The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV can change your day for the better.
I felt drawn to the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the first electric Mercedes-Benz SUV I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. It’s based on the same platform as the EQS sedan, only it’s higher off the ground and a little more spacious inside. The interior is just as luxurious as you’d expect if you’ve seen the inside of the EQS, and is nearly as posh as the flagship S-Class sedan. And yes, pillows are included on this beautiful 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV.
But what’s most notable to me is that the EQS SUV can change your day. Turn to the Energizing Comfort option in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV and put it on Freshness mode, and it will instantly lift your mood. The EQS SUV will release an uplifting scent into the cabin. Yes, there is a fragrance dispenser in the glove compartment that looks like a perfume bottle. The scent that came with my test model was Mood Mimosa. And let me tell you, that instant boost made me feel like I was sitting on a sunny patio on the ocean’s edge sipping a mimosa. The scent was crisp and bright but not too strong, with a hint of citrus.
Related: The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV Is My Highly Personalized, 3-Row Bubble
Surprisingly, a Third Row is Optional
But after having spent this past week with the EQS SUV, I truly don’t know how the third row would fit. The trunk space just doesn’t feel that generous, truthfully. I need to be able to see it and sit in it!
Premium interior details like quilted Nappa Leather, heated and ventilated seats, automatic door locks, 56” hyperscreen on the 580 trim, advanced driver assistance features and an uber smooth and quiet ride are all standard on the EQS Sport Ute. And truthfully, all of that should come standard at this price point because the EQS SUV will set you back a very pretty penny or two. Or several.
Related: How Does the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 Compare to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680?
The EQS SUV is a New Model for Mercedes-Benz, or Mercedes-EQ
Let’s talk about that exterior styling for a moment. I love the front end. The tiny Mercedes stars that speckle the grille, the long beautiful light bar, and the crazy lighting sequences when you start and turn-off the EQS. It’s meant to be visible, and it surely stands out. While I truly love the front end, the side profile is a bit of a bubble shape, as is the back end. I am also not sold on the fake tailpipe or exhaust tips on the rear, an electric car doesn’t need exhaust tips, why make it look like it does?
Related: The 7 Best 7 Passenger Luxury SUVs
The Rear Lighting is Fabulous
With minimal, modern looking badging, and a light bar on this car, the lighting was a feature all its own. The wheels on my test spec were 21” AMG spacey looking hubcap style wheels – meant for aerodynamics. While I understand the function, I don’t really love the aesthetics of these wheels.
Related: The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Electric Car: My Happy Place Just Got Happier
And That Bubble Shape I Mentioned?
Also all in the name of aerodynamics. I prefer a boxier shape, but alas, the EQS was built to reduce drag and increase its electric range. If you like rounded SUVs, you will love the EQS as it truly rounds like a semi-circle in its side profile.
Its Hyperscreen Takes Over the Need for Buttons
The 56” piece of glass called the Hyperscreen extends all across the dashboard, covering three screens, a 12.3” driver information screen or gauge cluster, a 17.7” Infotainment screen, and a third 12.3” screen for the passenger. What’s cool about that passenger screen is not just that it can be used to change vehicle settings (including seat adjustments, ambient lighting, temperature and more), or manage an entertainment device. It’s also cool because the sensors in the screen can see if the driver is watching that screen and will turn it off if it senses that they are. This is a safety feature I can appreciate.
However, this screen encompasses most functions in the EQS and so there is little to no need for hard touch buttons. Yes, this would take a little while to get used to, and some people will dislike this one thing enough not to choose the EQS, but I didn’t mind it. The only hard touch buttons are the Start/Stop and the Hazards buttons.
The little panel with volume, drive modes and other ‘buttons’ resembles hard touch but feels more haptic. I didn’t love the volume controls, both touch sensitive, one on this panel and one on the steering wheel. There is still something to be said for a turn dial for volume control.
The Hyperscreen is standard on the EQS 580 but an option on the 450+ and 450 4MATIC. I couldn’t find pricing for this option.
Related: The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV Is My Highly Personalized, 3-Row Bubble
Rear-Steering and Air Suspension is Standard
The air suspension, automatically lifting and lowering this sport utility’s height based on drive modes gives you an exceptionally smooth ride, as well as the capability to go off-road on light terrain when needed. However, I don’t suspect most owners will get anywhere too far off light gravel with the EQS.
