The Drive Report: Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV

Mercedes-Benz India presently has the largest luxury ICE SUV portfolio in the country – a feat it aims to repeat with its burgeoning range of E-SUVs. Its latest electric offering, at least from an SUV standpoint, seems to be the most compelling one, given that it’s the electrified counterpart to the bestselling GLE SUV. The EQE SUV, is the brand’s fifth electric offering in the country, and its third electric SUV. Given the lack of availability of CKD options, Mercedes-Benz India has opted to bring the EQE SUV via the CBU route. Which is something that puts the SUV tantalisingly close, in terms of price, to their locally assembled electric flagship - the EQS 580 +4Matic sedan (Rs 1.59 crore)

Mercedes-Benz EQE EV SUV

Which begs the question, who is the EQE SUV aimed at? Is it simply the next evolutionary step in Merc’s EV proliferation strategy, which aims to yield over 25% of overall sales in the next 3-4 years? Or does it have a use case that even die-hard GLE fans will find hard to ignore? It’s a bit of both, really, as I discovered, while driving the EQE 500 4Matic around the pristine, pine tree-laden hills of Gulmarg. It seemed like an ideal setting to drive home the appeal of electric-SUVs, particularly the born-electric variety, which, at present, is a highly exclusive club in India. The narrow, winding hill-roads, the steep, high-altitude climbs can render breathless, even though most pulmonary-enhanced forced-induction motors. But the EQE 500 remained resolutely unfazed.

Mercedes-Benz EQE EV SUV

As far as form factor is concerned, the EQE 500 SUV is drastically different from its ICE counterpart. A trait that some of its direct E-SUV rivals don’t share, as they're based on their ICE counterparts and therefore look very similar to them if not downright identical. Where the GLE is domineering, the EQE SUV is wind-swept and round-edged. Something which gives it the advantage of being more aerodynamic and therefore, offers greater range than its peers. The EQE SUV gets the same opaque, sealed Panamerica grille found on the likes of the EQS and the EQC, with aerodynamically engineered, 20-inch wheels further lowering its overall drag coefficient and short overhangs affording it more interior space while navigating rough terrain with greater ease. It may not be as dramatic a form as the GLE, but it’s the far more optimised one. If there is a design element connecting the two SUVs, it’s the shape of the hexagonal headlamps, piercing through the Gulmarg fog with bright daytime LED strips, and a flat bonnet adding some traditional SUV design essence to this otherwise unapologetically futuristic form. On the whole, the sight of the EQE SUV’s swept-back form cutting through Kashmir air, leaving nothing but the afterglow of its 2-million pixel digital LEDs in its wake, is a pleasing one. In fact, faux air vents flanking either side of the front and rear bumpers continue to be the only form of design excess on this otherwise sleek and understated form.

On the inside

Those familiar with the EQS will find the cockpit to be a very familiar sight. The EQE SUV gets the same pillar-to-pillar 56-inch “Hyperscreen”, something that’s either overwhelming or indispensible based on how much time you spend driving either of these EVs. While I originally leaned towards the former, finding the abundance of pixelated, backlit surfaces to be a tad distracting, I’ve come to appreciate the sheer volume of information and the tactile superiority of Merc’s technological party-piece. Especially when taking in the views offered by its wide array of cameras.

Mercedes-Benz EQE EV SUV

The one thing separating the EQE SUV’s Hyperscreen interface from the EQS’ is the availability of an “Off-Road” function which allows you to hydraulically lift the car’s suspension by a good 25mm. Compared to the tarmac-worn underbelly of the low-slung EQS, this is a welcome change and arguably the key differentiator for a Merc EV that’s only Rs 20 lakh less than the brand’s electric benchmark. Available in a single, top-trim only, the EQE 500 SUV packs all the gizmos you can hope for. From a 15-speaker Burmester sound system to ventilated seats offering 8 forms of massages. There are several other bits of tech, including the standard ADAS package offering steering, lane-keeping and active brake assist, although the latter is overzealous and is best left turned-off on crowded roads. In addition to that, there’s also an air ioniser that purifies 99% of the air coming into the cabin, nullifying toxins and potential viruses.

