Mercedes aimed to make a big impact in the electric SUV business class with a dedicated EV platform. Let’s see if they succeeded. We tested the Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic SUV.
Photo: Răzvan Loghin, Christian Bart
After the failure of the Mercedes EQC, which was built on the former GLC platform, Mercedes decided to develop a dedicated electric platform for its new business and luxury lineup. This led to the creation of the EQS, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQE SUV – the latter being a business-class SUV competitor to the BMW iX.
We tested the base all-wheel-drive version with two motors, 320 PS, and 765 Nm of torque over a route of more than 700 km across the Transfăgărășan (deemed the most beautiful road in the world by Top Gear) and the similarly scenic Transalpina.
The EQE SUV Bets on Comfort
A Mercedes should be, above all, comfortable – and the EQE SUV lives up to that expectation. Even though our test car didn’t have the optional Airmatic air suspension (€2,082), which adjusts suspension stiffness and ride height, it still drove smoothly and comfortably, even with the optional 20-inch AMG aerodynamic wheels. The electric counterpart to the Mercedes GLE gracefully absorbs short bumps and tram tracks and floats over longer undulations with a slight body roll. However, in fast corners, the absence of air suspension is noticeable as the body leans significantly. In Sport mode, the steering becomes sharper, but the body roll and hefty curb weight of 2,560 kg limit sporty driving. Thus, the air suspension is a must-have option.
Fortunately, the EQE SUV can be driven at a brisk pace thanks to its minimal understeer. The rear motor is significantly more powerful than the front, making the SUV feel rear-wheel-driven in most situations, with the front motor kicking in only when needed.
The optional rear-axle steering with a 10-degree angle (€1,547) also helps in corners. At speeds up to 60 kph, the rear wheels turn opposite to the front ones, reducing the turning circle from 12.3 to 10.5 meters, allowing U-turns on two-lane roads in a single move. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front ones, improving stability.
Performance and Driving Feel
The 320 PS is not overwhelming. The 0–100 kph sprint in 6.0 seconds is decent, but during overtakes, you might wish for more punch. The EQE 500 4Matic is 1.3 seconds quicker to 100 kph but costs €10,000 more. Power delivery is smooth, even in Sport mode – there’s no sudden surge, but this linear delivery is consistent with Mercedes’ comfort-oriented philosophy.
The EQE SUV also glides quietly and smoothly at highway speeds (130–150 kph), aided by a well-designed aerodynamic profile – its drag coefficient (Cd) is only 0.25, one of the best in its segment.
Comfort is further enhanced by the AMG Line interior Comfort seats upholstered in soft Nappa leather. The seats are large, with good lateral support in the backrest, though only average in the cushion, which can be extended electrically. These seats are more comfort-oriented than sporty, lacking adjustable bolsters like those in the S-Class. In the rear, there’s generous knee room thanks to the over-3-meter wheelbase, and the bench offers great back support, though the cushion is a bit short.
There’s no front trunk, but a cable storage compartment is found under the trunk floor, which has a volume of 520 liters. Mercedes includes two elegant cable bags. However, for a premium model, we expected features like electrically folding rear seats and a power outlet in the trunk – which only has four tie-down hooks.
Interior and Tech
The leather and Alcantara trim on the doors and upper dashboard are of excellent quality. But if you don’t opt for the pricey Hyperscreen (€5,831), the central dashboard is covered in hard plastic with decorative stars that rattle when driving – especially through turns or over rough roads. This undermines the otherwise premium feel.
The EQE 350 4Matic’s modest acceleration is not a major drawback, but the brake pedal feedback is poor. In the initial pedal travel (where only regenerative braking is active), stopping power is nearly nonexistent. Only in the second half of the pedal’s travel, when mechanical brakes kick in, does the vehicle begin to slow effectively. As a result, stronger pedal pressure is required for effective braking.
Ergonomics and Infotainment
As mentioned, our test car didn’t feature the Hyperscreen, but the standard digital instrument cluster offers attractive graphics. There’s also a dedicated off-road display with a detailed compass, pitch, and roll angles. The infotainment system features the familiar 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen from the S-Class and C-Class, with well-organized menus and a useful shortcut bar beneath the screen.
However, the in-car navigation (without Google integration) is outdated. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available for easy smartphone connection.
If you do use the car’s native navigation, it will preheat or precool the battery to the optimal temperature for charging. It also factors in topography, outside temperature, and speed to estimate the battery level at the destination and determine whether a return trip can be made without recharging. For longer routes, the system plans stops strategically to minimize charging times.
Charging and Range
The 400V platform doesn’t allow for very fast charging. The EQE 350 4Matic SUV supports up to 170 kW DC fast charging, but in practice, it rarely exceeds 150 kW and needs over 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80%. It does support Autocharge, and unlike many rivals, it can optionally charge on AC stations at up to 22 kW (€1,190), in addition to the standard 11 kW.
The 90.6 kWh (net) battery is on the small side for such a heavy SUV, and weight negatively impacts consumption despite the car’s good aerodynamics. On an 800 km mixed route (highway and mountain roads), we recorded a consumption of 23.4 kWh/100 km, translating to a real-world range of 374 km. In this segment, 400 km should be the minimum.
Even the four regeneration levels (selectable via paddles) don’t significantly improve energy efficiency, despite having a strong and adaptive mode.
Pricing
The Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic SUV starts at €89,547, while our test car reached €113,000. With the optional air suspension and Hyperscreen, the price exceeds €120,000 – which is far too much for a 320 PS electric SUV.
Verdict
The Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a comfortable, quiet, and refined premium SUV with a high-quality interior. However, dashboard creaks ruin the premium ambiance, and the brake pedal feedback detracts from driving pleasure, though overall safety is high. The price is excessive, and optional features are extremely costly.
| Model | Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic SUV |
|---|---|
| Motors | 2, electric |
| Max output front/rear (PS) | nc./292 |
| Max. torque front/rear (Nm) | nc./565 |
| Top output (PS) | 320 |
| Maximum torque (Nm) | 765 |
| Traction | AWD |
| Gearbox | automatic, 1 gear |
| L × w × h (mm) | 4863 × 1940 × 1686 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 3030 |
| Boot volume (l) | 520–1675 |
| Curb weight (kg) | 2560 |
| Acceleration 0–100 kph (s) | 6,6 |
| Top speed (kph) | 210 |
| Battery capacity brut/netto (kWh) | 100/90,6 |
| Energy consumption WLTP (kWh/100 km) | 18,7 |
| Energy consumption in test (kWh/100 km) | 23,4 |
| Range WLTP (km) | 556 |
| Range in test (km) | 374 |
| AC charge (kW) | 11/22 |
| AC charging time 11/22 kW (h.min.) | 9.45/4.50 |
| DC charging (kW) | 170 |
| Charging time DC 10–80% (min.) | 28 |
| Base price (euro with V.A.T) | 89,548 |
| Test car price (euro with V.A.T) | 113,554 |