Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus SUV (2022 - )

Mercedes recently launched its first fully-electrified luxury saloon car called the EQS and now, customers looking for extras space and practicality, will be pleased to learn the SUV version is on sale.

There are two variants according to power output called the EQS 450 4MATIC with 265kW and the EQS 580 4MATIC with 400kW. Both are available in trim grades called AMG Line Premium Plus or Business Class and all models boast a WLTP-tested driving range in excess of 360 miles between charges, so range anxiety should not be a factor here.

Prices start at the £130k mark, so it’s not for the budget-restricted buyer and that’s before you even look at the extensive list of optional extras available.

While the SUV shares the same 3,210mm wheelbase as the EQS saloon car, it is 20cms higher, so offers extra versatility for active families and this car is sold as a seven-seater so there is always room for a couple of little uns when extra passengers need to be transported.

We had the opportunity to test an early version of the EQS SUV with the lower power output and in entry-level AMG Line Premium Plus guise.

The EQS SUV is a bold, but beautifully crafted vehicle that will seldom pass unnoticed. At the front end is the blanked off black radiator grille with three-dimensional star pattern and the Mercedes star emblem sitting proudly in the centre. A light band connects the headlight clusters and there are signature daytime running lights.

The side view offers a dynamic silhouette with sweeping curves, flush door handles and a steeply raked A pillar. Privacy glass adds a sense of mystery and, at the rear you will find a black spoiler, a light band with LED lamps and a tailgate that merges smoothly into the rear bumper.

A split-panoramic sunroof, along with 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels that are painted black complete the look.

Moving inside, the interior is beautifully elegant and created using the finest perforated leather upholstery, ship-deck open-pore walnut wood trimmings and decorative inlays throughout. The main focal point in the AMG Line Premium Plus car is the 12.8-inch upright infotainment screen that offers access to a plethora of on-board technology.

There is a pitch-perfect Burmester 3D surround sound system, full smartphone integration, EQ navigation services with Live Traffic for three years, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel that offers all the vital driving data, along with a head-up display that can be customised. Press the EQ button and you will be shown all the relevant battery status figures with details about range and charging levels.

Powered seats, along with a powered flat-bottomed steering wheel means getting a comfortable driving position is a simple process. There are memory settings to store these positions and even the headrest is electrically-adjustable.

In addition, the car features the company’s highly intuitive voice activated personal assistant. Summoned by uttering the “Hey Mercedes” words, it can complete functions such as switching off the ambient lighting, opening the panoramic roof, plotting navigation routes, turning on the heated seats, checking traffic updates and plenty more besides.

Our Mercedes EQS 450 SUV was powered by a 108.4kWh lithium-ion high-voltage battery with 360hp along with 800Nm of torque. The acceleration through the single speed automatic transmission is blisteringly quick and this vehicle can complete the 0-62mph sprint in just 6.0 seconds topping out at 130mph.

The large battery pack will dispel any range anxiety fears as this car can achieve 362-365 miles between charges and is compatible with fast chargers if a quick top-up is needed along the way.

With its low centre of gravity thanks to the well-protected battery’s positioning in the car’s underbody, the EQS SUV is grounded and balanced when firing along country lanes. It does feel quite wide at times as the lanes narrow, but the elevated seating offers great driver visibility across the hedgerows.

The acceleration is instant making light work of overtaking slower vehicles and there are drive modes to sharpen up responses even further. These are called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual. There is also an Off-Road setting for those wanting to tackle more challenging terrain. 

It’s a very confident cruiser on motorways with excellent levels of refinement within the cabin. This is thanks to the efficient insulation protecting occupants from any outside noise and the adaptive damping system and air suspension smoothing out all but the most severe bumps and dips.

There are steering wheel paddles too, but these have nothing to do with gear changing. Instead, they enable the driver to alter the level of regenerative braking.

Then, in busier town centre settings, the EQS is nimble and agile to manoeuvre, and the Active Parking Assist with a 360-degree camera will help squeeze this giant of a car into the tightest of spaces.

The EQS SUV shares the same EVA2 architecture as its saloon sibling but offers a lot more height to cover all the SUV demands. It stretches 5,125mm in length, is 2,157mm wide and 1,718mm high.

With a kerb weight in excess of 2.8 tonnes, the EQS is not a light vehicle, but it is agile and with the 4MATIC all-wheel drive, as standard, it is a very capable off-roader. And while very few owners will take their £130k pride and joy far from the safety of the Tarmac roads, it is reassuring to know it can tow a trailer or caravan weighing up to 1.8 tonnes across slippery ground.

The interior is really spacious with bundles of room for three adults in the back, especially in the outer positions where passengers also benefit from heated seats. Although our early model was only five seats, all UK cars will have seven. We had a quick look at a static model and it was quite easy to get into the two third row seats which are ideal for children. And they fold flat when not in use.

The boot, accessed via a powered tailgate, can swallow 565 litres of kit, increasing to 2,020 litres with just the front seats in use. This would easily accommodate golf clubs, trolleys and a few overnight bags.

Throughout the cabin are numerous practical storage spaces, such as a very deep central cubby, a good-sized glovebox, door bins with space to store a bottle, seat back pockets, front cup holders that are covered when not in use, along with two further cup holders in the fold-down rear armrest. The car has plenty of USB-C charge ports to stay connected on the move too.

The EQS SUV’s large 108.4kWh battery can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 31 minutes via a 200kW fast charger; from 10-100 per cent in five hours, 30 minutes using a 22kW wallbox; or 16 hours, 45 minutes if plugged into a 7.4kW home charging box.

The entry-level Mercedes EQS 450 4MATIC SUV in AMG Line Premium Plus guise, with the lower 360hp power output, costs £129,170 and this was the car that we tested.

If you are looking for more power and have extra cash to spare then the range-topping EQS 580 4MATIC SUV with the 544hp battery will set you back £153,495.

At present EV owners still benefit from a number of Government-led incentives such as free road tax, the exemption from Congestion Charge fees, plus not being penalised for purchasing a vehicle costing in excess of £40,000, but that will all be changing in 2025 when these financial benefits will be withdrawn.

However, for new customers now, the zero carbon emissions figure does still introduce several financial perks. And, for anyone fortunate enough to be considering the EQS SUV as a company car, the Benefit in Kind tax rating is a very appealing two per cent.

The EQS SUV is sold with a fairly standard three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, although the battery is extended to 10-years or 155,000 miles. 

The EQS SUV, as tested, sits in insurance group 50.

Mercedes may have been a little late to the EV party, but the company now boasts an assortment of high-end electric vehicles from the more compact EQA (based on the A-Class) right up to our EQS SUV model.

With an excellent driving range, the EQS SUV is the ultimate proof that you don’t need to sacrifice luxury or performance when switching across to electrified cars. And with the versatility of seven-seats, along with excellent off-roading ability, this is a go-anywhere vehicle that’s big on style, performance and ability.

It's also worth mentioning the comprehensive list of safety features and driver assistance aids that will help protect occupants and other road users alike.