It’s been interesting to see the ongoing tug-of-war between rivals BMW India and Mercedes-Benz India. While Mercedes-Benz is the clear leader in the overall luxury passenger car space, the two are constantly outpacing each other to claim the luxury EV space. Recently, Mercedes-Benz dealt what can be a deathly blow to its compatriot’s chances of being the top player in India’s luxury EV space by launching its all new flagship electric SUV - the EQS SUV, at a remarkable price of Rs 1.41 crore. This makes the EQS SUV the second EV from Mercedes-Benz India to be locally assembled, the first one being the EQS sedan.
Design
Although more practical than the EQS sedan, the SUV is still built in the same radical mould as the EQS sedan, prioritising aerodynamic efficiency and optimising it’s born-electric skateboard form to offer the greatest range, interior comfort and dynamism that an electric SUV of its size and stature can deliver. It’s still a relatively benign form compared to the lantern-jawed GLS which has been an undisputed bestseller for Merc. While many would prefer that form factor to the one offered by the EQS SUV, there’s no denying its sheer road presence aided in no small measure by its 21-spoke alloys and its massive 3.21 metre long wheelbase. The EQS SUV immediately addresses the issues plaguing the sedan, namely low ground clearance and cramped rear seats (when compared to the S-Class). The design might still be an acquired taste for some but there’s no denying that this is a distinct and futuristic looking SUV that puts function before form. If there is an issue, it’s that it looks almost identical to the EQE SUV which, costing only Rs 2 lakh less, now lies between a rock and a hard place. A Tech Convention on Wheels..
Is what most of Mercedes-Benz’s current-crop of top-shelf sedans and SUVs can be and the EQS is no different. The 56-inch hyperscreen which once felt imposing and overwhelming now feels intuitive and indispensable. The resolution paired with the sheer size of the map and the menu feel very convenient on the move, especially if you forget to turn off some of the more enthusiastic ADAS features which is something of a pre-driving ritual. The hyperscreen is sans any actual buttons whose absence is still conspicuously felt but the layout of the HVAC buttons on the menu is crisp and easy to navigate.
You enter the virtual world of the latest MBUX system via a fingerprint sensor on the centre console, but there’s also voice and facial recognition for quickly logging-in. Built-in navigation continues to offer top-end features like a live feed from the front camera with augmented reality overlays that display obstructions, turn signals etc, but you’re more likely to stick with Google Maps via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto because it’s a bit less distracting. At the back you get a 7-inch tablet, two 11.6-inch touchscreens and a pair of active noise cancellation headphones – the EQS SUV is a mobile suite of cutting-edge electronics. You feel like you can do anything from filling out excel sheets to accessing nuclear codes from inside this car.
There’s no shortage of highlights in the cabin, from the excellent Burmester sound system to the 360 degree camera, but the real strength of the EQS SUV is just how soft and nourishing its stark white cabin feels. Unlike many German cars, including the C-Class, the seats both at the front and the back are softly-cushioned. The headrest for both the front and the middle-row come with soft, suede leather cushions, along with reclining and massage functions enveloping you in a cocoon of soft touch materials and blissful quietude. Driving the EQS SUV
Barrelling down an exit ramp on Hyderabad’s excellent flyovers, it’s evident why the skateboard chassis prevails. This is where Merc’s born-electric EVs outshine its rivals. Make no mistake, the EQS SUV with its enormous 122 kWh battery and host of electronic features is a mammoth of an EV and yet, weight is only an issue if you feel it around the bends. With the EQS SUV, you do not. This was the case with the sedan as well which gathered momentum so astoundingly fast, its weight just didn’t seem to hinder its performance. This thing is a fortress – it feels astonishingly quiet, firmly planted with a supercar-shaming 858 Nm of torque that’s available at any and every point. Sport mode firms up the suspension, but its “Comfort” delivers the best inner-city driving experience. Each axle gets its own motor which allows this massive modernist sculpture to hit 100kph in a claimed 4.7 seconds.
The adaptive dampers that come with the air suspension allow the SUV to glide over uneven surfaces, while its massive battery floor keeps the centre of gravity low. Even the regenerative braking now seems to be more intuitive and effective with an “Intelligent Recuperation” mode that utilises the car’s Level 2 ADAS to detect obstructions ahead and slow down accordingly. Its “Strong” recuperation feels much more effective now, bringing this 2.8 tonne behemoth down to crawling speeds within seconds.
VERDICT
It’s easy to see why convention dictates that the EVs will see greater market penetration in the luxury space. The EQS SUV has the sort of features that would put a Rolls to shame, a little over a decade ago. It is phenomenally quick, gobsmackingly quiet, manoeuvrable, quiet – there isn’t an aspect that an ICE SUV of its ilk can trump. Can its 809 km range make it a proper highway worthy grand tourer? Only if the journey is well established and functional fast chargers because you are unlikely to find the kind of DC charger that will charge this quickly. It takes a 200 Kw fast charger to provide up to 70 per cent of fast charging in 31 minutes. On every other metric the EQS outperforms its ICE rivals as a luxury mobility solution. The EQS SUV goes above and beyond in offering its customer the best electric driving experience south of a Maybach EQS. In fact it over delivers on almost all metrics be it speed, performance, comfort and range. Add to it Mercedes-Benz’s buy back scheme for EVs and it is such a compelling choice, few who are in the market for a seven-seater SUV would be able to resist it. When it comes to a simple price-to-luxury ratio, there’s no beating this electric SUV.
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