Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV

First Impressions

I spent about a week and a half with the Mercedes EQS SUV, and my overriding impression is that this is a vehicle laser-focused on one thing: luxury comfort. It does that one thing spectacularly well. But everything else, from the software experience to the driving dynamics, left me wanting more.

In white, honestly, it looks like a giant egg. It's a big vehicle with a long wheelbase and a smooth, aerodynamic shape that prioritises function over dramatic styling. The flush door handles are a nice touch, and the doors themselves have a seriously satisfying heavy thunk when you close them.

Design and Exterior

The exterior is clean but not particularly exciting. That enormous hood doesn't open at all, which means no front trunk. Instead, there's a quirky little flap near the front where you pour in windshield wiper fluid. It's amusing and a bit odd at the same time.

Around back, you pop the tailgate by pressing the Mercedes logo. With the two-row configuration, there's genuinely impressive cargo space plus a small sub-trunk underneath. It's practical, just don't expect any storage up front.

Interior and Tech

This is where the EQS SUV shines brightest and frustrates the most, sometimes simultaneously. The Hyperscreen setup looks dramatic but it's actually three separate displays behind one flat sheet of glass. Materials are top-shelf: Alcantara, leather, wet carbon fibre, and solid metal switches. The massaging front seats are wonderful, and the rear seats are absurdly comfortable with some of the softest headrests I've ever felt.

The Burmester sound system is outstanding. Genuinely one of the best audio experiences I've had in a car. There are also brilliant little touches, like the notification that reminds you not to leave your phone on the wireless charger when you exit.

But the infotainment is a maze. There are a thousand features buried in endless sub-menus with a UI that isn't particularly attractive or intuitive. Want to change one car setting while using Android Auto? That's three taps just to get to the right screen. And all climate controls live exclusively on the touchscreen, which gets smeared with fingerprints almost immediately. A few physical switches for fan speed and heated seats would have been a huge improvement.

Driving Experience

The ride is impossibly smooth and quiet. Acoustic isolation is superb, and the air suspension keeps things soft, just barely on the right side of floaty. The 10-degree rear-wheel steering is a revelation in tight spaces; this massive SUV turns tighter than you'd ever expect.

Straight-line performance is strong. Floor it and the acceleration is genuinely impressive, pulling hard and relentlessly. But raw power isn't the same as sportiness. There's no eagerness through corners, no feedback through the steering. This is a comfortable cruiser, full stop.

And then there's the brake pedal situation. In any regenerative braking mode, the brake pedal physically moves away from your foot as regen engages. So when you go to press the brake, it's not where you left it. In intelligent mode, which adjusts regen based on traffic around you, the pedal is constantly shifting. I found myself using three different levels of pressure just to come to a smooth stop. Mercedes confirmed this is intentional. I genuinely dislike it.

Value for Money

There's no question you're getting an enormous amount of luxury hardware and software capability. The build quality is impeccable, the materials are premium, and the feature list is staggering. But compared to rivals like the BMW iX, the user experience around the infotainment and driving dynamics falls short. If you're cross-shopping in this segment, make sure comfort is truly your number one priority.

Final Verdict

The EQS SUV is a masterclass in luxury comfort and acoustic refinement. If your ideal driving experience is being quietly and smoothly transported in supreme opulence, this delivers. But if you care about intuitive tech, engaging driving dynamics, or a brake pedal that stays where you put it, this one isn't for you. It wasn't for me, but I can absolutely see who it's built for.