Powerful Midsize Electric Luxury SUV
In Mercedes-Benz speak, an EQ badge on a car or SUV means they are only powered by electricity. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 is the most powerful all-electric SUV in the Mercedes-Benz line-up. The EQE SUV 350 is the same size but with a bit less power.
Clean Fleet Report is familiar with the Mercedes-Benz electrified models, having previously reviewed the EQE 350 4Matic EV sedan, EQE 500 4Matic EV sedan, EQS 580 EV 4Matic sedan and the S500 4Matic Mild Hybrid. My overall take is they deliver an elegant, luxury driving experience with impressive performance.
The investment in electrified vehicles demonstrates the Mercedes-Benz belief that at some point a significant part of what they sell—sedans, coupes, sports cars, vans, SUVs and even trucks— will run on electrons, leaving oil and gasoline behind.
Silent Propulsion
Clean Feet Report drove the EQE 500 4Matic SUV, with dual motors (front and rear) that produce 402 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. 4Matic is Mercedes-Benz speak for all-wheel drive (AWD). The EPA rates the all-electric driving range at 266 miles. It should come as no surprise that with those horsepower and torque numbers, stepping on the accelerator results in an instant, strong launch. That’s the beauty of EV torque. The performance was impressive, with the 5,681-pound EQE returning 0-60 mph runs at 4.7 seconds.
The EQE is near silent, but the Exterior Sound Generator offers a choice of sounds to alert pedestrians when you approach.
The well-distributed weight gave the EQE SUV a balanced and comfortable ride, starting with the Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrical 265/40 all-season tires mounted on the optional ($1,100) 21-inch AMG multi-spoke aluminum wheels. The tires’ grip was good, enhanced by the standard rear-axle steering and the 4Matic AWD system. The 4Matic automatically senses grip level and undetectably sends power front-to-rear and side-to-side, while the electronically controlled air suspension ($1,900 option) automatically controls the damping force of the suspension to provide for a smooth ride. The air suspension system also automatically adjusts the ride height when using the Dynamic Select wheel for the drive modes of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual.
With this technology, the EQE SUV handling is capable, but didn’t feel crisp when diving hard into corners. The speed-dependent steering feedback could have been sharper. The EQE SUV comes standard with active steering assist, stability control and the 10-degree rear axle steering. This last feature helps the EQE SUV, at 16-feet long, to be much more agile and maneuverable then its length would predict, and nearly eliminates three-point turns.
The mission of the EQE SUV isn’t to be the King of the Twisties, but to have superb plush, comfortable and relaxing road manners. Mercedes-Benz has over-achieved this goal.
Charging and Regeneration
Using a 170 kW DC fast charger, the 90.6 kWh lithium-ion battery will replenish 10-to-80% in under 31 minutes. A 240 volt/32 amp home charger will take 9.25 hours for a 10-to-100% charge.
The first two years of owning an EQE SUV comes with complimentary, unlimited 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America DC fast chargers and unlimited charging at Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging stations (the growing MB HPC network).
Powerful braking regeneration is controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddles. When coasting or braking, it converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. One pedal driving, where the regeneration is set at the top level, made it possible to do most driving without relying on the brakes.
Slippery Design
Mercedes-Benz says the EQE SUV “is the multipurpose variant of the EQE sedan” which Clean Fleet Report reviewed in 2022. We found the two to be similar in most aspects with, of course, the SUV’s utility the major difference.
The smooth exterior draws one long sweeping line from front to back. The rounded nose has the traditional grille area replaced with a plastic panel featuring a repeated three-point star pattern. The LED headlights have the ability to project images onto the road, such as warning symbols of road work, no-entry, stop and yield, driving guidelines on narrow roads, and several others. The Symbol and Animation projection function is part of the Digital Light Package, a $1,200 option.
The low .26 coefficient of drag (Cd) comes from the smooth bodywork that optimizes airflow and efficiency. With flush door handles, underbody panels and a small front tire spoiler, the EQE SUV has form and function, which makes it efficient and quiet to drive.
The SUV has a curious rectangular door on the driver-side front fender. Too small for a charge port, so what is it? Mercedes does not want you opening the hood, which means there is no visible hood release lever under the dash. So this fender door is for refilling the windshield washer fluid. Curious indeed.
The near-flat roofline peaks just past the B-pillar and continues on a gentle slope to an ever-so-small lip spoiler on the remote and kick-powered tailgate. The EQE 500 and 4MATIC badges frame the iconic Mercedes-Benz tri-star logo, and sit below the LED light bar that connects the tail lights, which feature a distinctive helix design. Tucking the rear window wiper under the roof spoiler would be the finishing touch to this classy design.
Clean Fleet Report’s EQE 500 SUV 4Matic was painted in Emerald Green Metallic. This is one of eight exterior colors that include Black and Polar White, along with metallic offerings of Sonoran Brown, Twilight Blue, Cirrus Silver, Selenite Grey or Moonlight White Metallic, the latter of which is new for 2025.
The ever-so-minimum use of chrome around the windows, along the lower doors and just a taste on the front and rear lower fascia, gives the EQE a classy look.