Mercedes-Benz EQE EV SUV

There’s the same open-pore magnolia wood trim adding an organic element to the neon-bathed mural of pixels and the absence of a transmission tunnel frees-up plenty of storage space up front. The EQE 500 takes full advantage of its skateboard EV platform, offering the longest wheelbase in its segment. Another ace up the EQE’s sleeve is that it gets the same “Off-Road'' package as the new GLC and the upcoming GLE. In addition to the 360-degree camera angles offered in 3D view, this also comes with the new invisible bonnet function which allows for even more precise articulation than ever before.

If the EQE is lacking in a particular area, it is with regards to the opulence of the rear half of the cabin. At the launch of the SUV, Merc stated that the EQE SUV, with its high ground clearance and airy cabin is designed primarily for those who prefer to be driven rather than to drive themselves. This is where its purpose diverged from that of the EQS, whose rear-wheel steering function and low centre of gravity makes it a very agile performer on the tarmac. That is, until you encounter the faintest whisper of a speedbreaker. However, with its rear seat entertainment package, and S-Class-like, headrest-mounted pillows, the EQS is unequivocally superior even when it comes to rear seat comfort.

Purity and purpose

When it comes to sheer, everyday functionality, the EQE SUV shines bright. It gets a 90.56 kWh battery which manages to offer 550 km of range thanks to its born-electric platform, and can hit 100kph from a standstill in over 6 seconds. The outrageous 853 Nm of torque seems to help jettison the sheer bulk of the E-SUV somewhere at the base of the hill I find myself climbing. The ladder-frame GLE wouldn’t stand a chance, so ferocious is the EQE’s acceleration prowess. With the ride height lowered, the EQE feels planted and nimble enough to throw around sharp corners and hairpin bends. Of course, it's nowhere near as taut as the EQS, but you wouldn’t begrudge it that, because it’s the only Merc EV I’ve driven, other than the EQB, which hasn’t bottomed out. Regardless of how treacherous the terrain, the EQE, aided by its wide array of cameras, remained unfazed. Mounds, ruts, rocks, slush – the dual-motor set-up on the e-SUV made quick work of all of them, while offering an unimposed view of the road ahead.

Another truly impressive aspect of the EQE is a function called “Intelligent Recuperation” which can be activated by a flick of the right, steering-mounted paddle shifter. It incorporates machine learning and uses a wide array of data points to modulate braking based on your driving and the environment around the car. On the way back down to Srinagar, it allowed the EQE to regain over 40km in range. While this was partially down to gravitational pull upon descending from a high altitude area, it was also down to the ADAS-assisted functions which allowed the EQS to modulate braking input automatically when faced with an obstruction. You can do this even with Active Brake Assist turned off, so there’s no risk of the EQE coming to a terrifying, grinding halt. The air suspension does make the ride quality soft and supple, even in dynamic mode, but it proceeds to become bouncy at high speeds when met with uneven and wavy road surfaces.

VERDICT:

It’s not like Merc’s CBU EVs aren’t popular with customers, the EQB being a prime example. And given how closely the EQE is priced (Rs 1.39 crore) compared to the top-end GLE’s on-road price (Rs 1.28 crore), there’s likely to be some, if not a lot of overlap between the two customers. This is primarily down to the country’s fast charging infrastructure, which continues to remain patchwork, despite Merc’s own nation-wide, dealership routed fast-charging network, which is now accessible to non-Mercedes-Benz EV owners as well. This means that frequent interstate travel still remains a challenge for the EQE SUV, whose real-world range was astonishingly close to its claimed WLTP range. Merc’s 25000 km battery warranty also means that the EQE can run hassle-free for well over a decade, with an in-built SIM allowing for periodic, over-the-air, updates. With the sheer breadth of its multimedia options, coupled with its generous proportions, the EQE SUV features the best of SUV and EV functionality, all wrapped-up in a future-proof package. With its eagerness to scamper over any kind of surface, the EQE 500 SUV is ready to lead Merc’s E-SUV pack into an electric future.