Ready for a Dreamy Electric Car? 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan
Did angels design the interior of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan? It's comfortable, opulent, and has some astounding customizable features.
Sara Lacey
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Nothing is more impressive than the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan.
Though it starts with a subtle exterior, it’s the interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan that made me feel like it was made with me in mind. Like, specifically. The size of the car, the overall vibe of the car, the colors, stitching, and textures made me wonder, if I had been designing the car myself, whether I would have done a single thing differently.
For all you numbers and data people out there, here are the model’s prices and power stats. The EQE starts at $74,900 for the EQE 350+ model. It’s got 288 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. It has a single electric motor. The EQE 350 4Matic sedan starts at $77,900. It’s got the same horsepower but more torque than the 350+, and it has dual motors, which gives it all wheel drive, or in Mercedes-speak: 4Matic.
The EQE 500 4Matic sedan starts at $85,900, and it ups the speed and power. The 500 4Matic has 402 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque will get you from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. Lastly, the AMG EQE sedan starts at $106,900. 617 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque will blast you from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds.
Related: The Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Anticipates Your Unknown Needs
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan Grille. Photo: Sara Lacey
There’s More to it than Choosing a Power Level
Then, once you’ve chosen what power configuration you want, you select the trim. Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle trims all give you options and features to add, depending on your budget and desires. It should be noted that the AMG EQE only has the Exclusive trim and the Pinnacle trim. So basically, the starting price of the EQE ranges from $74,900 to $109,100. And those prices are before MSRP. My test car was the EQE 350 4Matic. It was the Pinnacle trim with some extras like the winter package, the star pattern grille, 10-degree axle steering, and an acoustic comfort package (which makes the interior quieter). The price of my test car rang up at $95,790 after all that and an estimated $1,150 destination charge. Remember to calculate any potential tax credits available in your area.
Related: What’s the Deal with Destination Charges?
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan rear corner angle. Photo: Sara Lacey
Discovering an Elegant, Pragmatic Exterior
Let’s talk about the EQE’s exterior. It does look like an EV. It is not as sinewy as other Mercedes-Benz cars. It is designed the way it is in order to reduce wind resistance. But it is nice-looking and has some cool details. I liked the retracting door handles and the grille that had the Mercedes-Benz logo that was then surrounded by 3-point stars. It’s almond-shaped and has some creased metal along the bottoms of the doors and some chrome accents.
The rear of the car is probably the most sculpted element, with a pinched rear trunk lid and cool LED taillights spanning the rear end. Overall, the EQE has a design that makes sense, even if it doesn’t look indulgent.
Related: The Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 Feels Like Sunday Brunch
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan front seat. Note the beautiful stitching and how many elements feel like they’re floating. Photo: Sara Lacey
Incredible Details Create a Dreamy Interior
The Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan is one of my favorite sedans I’ve ever driven.
Because the interior is just that opulent. The color scheme inside is sublime. The carpet, lower dash, and center console were bone-white, as were the ceiling headliner and door panels. The seats and floor mats were a gorgeous mocha. The seats themselves had a beautiful pattern stitched into them using lighter-colored thread that had a sheen to it. It made my heart flutter.
The perforations in the seat were graduated, with the holes getting smaller as they got closer to the stitching. This effect created dimension and depth. To really add some panache, the front seats are lined with LED’s on the side. They are supportive but also feel soft and comfortable like they have a plush pillowtop. But they don’t. I would think it’s voodoo, but that seems too dark. The headrests not only adjust up and down but have a button on the side of them (that’s easy to use) that pitches them forward, too. I just kept saying, “Wow, it’s so gorgeous,” even when no one was in the car with me. Every time I got behind the wheel. It’s that dreamy.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan driver side. Photo: Sara Lacey
Rose Gold Accents a Sculptured Dash
The details continued onto the dash, which was wood and brushed rose-gold metal with customizable LED lights embedded across it. The EQE Sedan had cool turbine-inspired air vents. There is a giant touchscreen housing the multimedia system. The screen looks like it’s attached to the cupholder cubby and is cantilevered up onto the dash. It looks cleverly placed there in more of a sculptural way than just a touchscreen integrated into the dash or like a screen that’s been mounted oddly in the dash.
In front of the multimedia system is a bountiful storage area with removable cupholders and a wireless charging pad. There are charge ports, too, if your phone isn’t able to charge wirelessly. Then, between the seats is a large open console. You can put a purse in there if you want it hidden, but there is also a large open cubby under the cupholders that will house your purse too.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan rear climate controls and footwell lighting. Photo: Sara Lacey
Rear Seat Passengers Will Feel Elegant, Too
Behind the center console are the controls available for the rear-seat passengers. And those passengers get some nice treatment, too. They actually have dual-zone climate control, seat back pockets, and bottle holders in the doors. Their seats were also heated. There was a fold-down center armrest with cupholders that popped out of the front of it.
