Everything you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz EQS
Welcome to our 'Complete Guide' series in which Chris from the Digital Team discovers everything you need to know about owning one of our featured cars.
This week Chris joins Tim and Alister from the multimedia team to explore Liverpool with the all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS. Find out more with our Inchcape guide to the EQS and why it might be the perfect luxury electric car.
Introducing The Mercedes-Benz EQS
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the first all-electric luxury saloon to join the Mercedes-EQ family. It combines technology, design, connectivity, and luxury.
This ground-breaking car is packed with features and highlights such as being the most aerodynamic production car in the world, artificial intelligence, rear axle steering, DIGITAL LIGHT, DRIVE PILOT, hyper screen interior and advanced next generation electric motors and battery technology.
The EQS is a milestone for Mercedes’ plan to have a climate-neutral new car fleet to minimize its impact on the planet. One way Mercedes plans to achieve this is by using more recycled or renewable materials and the EQS uses over 80kg of renewable materials. In addition when charging from the Mercedes Me Charge app the energy is 100% renewable, the batteries can support a second life once the car is no longer needed and the factory the EQS is manufactured in has 12,000 photovoltaic solar panels which provides 30% of the factory’s energy usage.
Discover the EQS in more detail in our guide or click to view the EQS model page.
Living With An EQS
Despite being a close relative of the S-Class, the EQS is built on an all-new and all-electric platform which allowed the designers to give the EQS a completely different look to the S-Class. It features a one-bow design with a cabin-forward look which helps enhance interior space and aerodynamics, as well as giving a coupe-like silhouette. This stylish silhouette is further enhanced with the frameless doors, the high beltline and limited joins, which all contribute to Mercedes' intention to create 'sensual purity’. The sculptured design is completed with striking daytime running lights made up of three light dots and the familiar EQ light bar at the rear which features a curved 3D helix.
Specifying the AMG Line trim or choosing one of the EQS 53 AMG models adds AMG sporting touches such as AMG alloy wheels, front sports bumper, rear diffuser and sporty finishes inside.
Whichever trim you choose the smooth design of the EQS means it is the most aerodynamic production car in the world which increases range and refinement. Low drag combined with the latest generation battery technology with higher energy density and advanced electric motors with a power output of up to 658hp allow for a range of up to 450 miles and acceleration from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds.
The interior of the EQS is as stunning as the exterior design, packed with technology, style and luxury, you instantly recognise it as the interior of one of the flagship models in the Mercedes-Benz range.
As standard the EQS comes with the large central touchscreen from the S-Class which in itself is a technological masterpiece, however if you choose the optional 55” Hyper screen panel the interior is transformed. It features three digital displays which stretch across the entire dashboard under a single piece of glass which provide a ‘wow’ factor like no other car interior. Over time it can learn the driver’s preferences and what information they need and when, to make life easier.
The entire cabin is beautiful with metal accents, classy materials and finishes, ambient lighting, soft leather, and turbine air vents. It is a place you look forward to spending time in.
The EQS is all about making life safer and easier with over 350 sensors measuring your attention, what you’re touching or looking at. For example, if you want to adjust a mirror all you do is look at it and use the adjustment toggle and the correct mirror will move.
Jumping into the EQS it felt like second nature to drive, being incredibly smooth and easy to judge the input needed for the controls. The radars are constantly aware of the road and traffic so adapt the brake regeneration as needed which allows you to drive with one pedal barely ever needing to use the physical brakes. You leave the EQS feeling more refreshed than you did when you first started your drive.
The electric drivetrain of the EQS is one of its many defining features and adds another level of class to the luxury experience due to the smoothness and refinement it creates whilst also ensuring that there is always enough power for whatever the driving situation. This combined with the AIRMATIC air suspension which constantly adjusts to the road conditions and driving style, is adjustable for each wheel to isolate road imperfections and ensures a relaxing ambience in the cabin. The EQS is not solely set up for comfort however, as soon as you drive more enthusiastically or set the driving mode to Sport the suspension, steering and electric motors sharpen up to reward the driver.
