powers the EQT’s air conditioning so as not to drain the drive system’s battery prematurely. The driver can choose between the two driving modes Eco and Comfort and three recuperation levels (D-/D/D+), which he can set by pushing the transmission lever to the right and up or down. The chassis consists of a McPherson front axle with lower wishbones and anti-roll bar, and a rigid rear axle with Panhard rod, which connects the axle to the vehicle structure in order to minimize lateral body movements and also the increased weight of the battery carried on the rear of the vehicle works to cope. The internal combustion engine Mercedes T-Class, on the other hand, has independent rear suspension. The additional weight of the electric drive makes the family van tired, but it ensures a low center of gravity and manageable rolling movements.

For an electric station wagon that weighs around 1.8 tons, the engine output is all too manageable. In the city center, however, this is hardly noticeable, because the 245 Nm ensure a brisk pull at low speeds. However, you should avoid the left lane of the Autobahn as much as possible, because a top speed of 132 km/h is far too little and at higher speeds the front-wheel drive vehicle has a noticeably harder time accelerating. In any case, you can hardly avoid the dynamic mode, because in the other modes it gets extremely sluggish – also because in eco mode just 51 kW / 70 hp are available. If you take it easy, you won’t have any problems undercutting the standard consumption of 19 kWh per 100 kilometers.

press release