With a range of almost 500 km, the EQS450 SUV is the latest addition to Mercedes-Benz's electric vehicle range.
The luxurious interior is second to none
Excellent soundproofing quality
Performance is very sharp for a large, seven-seat SUV
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic SUV
Mercedes-Benz's journey towards full electrification continues. And the latest product from the German brand's electric vehicle arsenal – the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic – is also the largest luxury seven-seater electric SUV.
The sixth model in Mercedes-Benz's EQ family of electric vehicles, the EQS SUV (as the name suggests) is a high-riding version of the flagship EQS sedan, and the seven-seat electric equivalent of the GLS top large SUV.
Make no mistake, the latest addition to Mercedes-Benz's electric vehicle lineup is a big deal; a giant measuring more than five meters long and weighing almost three tons without anyone inside. It's also a big statement from the German brand, which says it plans to be completely carbon neutral by 2039, a target it calls 'Ambition 2039'.
After making its international debut in late 2022, the EQS450 SUV has landed in Australia with little fanfare and a low-key launch on the outskirts of Sydney.
Australia is only getting one specific variant of the five-door, seven-seat EQS SUV – the EQS450 4Matic. The price is $194,900 before travel costs and options.
At this stage, Australia is unlikely to receive the range available overseas that includes the less powerful single-motor EQS450+ or the more powerful range-topping EQS580. However, a Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson hinted that the luxury-focused Maybach variant of its flagship electric SUV remains in Australia.
The EQS450 4Matic we're about to get is powered by two permanently excited synchronous electric motors, one on each axle, powered by a 108kWh battery, capable, according to Mercedes-Benz, of a driving range of 483km, tested against the more realistic WLTP criteria.
Combined, the twin electric motors produce 265kW and 800Nm, capable of propelling the nearly three-tonne seven-seater SUV from 0–100km/h in 6.0 seconds, according to Mercedes. Top speed is limited to 210km/h.
The level of standard equipment on the EQS450 reflects its status as Mercedes-Benz Australia's flagship electric vehicle.
The AMG Line exterior styling package comes as standard and features 21-inch alloy wheels, an AMG front bumper (with high-gloss black inserts), wheel arch liners, side sill panels, and a rear apron.
There are AMG ‘Digital Light’ matrix LED headlights which Mercedes-Benz says “continuously and dynamically adapt to road conditions” with 1.3 million microglasses.
Inside, Nappa leather is standard, the front seats are heated and cooled, and the 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen can host wireless (and wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There's also wireless smartphone charging, four-zone climate control, 'Airmatic' air suspension, up to 4.5 degrees rear-wheel steering, panoramic glass sunroof, 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system, a 360-degree camera, metallic paint, 'A Convenience Package Merc's acoustics or soundproofing for you and me, and a head-up display.
As with any premium market, some optional packages will cause the final price to increase quickly. The $11,700 Comfort Plus package adds the MBUX infotainment system for second-row passengers with its tablet, wireless smartphone charging pad, and two sets of wireless headphones. It also features heated seats for the second and third rows, a heated steering wheel in the front, and plush headrests in the rear.
The Hyperscreen package asks for an additional $6700 and swaps the twin infotainment and digital instrument displays for the Merc's single-panel 141cm screen that combines a 12.3-inch instrument panel, a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an additional 12.3-inch screen for the front. passengers, an impressive array of technology that is sure to impress your friends.
Important details of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic
The price is $194,900 plus travel costs
Options None
The price as tested was $194,900 plus on-road costs
Drive away price $205,138 (in NSW)
There's no mistaking the interior of the EQS450 as Mercedes-Benz. It's plush and luxurious, with well-crafted materials throughout.
The front row of seats is very comfortable, with just the right amount of support in all key areas, while the headrests are filled with downy feathers and are very soft and the cushions feel welcoming and inviting.
The seats themselves are electrically adjustable, heated, and cooled with a massage function and four-way lumbar support.
Storage options include a center bin that looks capable of holding small bags, large bottles, and all kinds of rubbish we collect in everyday life. There's a pair of cup holders to keep your coffee delicious and safe, while the ample door pockets can accommodate bottles.
Sitting in the front passenger seat highlighted one glaring omission at the EQS450's local launch, certainly in the big seven-seater we called home that day.
Our specific EQS didn't come with the Hyperscreen package, and that means hyperscreen-shaped faux wood accents greet the front passengers; invisible areas of wood grain are pleasing to the eye. If anything, it only serves as a reminder that you still need to check a particular option box.
