The Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ has all the stops in terms of luxury, but small foibles might make it hard to appreciate the whole picture.
If I listed down everything about the Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ having never seen, driven in, or ridden in the car, you would be very enthusiastic about it.
Indeed, it’s a car that promises a wealth of luxury alongside a ton of great features, and it is Mercedes’ answer to the luxury EV market. Unlike other manufacturers, the EQS was built from the ground up on a unique platform. Simply converting their S-class wasn’t good enough, right?
But, how does it stack up against the ever-competitive luxury EV market?
symphonic design.
Our journey commences with the visual overture of the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+, a design language that defies convention while embracing the symphony of aerodynamic efficiency. This flagship Mercedes EV embraces a sleek elegance, reminiscent of a wireless mouse poised for action. Its form is a celebration of scientific precision, sculpted to slice through the wind with a finesse that’s visually arresting.
Yet, amidst this celebration of efficiency, a note of curiosity surfaces. While the EQS 450+ stands as a paragon of aerodynamic prowess, one might ponder if a touch more flair could have elevated its visual cadence.
After all, in a world where aesthetics often waltz hand in hand with performance, could a bolder design narrative have been composed without sacrificing its aerodynamic grace?
Whichever side of the fence you’re on, you can’t deny that the design is extremely futuristic, garnering the curious stares of other motorists as you sail on by in utter silence. A spaceship on wheels, this is.
technology troves abound.
Of course, as this is the top dog of the EQ food chain, the interior opulence of the Mercedes-Benz EQS has to be surpassing expectations.
But, while it exists in the higher EQS53 variant, the Hyperscreen’s expansive 56-inch display is noticeably absent in the 450’s interior.
You still get a large 12.8-inch OLED Media Display that handles all of your major cabin settings. Climate control, navigation, and media; all are at your fingertips, or rather, your touch-sensitive swipes. There are almost no hard buttons, not even on the steering wheel.
Yet, within this symphony of innovation, a question arises – does the absence of tactile buttons elevate the driving experience or dance on the precipice of inconvenience?
Not to be outdone though, the EQS provides occupants with a modern and classy cabin lined with rose gold accents, turbine-styled aircon vents, and a whole suite of ambient lighting options.
LED strips are found not just below the dashboard, but within the door panels and even under the seats. At night, the EQS really comes alive with visual flavour.
The EQS 450+ plunges into an embrace of futuristic control, captivating passengers with leather-clad elegance and plush seating that offers respite for the discerning traveller. The seats, adorned with suede pillows on the headrests, are nothing short of fantastic.
Seat heating and cooling can also be turned on at the same time… for whatever reason. Thank you, Mercedes, for offering me that discretion.
With a length of over 5.2 metres, interior headroom and legroom are provided in copious amounts. The EQS is also a great choice for those who frequent golfing establishments. Its fastback-esque roofline opens up along with the boot, giving you a cavernous boot capacity of 580 litres. Plus, the wide and tall rear aperture makes loading golf bags a breeze.
Just, try not to stain the all-white boot lining, would ya?
dynamics in motion.
Transitioning to the kinetic realm of the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+, the first thing that surprises you is just how quick this thing is off the line. Its weighty presence, approximating 2,480kg, belies the grace with which this Mercedes navigates the roads.
A single electric motor channels 329hp and 565Nm of torque to the rear wheels. This instant acceleration propels the EQS 450+ to the century mark in just over 6 seconds. Remember, this thing weighs almost 2.5 tonnes.
Rear-wheel steering also allows the EQS to glide through tight corners and makes it so much easier to manoeuvre it into parking spaces. A myriad of sensors and cameras are on hand too, so you know exactly what’s around you in high definition.
Of course, ultimately being a luxury saloon, you cannot (and shouldn’t in the first place) wring the EQS round corners enthusiastically. While the car does have a low centre of gravity and assertive tyres bolted on, the steering can feel vague at times. This handling ballet, while engaging, necessitates a certain caution, a gentle balance between enthusiasm and prudence.
But, what the EQS does especially well is offer you a symphony of comfort. Especially if you’re being driven around and are lounging in the back.
Another aspect in which the EQS shines is its gargantuan battery and range. The EQS 450+ has a remarkable claimed 762km of travel per charge, or in layman’s terms, a trip to Kuala Lumpur and back without having to visit a single charger.
The impressive range pretty much eliminated any anxiety I had about charging, which itself was also an easy affair. Even a 50kW DC charger managed to provide 20% charge in about half an hour. This might not sound a lot, but that 20% does equate to at least another 180km of range.
There were also many ways to try and improve efficiency. The car has a whole efficiency menu which displayed all the things that were using extra power, told me how much more range I would get by turning them off, and even allowed me to do so with one touch on the screen. Smart.
Likewise, the paddle shifters are there to adjust the strength of regenerative braking. But, strangely there was no one-pedal driving option.
In terms of efficiency in the real world, I managed to achieve a nice round 19kWh/100km, and that was with some enthusiastic acceleration and heavy air-conditioning use thrown into the mix. Since the car has a 107.8-kWh battery, that would equate to around 567km. Not quite up to scratch with what Mercedes-Benz claims, but still pretty impressive nonetheless.
futuristic luxo-barge.
It’s all there. All of the good stuff is right in front of you. But, in some cases, they’re just not easy enough to use. Should you buy this car if you’re in the market for a luxury EV? Despite its flaws, it’s still a well-rounded package.
These small issues are not enough to detract from the fact that this car, overall, is competent, efficient, and very plush inside.
Granted, many of the foibles I have with the EQS are what you might consider first-world problems. It’s not perfect, but even as it sits, it’s absolutely worthy of being called a Mercedes-Benz.
technical specifications.
Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ AMG Line
Engine: Single Permanently Excited Synchronous Motor, Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
Power: 245kw (329bhp)
Torque: 565Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 6.2 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 210km/h
Battery Capacity: 107.8 kWh
Drive Range: 762 km
Energy Consumption: 5.5 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$617,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Mercedes-Benz Singapore
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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