The rear steering is truly amazing, you can really feel it maneuvering in and out of parking spaces. It’s a 10-degree rear steer and you can see it in action here:
Who Is This Car For
- Tech-forward single needing SUV cargo space
- Small urbanite families
- Luxury car lover with a big budget who wants to make the jump to an electric car
What You Need To Know
- It’s so posh and quiet, you might get too comfortable because pillows and air suspension
- It’s quiet yet mighty, it’ll take to you 60 mph in 4.5 seconds
- An available third row is cool, but I need to see it to see if it’s real
- Can your lifestyle handle the 285 miles (450km) in electric range and will you charge at home
Why Do Electric Cars Need all These Weird Sounds?
The EQS makes so many strange spacey futuristic sounds. Starting, running, turning off, driving, accelerating, braking, and you can even customize the sounds you want it to make with three spacey options: Silver Waves, Vivid Flux or Roaring Pulse. I tried them all and can’t say I have a favorite. They all make cool and weird sounds. (hear them in my YouTube video)
You can turn this off, thankfully, as I think being a daily driver and owner would make me get tired of all this “extra”.
What This Car Costs:
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450+
The base 450+ is a rear-wheel drive EQS SUV starting at USD $104,400. This model is not available in Canada.
The base 450+ will get you from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds with its single-motor 355 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque. I did get to spend one day with this beauty in Los Angeles in the Fall and I will say the power is completely adequate and I didn’t feel like I was missing out over the 580 I’ve had here at home this past week.
The 450+ and 450 4MATIC do not come with the Hyperscreen, but with a 12.3” digital driver information screen and 12.8” OLED Media touchscreen.
The base Premium trim includes Burmester sound system, heated and ventilated front seats, a power 2nd row, panorama fixed-glass roof and a lot of advanced driver assist features and keyless-go seamless door handles.
The Exclusive trim adds massaging front seats, front-cabin gesture control and four-zone climate control with fragrance and an ionizing purifier. My test model came with the Mood Mimosa scent and I loved it, not too sweet or strong, but a slight fresh zesty scent.
The Pinnacle trim adds an executive rear seating package with a luxury armrest, wireless charging and docking MBUX (Android) tablet. It also adds heated second row seats and rear side-impact airbags.
The available third row will set you back USD $1250 (CAD $2400) and adds two seats. You can even add a third-row heated seats option for USD $360.
- Even the rear doors are beautiful in Biscaya Blue / Black interior combination with wood trim. Photo: Connie Peters
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV450 4MATIC
The 450 4MATIC starts at $107,400 (CAD $136k). If you live in a climate with four seasons, or like to tackle rougher terrain occasionally, you will want to step up to the 450 4MATIC, which is a dual-motor all-wheel drive. This one gets you the same amount of range at 285 miles or 450 km..
The increase in power meaning two motors gets you the same horsepower but a little more get-up-and-go with 590 lb-ft of torque.
The Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle trims are the same from the 450+ as is the third row option.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4MATIC:
The more powerful 580 4MATIC is also all-wheel drive, but gets significantly more oomph with 536 horsepower and 633 lb-ft of torque getting you to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. This is the model I have and can tell you you it feels smooth, quiet and incredibly quick.
I Rave About EVs all the Time, and This One is Exceptional
Electric range is still 285 Miles or 450 km on the EQS 580 4MATIC.
The interior luxury is all still here, and this is the model with the standard Hyperscreen. I enjoy the futuristic technology of the Hyperscreen and additional power so this is the model of the EQS SUV that I would choose, if I had a near-$200 budget for a family EV.
But I also love the quality of the interior materials, how they feel and how they make me feel!
Related: Charging an Electric Car is as Easy as 1, 2, 3
But What About Passengers?
The rear of the EQS is so luxurious that I would love to have been driven around all week in this, even though I love driving.
My test model had the Premium Rear and Rear Entertainment packages, so we had the luxury center console with removable tablet, screens, pillows, reclining seats, four zone climate control, and extremely comfortable leather seats too.
There’s also no lack of tech and connectivity here with 2 USB-C charging ports, a 12-volt and a household plug.
One of my favorite luxury features is a panoramic sunroof and the EQS rear passengers get their very own rear fixed glass sunroof with power shade. This always increases the light coming into a dark-interior car like this one and I am loving it.
The rear seat has a 40/20/40 fold, which is so handy if you have a couple of passengers in the back but you want to carry skis, etc. There are two sets of latch connectors and three top tether anchors.
It’s the Most Expensive Electric SUV
It’s the most expensive electric SUV you can buy based on its starting price, and that is a lot to consider. But the highs were very high in the EQS SUV and if you’re in the price range, you would be wise to check it out.
I will say that you can take me back to the scent of Mood: Mimosa anytime, and I’ll think of being on a sunny patio somewhere sipping pineapple mimosas. And I’ll also think fondly of my excellent time spent with the EQS SUV. Watch my YouTube video here.
Disclosure: Mercedes-Benz provided the EQS 580 for me to test. All opinions are my own.