The second row mirrors the comfort levels of the first row, with plush seating that can be electrically adjusted fore and aft (up to 130mm) and tilt (by 18 degrees), meaning those in the second row can feel comfortable and comfortable.
Second-row renters not only receive separate air conditioning up front but each outboard seat is also equipped with climate control. Good.
Access to the third row is as good as we've experienced in recent times. While it may require a degree of contortion beyond most normal people to get into seats six and seven, in the EQS450 it's as easy as activating Merc's 'Easy Access' function, which electrically slides the second row of seats forward 290mm and folds down. ottomans to create gaps that all but the tallest humans can easily climb through.
Once in the third row, space is surprisingly good. Mercedes-Benz says it's ideal for people up to 150cm tall, i.e. small children, but my 173cm frame had no problem getting comfortable there, with plenty of legroom and elbow room as well as room for my feet under the second row of seats. Only the headspace was starting to feel a little compromised, but it was still unbearable. There are also air vents in the third row, although the EQS450's four-zone climate control adjustments end abruptly in the second row.
As you'd expect, using all three rows of seating will eat into the available cargo space. Mercedes-Benz claims 195 liters with the third row in use, expanding to 2100L with the second row and third row stowed, creating a flat floor that's useful for all sorts of stuff.
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic
Seat Seven
Boot volume 195L to the third row
880L to the second row
2100L to the first row
Length 5125mm
Width 1959mm
Height 1718mm
Wheelbase 3210mm
As has been revealed, our test car wasn't equipped with Merc's excellent (and optional) Hyperscreen infotainment setup. Instead, a standard 12.8-inch infotainment screen runs Mercedes' MBUX operating system with satellite navigation, digital radio, and a host of personalization options to make the system truly yours.
Our short time in the EQS450 at launch prevented us from playing around with the full range of MBUX features, although we know from previous experience that it can be operated via on-screen input, the steering wheel, or by voice command using the 'Hey Mercedes' command.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirror as standard, and our time using CarPlay specifically didn't reveal any problems.
The 360-degree camera offers sharp resolution and imagery, ideal for getting this large SUV into even the tightest spaces.
The Burmester 15-speaker surround sound system offers several unique features – along with Apple Music and Universal Music – including curated playlists designed to highlight the system's fidelity. Mercedes says the songs “have been specially recorded and approved for optimal playback in the Mercedes-Benz,” and while we avoided those playlists in favor of our own, the clarity of sound through the 15-speaker, 710-watt system is exceptional.
The 12.3-inch driver display features a very large, clear head-up display that projects important driving data directly onto the windshield.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS450 electric SUV has not been tested by Australian safety body ANCAP, nor has it undergone testing in its home country of Europe.
However, as my colleague Glenn Butler highlighted in his international review of the EQS450, Euro NCAP tested Merc's EQS sedan (which shares most of the same underpinnings as the EQS450 SUV) and gave it a five-star rating in 2021.
But as Butler says: “We can't simply assume that the EQS SUV will perform as well because it has a different body structure. All we know is that Mercedes-Benz has been steadfast in its commitment to safety for decades. So, if its flagship SUV scores poorly, it will come as a shock to the company and the industry.”
What safety technologies does the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV have?
Like a luxury SUV, a full complement of Mercedes-Benz safety aids is included in the EQS450. Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and lane centering assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition are all standard.
A complement of 10 airbags covers all three rows of passengers.
For those looking to transport little ones, ISOFIX child seat mounts adorn the outboard seats in the second row, while all three second-row seatbacks are equipped with top tether points. There are no child seat restraints in the third row.
How much does it cost to maintain the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV?
The EQS450 is covered by Mercedes-Benz Australia's standard five-year/unlimited kilometer warranty.
Service intervals are 12 months or 25,000km, whichever comes first, and can be prepaid at the time of purchase – $2350 for a three-year plan, $3695 (four years), and $4280 for a five-year plan.
As new arrivals to Australia, we were unable to obtain an indicative comprehensive insurance quote.
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic at a glance
Five-year guarantee, unlimited km
Battery warranty Eight years, 160,000 km
Service interval 12 months or 25,000km
Service fee $2350 (3 years)
$4280 (5 years)
Is the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV energy efficient?
Mercedes-Benz claims the EQS450 4Matic will achieve between 20.2 and 24.3kWh per 100 kilometers of driving depending on energy recovery opportunities and driving conditions.