The standard rear axle steering can turn the wheels up to 4.5° and in the future an over the air update will allow for steering up to 10°. The system’s impact can be clearly felt when driving the EQS as it enables a turning circle of just 10.9 metres which gives the EQS a turning circle of a much smaller car and means the EQS is very manoeuvrable. At low speeds the wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to make the car more agile whilst at higher speeds the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels to provide extra stability and a dynamic feel.
The EQS 450 we drove can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds and the instant torque available makes it feel even quicker. The 53 AMG variant can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds.
Experience the EQS for yourself by arranging a test drive at Inchcape Mercedes-Benz.
Driving Modes
Using DYNAMIC SELECT the characteristics of the powertrain, ESP, suspension and steering can be adapted. The EQS defaults to comfort which provides a balanced feel which prioritises luxury, but there is also sport which maximises performance, eco which maximises range and individual which lets you configure the different elements of the car. Once a selection has been made there is acoustic and visual feedback.
Learn more about DYNAMIC SELECT in Inchcape's guide.
EQS Trim Levels
The EQS comes in desirable AMG Line as standard.
Standard equipment includes:
- AMG Body Styling
- 20" AMG Aero Alloy Wheels
- Rear Axle Steering
- Keyless-Go
- 12.3" Driver's Display and 12.8" Central Display
- Driving Assistance Pack
- Privacy Glass
AMG Line Premium adds a range of luxury touches.
Standard equipment in addition includes:
- 21" AMG Aero Alloy Wheels
- Digital Light with Light Band
- Driving Assistance Plus Pack
- 360 Camera
- Burmester Sound System
- Active Ambient Lighting
AMG Line Premium Plus is the ultimate AMG Trim EQS.
Standard equipment in addition includes:
- 21" AMG Aero Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels
- Head-Up Display
- MBUX Interior Assistant
- Remote Parking Function
Luxury trim blends ultimate luxury with innovative technology.
Standard equipment in addition includes:
- 22" Alloy Wheels With High Sheen Finish
- Electric Art Exterior Body Styling
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Comfort Front Head Rests
- Comfort Seats
- Acoustic Privacy Glass
- Shipdeck Wood Trim
The pinnacle of the EQS range.
Standard equipment in addition includes:
- Nappa Upholstery
- Seat Climate Control
- Air Balance Package
- Multi-Contour Seats
- Energizing Coach
Charging Process
No you don’t, in fact the quickest charging happens between 10 and 80%, so frequent top ups within this range can be more convenient and preserve battery health.
Fully charging the battery will however give you the maximum range for longer journeys. The battery is designed to last the lifetime of the car even with frequent charges outside of the 10-80% range.
The EQS can be charged from 10-80% capacity in just 31 minutes using a 200kw rapid charger.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
To charge the EQS you simply open the charging port which is located under a flap like a fuel cap on the rear panel of the car.
Then either use the charging cable supplied with the car or the charging cable attached to the charging station and insert the cable into the car. Follow the instructions on the charging station such as payment instructions and confirmation, then check the car is charging by ensuring the charging icon led has turned green.
Lock the car and leave it to charge. When returning simply unlock the car and use the unlock button next to the charging port to remove the cable. If the cable belongs to the car return to the boot.
If you use Mercedes Me Charge you simply plug in and the car charges and the energy is 100% renewable. You can use Mercedes Me Charge for free for the first year of ownership and this provides access to over 500,000 charging points.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
The fastest charging takes place between 10-80% battery capacity, outside of these charging is slower to protect the battery. Other factors also affect the charging rate such as – temperature (colder temperatures slow charging rate), the charging rate and the size of the battery. The EQS supports rapid charging up to 200kW.
Charging from 0% to 100% can take:
• At home with a 3-pin plug, 52 hours to charge, giving 8 miles per hour charged.
• Home wallbox, 33 hours, 13 miles per hour charged.
• 7kW Public charger, 17 hours, 25 miles per hour charged.
• 22kW Public charger, 11 hours, 39 miles per hour charged.
From 20%-80%:
• 50kW Public charger, 90 minutes, 89 miles per 30 minutes charged.
