Designed to take on the likes of the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT, Mercedes' EQS is pretty much the pinnacle of the brand’s electric innovation so far. Dubbed the German outfit’s ‘most high-tech car ever’ when it launched back in 2021, the EQS sits at the top of Mercedes’ EQ range of luxury EVs and offers a more eco-friendly alternative to the long-established S-Class. The car is available in both saloon and SUV body styles and combines cutting-edge luxury and technology with a near-silent driving experience to deliver one of the best all-round packages money can buy. It looks great, offers some of the best battery tech around and is the latest word in a long history of market-leading German engineering.
The EQS is an absolute masterclass from Mercedes, who know exactly what it takes to make a good luxury car and have applied that knowledge to the EV market with aplomb. It combines breathtaking technology and immense comfort with the kind of refinement few other EVs can match. While it’s not cheap, the EQS proves that Mercedes is leading the way in the transition from traditional saloons to high-end electric motoring.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe EQS has been built with luxury in mind and that means it doesn’t come cheap. According to Mercedes’ latest brochure, the entry-level EQS 350 kicks off at £98,975, which is also the only model available for under £100,000. Prices then rise steadily, all the way up to the range-topping EQS 450 4MATIC, which will set you back £122,050 without any optional extras. These prices put the EQS at the higher end of the premium electric saloon market but there are still bargains to be found if you are prepared to dip into the used market. Second-hand models start at around the £40,000 mark for earlier cars, with even more choice available at the £60,000 level. It’s certainly well worth a look on AA Cars to see what’s on offer.
As Mercedes’ most premium electric car, the EQS has been given the company’s very best, and most advanced electric drivetrain technology. The line-up begins with the EQS 350 which is powered by a 96 kWh battery, producing 292 bhp and 565 Nm of torque, according to the brochure. Meanwhile, the mid-range EQS 450+ and top-level EQS 450 4MATIC are both given the same 118 kWh battery, which produces 360 bhp. All EQS models use a single-speed transmission, which is among the very best in class When it comes to charging, all EQS variants have 200 kW DC fast charging capabilities, allowing a 10–80% recharge in around half an hour.
The EQS puts refinement and comfort at the heart of everything it does and that shines through when you get behind the wheel. The car is quiet to the point of almost being eerie as you drive along, with wind and road noise completely unable to penetrate the cabin. However, that focus on luxury does not mean that the car is a slouch by any means. As with most EVs, the EQS delivers its power almost instantaneously, making the EQS surprisingly nimble off the line for its weight – especially in sportier AMG versions.
The extra weight, carried by electric vehicles because of their batteries, is brilliantly handled in the EQS, which benefits from an advanced rear-wheel steering system, which makes the car more manoeuvrable at low speeds and stable when you open the taps. The ride is also aided by adaptive AIRMATIC air suspension, which makes the EQS feel much lighter than it actually is. Overall, the car feels surprisingly agile for a saloon of this size and is comfortable darting between inner city traffic and taking on winding country roads. However, it’s out on the big open roads where the EQS really comes into its own. Its serene ride feels more like gliding than driving, making it one of the best motorway milers that money can buy.
Comfort and composure are at the core of the EQS’s ride with the car aiming to take away all the bumps and imperfections of modern roads. To help with this, Mercedes has given the car AIRMATIC suspension with adaptive damping to continuously adjust to all road conditions. This is an incredibly premium touch which ensures a smooth and cushioned ride, no matter the surface. When the road is smooth – like on the motorway, the EQS is in a league of its own, delivering stable and utterly unflappable motoring.
It is also one of the quietest cars on the market, even among electric competitors. This is aided by the fact that Mercedes intentionally designed the body to be low and sleek, in order to reduce wind resistance and therefore noise. The flip side of this is that the EQS does lack the sharpness of the Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S, which are far sportier in nature than the grown-up Mercedes. However, this really doesn’t matter in most real-world scenarios, where the EQS is streets ahead of many of its rivals. It enjoys precise steering, composed body control, and four-wheel steering, up to ten degrees. All of this makes the saloon easy to handle despite its hefty weight and size.