Augmented Reality
Mercedes’ proprietary Hyperscreen system consists of three screens—a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, with augmented reality head-up display for navigation and other very cool graphics, complements the 17.7-inch OLED infotainment central touchscreen. This display has beautiful, deep, clear colors as you page through controls for setting-up a smartphone, the 64-color ambient lighting, and of course the great sounding audio system. A 12.3-inch screen, situated before the front passenger, can be customized for up-to seven passenger profiles. It can show navigation, weather and charging stations along with playing music.
An OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display works without a backlight as it emits its own visible light. The benefits are it produces deep black levels and offers higher contrast than a LED system, and uses 30-percent less energy. Make sure to visit the Mercedes-Benz dealership in the evening to get the full impact of the touchscreen.
The center screen is home to an augmented reality navigation system and the 710-watt Burmester 3D surround audio system. The 15 separate amplifier channels and 15 speakers deliver a combination of mid-range, bass, tweeter and surround sound for SiriusXM, AM/FM HD radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth voice commands for the radio and the telephone are part of the MBUX assistant system. There are multiple USB-C ports through the cabin.
The leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel has capacitive touch controls for audio, telephone and the smart cruise control. The radio can be controlled by voice commands (“Hey Mercedes”) and the touchscreen, has a learning curve that isn’t too difficult and is well worth mastering to get the most from the excellent sound quality and vast array of cabin comfort features.
The augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) is probably the best we have seen, with the AR allowing the driver to see the HUD information from any angle; when the driver’s head moves, so does the HUD.
Sumptuous Interior
All materials were top notch quality. Clean Fleet Report’s tester had natural grain Anthracite Linden wood trim and seats wrapped in Sable Brown and Black Nappa leather (a $1,370 option) was elegant. There are eight interior color options with three having an additional cost. Of the three trim options, one has a price premium.
The multi-contour front heated and ventilated ($450 option) power seats had memory and massage. The cabin has a four-zone climate control with energizing air control and the ($450 option) HEPA filter. Excellent seating comfort front and rear is as expected with 18-way power seat adjustments.
Other interior features were a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a dashcam, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals, a power tilt and sliding panorama sunroof and wireless phone charging. That 64-color ambient lighting is soothing and fun to play with.
The Acoustic Comfort Package ($1,100 option) included laminated glass, additional insulation, aerodynamic tweaks in design elements to optimize airflow and to reduce wind noise, and the “Serene Breeze” soundscape designed to create a calming ambiance to contribute to the quiet interior.
Safety and Warranty
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 is a new model and has not been safety-rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), but does come with standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). There is a full list of the standard safety systems at the end of this story.
The $1,250 option Driver Assist package has a semi-autonomous driving system (Drive Pilot) that utilizes lidar, radar, cameras, moisture sensors, ultra-sonic sensors and an antenna. Upon setting the system, the EQE will stop, accelerate from a stop, adjust speed to the cars in front and, when applying the turn signal, change lanes.
Drive Pilot is not a completely hands-free system, but on your test drive, experiment by removing your hands for up to 15 seconds while on the highway. Under the right conditions, the EQE will follow the lanes and turn gentle corners, hands-free. It is a wonderful feeling getting a sense of where true autonomous driving will be sometime in the future.
The EQE comes with these warranties.
- New Vehicle – Four years/50,000 miles
- Battery – 10 years/155,000 miles
- Scheduled Maintenance -Two years/20,000 miles
Pricing
The base price for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 4Matic, including the $1,150 destination and delivery charge, is $79,050. The test model Clean Fleet Report drove had a final MSRP of $101,420, including $10,820 in options and the $1,150 destination and delivery charge. The EQE 500 4Matic may qualify for federal and state credits, and in some states, is eligible for a HOV sticker.
Observations: 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 4Matic
Mercedes-Benz previously announced plans to be an electric vehicle-only company by 2030. However, in February 2024 they issued an update that they will continue to develop and build EVs, but also gasoline internal combustion vehicles and hybrids. Due to a slow down in consumer demand and government roadblocks, electric vehicle demand has slowed, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales are up.
Make no mistake about the Mercedes-Benz deep technological experience with hybrid power plants. Mercedes has been campaigning an F1 hybrid car, with technology similar to that found in its street vehicles, in the racing series since 2014, winning eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2021.
Mercedes-Benz, with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is not planning on taking a back seat to any auto manufacturer in the luxury space, so expect them to continue innovating with electrification, whether it’s hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicles.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
EQE Safety Features
- Active Distance Assist Distronic
- Active Steering Assist with Hands-Off warning
- Active Brake Assist
- Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call
- Attention Assist
- LED Digital Light headlamps w/lightband
- Adaptive Highbeam Assist
- LED Daytime Running Lamps
- Crosswind Assist
- Active Blind Spot Assist
- Exit Warning Assist
- Evasive Maneuver Support
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- Active Lane Change Assist
- Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
- Active Emergency Stop Assist
- Active Speed Limit Assist
- Extended Restart in Stop-and-Go Traffic
- Active Stop-and-Go Assist
- Front and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert w/pedestrian detection and automatic braking
- Pre-Safe Impulse Side
- Pre-Safe Sound
- Pre-Safe PLUS
- Pre-Safe Impulse Side
- Active Parking Assist
- Surround View System
- Seven air bags
- Adaptive Braking
- Antilock Braking System (ABS)
- Brake Assist (BAS)
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Guard 360 Vehicle Protection Plus with Parking Damage Detection
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Disclosure
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at [email protected].
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