Now you can choose an all-electric Mercedes with the new EQS sedan and have a new S class experience wrapped into a new look, loaded with technology.
(WTOP/Mike Parris)
A luxury car should have enough power so it never really needs it — and the EQS 4Matic sedan I drove has power to spare. You have 516hp with a blip of the throttle and more torque than the gas version of the S class. You thought the gas version of the S class was quiet, well the EQS 580 is even more hushed on the road.
The Airmatic air suspension soaks up bumps and does a good job delivering a polished ride on most road surfaces. For a very large car, it handles much more like a smaller body than it is thanks to all-wheel steering that makes tighter spaces an easy task.
The EQS 580’s range is impressive when fully charged. I had 422 miles making longer trips — an easy task in the EQS. The only different feeling is the brake, which differs from other EVs I’ve driven. One pedal driving is possible, but when you go to hit the brake pedal it’s already half way down, so it takes a few miles to get used to it.
Just open the door and you can see that this is a special place to be. The interior is welcoming and it really stands out in a lovely two-tone gray and brown leather color scheme. Grab a seat in ultra-comfortable heated/ventilated and massaging seats and the miles — and any stress — simply melt away. There are also relaxation tips and short workouts that you can pull up if you find yourself stuck in traffic.
Sitting in the back seat is also a luxurious place with all the comfort of the front seats without the hassle of driving. The interior is covered in leather, wood and aluminum trim and really pleases the senses. It looks great and feels nice to the touch. Mercedes gave the EQS some high tech also, like the impressive Hyperscreen with terrific graphics and a lot of screen space. Even the front seat passenger has their own screen, so no far reach for the controls.
The EQS 580 sedan continues the tradition of the Mercedes flagship when it comes to the styling — a long-stretched body with a more modern look than other S class gas models. It even has its own distinctive style with less hood and trunk space than the gas version. The large AMG wheels give the big car a nice touch of style. The EQS has a hatchback rear-end and not the normal trunk you might expect in the car is the S class style. This really opens up the car and adds some extra space.
Cost: $125,900; as tested $137,725
MPG: 91 mpge city and 98 mpge highway
Safety: active brake assist; attention assist; adaptive highbeam assist; crosswind stabilization; blind spot assist; surround view camera; Parktronic with active parking assist; pre-safe/pre-safe sound; active Distance assist DISTRONIC; active and Evasive steering assist; active blind spot assist; active lane keeping & lane change assist; active brake assist with cross-traffic function; congestion emergency braking & stop assist; PRE-SAFE impulse side & PRE-SAFE plus; route-based speed adaptation; active stop-and-go assist with extended restart in stop-and-go traffic
Options: $1,515 Natural grain yacht-design brown walnut with aluminum lines; $450 energizing air control plus; $250 heated steering wheel; $1,100 head-up display; $1,010 laminated safety glass with infrared protection; $790 active ambient lighting; $1,800 warmth and comfort package; $4,350 Pinnacle trim; $2,100 AMG line interior package $1050 destination and delivery
Things to know: The EQS 580 sedan is the electric S class with big range but still will coddle and impress you with technology, as the S class should, just in a new way.
Pros:
- Latest technology and safety features
- Plenty of power and big range makes the EQS 580 easy to live with
- Hushed cabin makes this an excellent road-trip ride
Cons:
- Price is high and options quickly add up
- Some learning curve for the technology
- Brake pedal feels different from other EV cars and takes time to get used to