Mercedes has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the inside of the EQS which is among the most stylish and luxurious on the market. The cabin has been given a slightly minimalist but incredibly premium design, with lashings of high-quality materials throughout, including real wood, Nappa leather, and aluminium accents. There are also a whopping 190 different colours of LED lighting to choose from, meaning even the pickiest of drivers can get the right ambience.
There is generous space on offer throughout the car, with ample leg room in both the front and rear seats, all of which are incredibly comfortable and come with heating, cooling and massage functions. In higher spec cars, the dashboard is dominated by a vast space-age glass panel which curves across the width of the car and measures a whopping 56-inches. The spectacular interface combines three OLED displays which come together to create one of the most unique dashes in the sector. Dubbed the ‘MBUX Hyperscreen’ the offering comes as standard on higher trim levels and is available as an optional extra on all other cars, which get twin 12.3-inch screens as standard. The interior is light, airy and a thoroughly pleasant place to be.
Despite effectively being an electric alternative to the S-Class the EQS enjoys the additional benefit of a hatchback tailgate, which offers improved practicality. The space itself measures 610 litres, which expands to 1,770 when the rear seats are folded down perfectly respectable figures for a car in this segment. There is also additional under-floor storage for your charging cables, which means that the main space remains free for every day use. The boot also has electrically operated rear seat releases, which makes folding the back row a complete doddle. Unlike many of its rivals, the EQS does not come with a front boot, or ‘frunk’, however there is a good level of additional storage space in the cabin itself, where there are deep door bins, a large centre console, and concealed cubbies throughout.
Unsurprisingly for a car of this price point, even the most basic EQS comes absolutely crammed with the latest high-end tech. All models come as standard with an MBUX infotainment system, heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof and Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As you move up the range, Mercedes adds even more high-quality touches, not least the aforementioned Hyperscreen. The most expensive cars also come with four-zone climate control, soft close doors and head-up display, while AMG variants enjoy enhanced brakes, and performance seats.
The EQS is available in three models: The EQS 350, the EQS 450+ and the EQS 450 4MATIC. Within those models there are several trim levels including AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Business Class. For buyers looking to strike the right balance, the AMG Line Premium Plus is a good sweet spot, with a good level of tech and performance, without breaking the bank. Available colours include Obsidian Black, Selenite Grey, High-Tech Silver, Graphite Grey, Nautic Blue, and Diamond White Bright — with two-tone options available through Mercedes’ bespoke ‘MANUFAKTUR’ programme.
As a flagship model in the Mercedes line-up, the EQS comes equipped with all the latest safety features. These include Active Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Change Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Crosswind Assist, and Driver Attention Monitoring as standard. Among its more advanced features are Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities, which include adaptive cruise control and lane centring, which is able to manage speed and steering on motorways. Euro NCAP awarded the EQS a five-star safety rating when it went through its rigorous testing – the highest mark possible.
Mercedes claims that its range-topping EQS 450 4MATIC can complete a staggering 471 miles on a single charge – one of the longest ranges on any EV currently on sale. However, it is well worth being aware that models rarely live up to those numbers in the real world and more realistic figures suggest a range of between 380 and 400 miles is more likely in those top-spec cars. All EQS models support up to 200 kW DC fast charging and will charge from 10% to 80% in a little over half an hour. Meanwhile, a full charge using a home wall box could take up to 18-and-a-half hours so it’s important to be aware of what kind of charger you are using. As a zero-emission vehicle, the EQS is no longer exempt from road tax. According to the government, electric vehicles registered on or after April 1, 2025 pay £10 in their first year, and £195 after that. It is also now subject to the Expensive Car Supplement, which costs an extra £425 a year for five years, applied from the second year of registration.
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