Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV

First Impressions

Walking up to the EQS SUV for the first time, you immediately feel its presence. This thing is massive — over 5.1 metres long with a wheelbase stretching to 3,210 mm, which is longer than even a BMW X7. It commands road presence in a way the EQS sedan never quite managed.

What struck me most is that this feels like the car Mercedes should have led with. The EQS sedan always felt like a compromise — too sporty for luxury buyers, not spacious enough for S-Class expectations. The SUV body fixes all of that in one stroke.

Design and Exterior

The smooth, rounded aerodynamic design carries over from the EQS sedan family, and honestly it works better in SUV form. The black panel grille with its starfield pattern looks more imposing at this height, and those triple-eyebrow DRL accents add genuine aggression. The Digital Light headlamps are the best in the business — 2.6 million pixels of resolution that can selectively illuminate road signs while blanking out oncoming traffic.

The light bar tail lamps stretching across the rear with their ribbed pattern look elegant. Fixed side steps help with ingress and egress given the 1,718 mm height, though I wish they had the Maybach's electrically extending ones. The 22-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels look fantastic but are going to be a nightmare to keep clean.

Interior and Tech

The Hyperscreen remains one of the most jaw-dropping pieces of automotive technology available. That 141 cm continuous display surface running across the entire dashboard never gets old. What I appreciate most is the zero-layer menu philosophy — climate controls, music, navigation are all accessible without diving into sub-menus. It makes the massive screen actually functional rather than just flashy.

Apple CarPlay on this screen is something else entirely. Album art and navigation maps displayed at this scale with this resolution genuinely feels premium. The Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos support is exceptional — I would strongly encourage anyone to experience it firsthand because it is one of the best in-car audio setups I have encountered.

Four-zone climate control, rear entertainment screens on both sides, a tablet controller in the rear centre armrest, massage and ventilated front seats — they have essentially transplanted S-Class equipment wholesale into this car.

Rear Passenger Experience

This is where the EQS SUV truly redeems the EQS nameplate. The second row is transformed compared to the sedan — headroom is no longer an issue, legroom is generous with the electrically adjustable seat position, and the ride quality from back here is sublime. With the seats reclined and that pillow headrest, long-distance comfort honestly approaches S-Class levels.

The third row exists and has its own USB-C ports, cupholders, and dedicated climate vents at the C-pillar. But let me be honest — it is really only suitable for children or very petite adults. Access requires climbing past a folded second row, and space is tight. Most owners will keep it folded flat for the 645-litre cargo area.

Driving Experience

The dual-motor setup produces 360 horsepower and a massive 800 Nm of torque. It is not supercar fast, but it is effortlessly quick — overtaking is instant and decisive. The synthesised sound experience adds a sci-fi character that I genuinely enjoyed.

The real star is the AIRMATIC air suspension. Despite the 22-inch wheels, it absorbs expansion joints and rough surfaces with a composure that I would honestly compare to the S-Class. Cabin isolation is remarkable — heavy trucks passing by register only as visual events. The rear-axle steering makes this enormous SUV surprisingly manageable in tight spaces, shrinking the turning circle dramatically. The off-road mode exists but realistically, this is a luxury cruiser that happens to sit higher.

Range and Charging

The 118 kWh battery is the largest you will find in any EV currently available. Real-world efficiency from Mercedes-EQ vehicles has consistently been impressive, and the claimed range should translate to genuine worry-free long-distance driving. DC fast charging tops out at 200 kW, which is respectable. AC charging at 11 kW means a near-empty to full charge takes about 11 hours — plan on overnight home charging with this battery size.

The 10-year or 250,000 km battery warranty is among the most generous in the luxury EV segment, which adds meaningful peace of mind for long-term ownership.

Final Verdict

The EQS SUV is the car that makes the EQS name finally make sense. Where the sedan felt like a compromised S-Class, this SUV delivers genuine luxury-grade comfort, enormous interior space, cutting-edge technology, and enough range to eliminate charging anxiety. It has no direct full-size luxury electric SUV competitor right now, which makes its positioning particularly compelling.

If you want a premium electric family hauler that pampers like an S-Class and intimidates like a full-size SUV, this is your car. Just accept that the third row is for kids and that you will spend more time than you would like cleaning those gorgeous wheels.