On paper, those are impressive numbers for a vehicle of that size, weighing in at 2,918 kg. Add a driver or two passengers and you're looking at over 3000kg of mass to haul.
What makes it very interesting is that our launch covering a distance of 159 km in various conditions resulted in an energy consumption figure of 20kWh/100km. Before that last figure, the EQS450 showed an indication of 32.5 kWh per 100 km, after a 61 km almost exclusively uphill journey where energy was precious and the opportunity to harness electrons via regenerative braking was slim.
Once it reaches its peak, the figure drops quickly to reach 20kWh at the end of the journey.
Mercedes-Benz quotes a 10 to 80 percent DC charge time (at a maximum rate of 200kW) as fast as 31 minutes for the EQS450's 108kWh battery.
Home AC charging of up to 11kW is standard, or 22kW is an option, capable of fully charging the battery in 10 and five hours respectively.
Helping to restore range are four stages of regenerative braking, including a 'one pedal' mode that can bring the car to a halt. The different modes – D+ (coast), D (standard recovery), and D- (enhanced recovery) as well as D-Auto (which offers situationally tailored energy recovery suggestions to the driver via an on-dash display) – are accessed via the EQS450's paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.
What is the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV like to drive?
The EQS450 4Matic's driving experience is what you'd expect from a powerful heavy, seven-seater SUV.
Acceleration from a standstill is brisk or even rapid (Merc claims six seconds for the 0–100 km/h benchmark sprint). It's a bit scary when at the first opportunity, you go full throttle and feel the 3000kg electric SUV surge forward at a speed faster than most warm hatchbacks and even some hot hatches. Of course, it feels effortless when traveling, able to speed through traffic jams with ease.
But what's really impressive is how quiet the EQS450 is in the cabin. Thanks to Mercedes' standard Acoustic Comfort package that adds an excellent level of soundproofing via laminated glass and reinforced fur-lined panel inserts, the cabin of this large SUV remains quiet. A brief stint behind the wheel with the windows down served to highlight just how good the Merc's soundproofing is, arguably as good as any I've experienced. It all adds up to a relaxing time inside the EQS450, as you move around in near-silent luxury.
However, the ride isn't the last word in terms of suppleness, despite Mercedes' standard air suspension and continuously adjustable dampers, certainly on some of the rough country road sections we encountered during the test launch.
The big seven-seater remained mostly compliant under the wheel, but occasionally showed a tendency to sway and twitch, especially when faced with the uneven road surfaces that limited our driving to a great extent. Things get even better on the road, the EQS provides much more comfortable road manners as the road surface improves.
You might imagine a three-tonne high-capacity SUV wouldn't offer the best dynamic capabilities, but there's surprising agility to be found in the EQS450. Once again, the adaptive air suspension settings continue to play a role.
Selecting Sport from the SUV's Dynamic Select driving mode produces a level of firmness that works well to keep the big SUV safe and planted on the road. It still errs on the side of comfort for its passengers, but with a sharper edge that provides enough feedback to let you know that this big family lugger is well within its limits.
Rear-wheel steering plays its part, turning the rear wheels by up to 4.5 degrees to provide agility to a vehicle that, on paper, shouldn't have it. An optional upgrade to 10-degree rear-wheel steering is available for anyone who wants to drive their large electric SUV with more enthusiasm.
We're sure most buyers won't care much about the rear-wheel steering angle or that the EQS450 might feel a little uneasy on uneven roads. Instead, they'll likely enjoy decent acceleration, smooth highway cruising speeds, and the serenity of a luxurious cabin while doing it.
Important details of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic
Machine Two permanently excited synchronous motors
Power 265kW
Torque 800Nm
Drive Type All wheel drive
Single Speed Transmission
Power to weight ratio 90.8kW/t
Weight (tare) 2918kg
Spinning circle 11.9m
Should I buy a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV?
Those looking to stand out with an electric vehicle, with a statement that says 'I am at the forefront of the EV revolution' without sacrificing luxury, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz EQS450 4Matic.
With its imposing presence matched by interior luxury as good as the latest Mercedes-Benz, this seven-seater ticks many boxes. We recommend ticking the option box for the Merc's Hyperscreen if only to reduce the tedium of looking at the huge expanse of the Hyperscreen-shaped dashboard while in the passenger seat.
However, at its core, Mercedes' latest electric vehicle is luxurious, comfortable, and quite fast, and thanks to its large battery, it can cover a driving distance of almost 500 km in the real world. This is an impressive statement from the German brand.