The back seat was roomy. The car has two sunroofs, so it’s light and bright in the back seat. There are two sets of lower tether anchors. The seats split 40/20/40, and the trunk could house a few carry-on style bags.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan rear eat with armrest down. Photo: Sara Lacey
A Car More Like a High-End Design Studio
It’s here that I’d like to discuss some of the interior details that really make the EQE shine. Of course, there are the retractable door handles to begin. Opening the door and getting in the car is pleasant and welcoming, with soft chimes and beautiful seats. When I closed the door and adjusted the seats, the buttons to adjust the seats had a heft to them.
Just below the power seat adjusters (located on the door) is a beautiful cantilevered armrest with window and door lock controls. The window toggles had a cool tapered effect that was very unique. They were so subtle. The armrest was aligned with the Burmester sound system’s speaker, which had a lovely starburst-ish pattern. It was then that I noticed the brushed bronze (rose gold?) metal trim and the LED paired with it. I mean, come on. This interior dazzled, and I couldn’t wait to discover more.
The LEDs are programmable and have up to 7 individual settings. What’s cool is you can customize the LEDs to flash or change color inside the car if an unsafe situation arises. For example, you can set the system to alert you by changing the LED color to orange if you drift out of the lane. Or you can opt-out.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan driver information screen. Photo: Sara Lacey
Other Safety Features and Driver Assist Features Abound
I learned to use adaptive cruise control fairly quickly. I do have some trust issues, though, and felt like the system reacted a little slow for my liking. But it did, in fact, work, I just had to find the spaces where I felt comfortable with it. For example, I did set the distance control an extra car length back because I preferred to have a little more space when the brakes were activated. The EQE tried its best to make being in traffic a spa-like experience. And while it’s mostly successful, well, sometimes traffic is traffic no matter what.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan is in its Lover Era. Photo: Sara Lacey
Despite All the Tech, It’s Easy to Use
As for the drive and the power, it is so easy to learn. The EQE Sedan allows you to select a profile for your driving style. You can choose Eco, Comfort, Sport, and also create an individual profile. Within those driving modes, you can use the paddle shifters to make the regenerative braking more or less aggressive. A fun thing to do is to toggle through them to create a feel of shifting. It’s novel and fun if you choose to use the shifters in that way. Otherwise, just use them to select the level of regenerative braking and leave it. The EQE I tested had dual motors with a little more oomph than the base EQE. It was really quick, but you can get a faster version of the EQE Sedan if that is what you’re looking for. Anyway, to keep the car stable, turning at high speeds, my test came with 10-degree rear-axle steering. Mercedes tells me it also helps when you’re doing lower-speed turns by up to 6 feet.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan chillin. Photo: Sara Lacey
It Sounds Futuristic, Too
The EQE has exterior noises to make sure pedestrians can hear you coming. They also make sounds available on the interior if you want that auditory feedback with your driving experience, especially in Sport mode. You’ll also get the LED feedback in different modes. I had navigation in my test car and a heads-up display that would show in my field of vision.
I could also use voice commands to execute a bunch of commands. I had to prompt the system by saying “Hey, Mercedes” at the beginning of my request, and the system was actually really good at doing what I asked, whether it was navigating to a certain location or turning up the temperature.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan discotheque. Photo: Sara Lacey
Navigation That’s Almost Personal
The EQE has some interesting technology in the form of augmented reality navigation. Using the car’s live cameras, the system will overlay arrows to point at the actual turn you need to take. This eliminates the guessing when using a regular system. This will show on the 12.8-inch multimedia screen and also in the head-up display.
The other screen in the EQE is a 12.3-inch driver display. It will show what drive mode you’re in, your speed, and a customizable set of data like power usage.
Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan has lovely armrests, and note the rose-gold and LED trim. And the open-pore wood on the dash! Photo: Sara Lacey
How to Charge the EQE?
Most owners will charge the EQE at home. With a level 2 charger, similar to a clothes dryer outlet, it can charge from 10%-80% in 8.35 hours. At a public DC fast charger, it can charge from 10%-80% in 47 minutes. You’ll get an estimated 208 miles of range when charged to 80%, which is the recommended maximum level to charge an electric car to. Frequently charging to 100% can degrade the battery.
I loved the opulence of the EQE Sedan that was hidden behind such a functional exterior. It was fun to customize the car and continue to discover so many exceptional features and design elements. I loved every minute of my test and hope to get behind the wheel of a dreamy EQE Sedan again one day.
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