• 150kW Public charger, 30 minutes, 268 miles per 30 minutes charged.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
At home to work out how much it will cost to charge your car, check the battery’s capacity and your electricity rate. For the EQS, the battery is 107.8kwh and for myself 20p per kwh. Over a 50 mile journey the EQS would cost 6p per mile in energy costs whereas a petrol S-Class would cost 24.4p per mile.
It is more likely that EQS users will take advantage of rapid charging. At a public charger the costs can vary. Some are free for customers such as Pod-Points at Tesco. Whereas others can cost money, using apps such as Pod-Point and Zap-Map you can see nearby chargers, if they are available and how much they cost. Quite a common cost for public chargers was 30p per kWh or a flat rate connection fee often around £1 then free after. The rapid chargers I found at service stations also cost around 30p per kWh which whilst costing more than at home is much quicker to charge and still costs less than running a combustion engine car.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
The EQS can be charged using a Type 2 connector or a CSS connector for rapid charging up to 200kw.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
It may not be possible to have a home charger installed at home due to reasons such as not having off-road parking, renting or having parking not close enough to your home.
In these situations, it is still possible to run an electric car. In fact, with cars that support rapid charging it may be more beneficial to use a rapid charger once a week to keep the battery topped whilst not inconveniencing the driver. It is most convenient to charge an electric car where it is parked (which is almost 95% of the time for a car), using chargepoints at these locations. For most people this is at home, but other frequent destinations may also have chargepoints such as work, shopping centres and leisure centres. Then less frequent longer journeys can benefit from on-route rapid chargers found at service stations.
Workplace charging and charging as part of a commute such as at a train station car park, in more normal times in particular serves as a good opportunity for people who cannot charge at home. As people often spend over 8 hours at work which is plenty of time to charge the car and most people’s commutes are less than 30 miles. I know that with my commute of 20 miles, I could commute every day of the week in the EQS and only have to completely charge the car once every three to four weeks.
Click below to discover the entire Mercedes-Benz electric and hybrid range.
Electric Drivetrain Technology
The EQS features intelligent recuperation which can detect vehicles ahead slowing down, predict traffic situations and uses topography to capture as much energy as possible via recuperation without hindering the driving experience. The EQS can capture up to 290kW via recuperation and this allows for one pedal driving, although the driver can change the amount of recuperation from one pedal driving to a gliding function.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
The battery in the EQS is manufactured in a carbon neutral manner with materials only from certified miners which helps minimise damage to the environment during the manufacturing stage.
During the EQS’ life cycle the battery supports over the air updates to ensure a continuous improvement in range, power, and longevity. Mercedes commitment to the long life of the battery is demonstrated by its ten-year warranty.
Even after use in the car, the batteries are designed to support a second life and serve an energy storage purpose to aid the grid during peak demand and to allow factories to start up without using any energy from the grid. Mercedes already has three large storage systems using old batteries with a total of 50 MWh of energy going into the German grid from old car batteries. Even after use in these storage facilities the batteries are designed to be able to be recycled to help prevent as much waste as possible.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
The EQS has an official range of up to 453 miles. When we drove the car it displayed a range of 430 miles, so with mixed driving and without adapting your driving style a range of over 400 miles should be realistic.
However, with the EQS supporting rapid charging at 200kW a recharge from 10-80% takes just 31 minutes which gives total convenience.
Purchase, Tax and Grants
The Mercedes EQS is eligible for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme grant which contributes £350 towards the cost of installing a wall box. The EQS also benefits from £0 road tax and £0 London congestion charge (although a £10 admin fee is still required each year).
Company car drivers benefit as well as the BIK value is 1% for 2021/22 at a value of £999. 2% for 2022/23 and 2023/24. Whereas, a Mercedes S-Class would have a BIK value of 37%, so the EQS offers big savings.
Click below to browse the latest Mercedes-Benz Business offers.
Technology
The navigation system of the EQS plans the fastest and most convenient route, taking into account charging stops, traffic and changes in driving style. The GPS can also work out the most efficient route to conserve range. The system can also inform the driver if there is enough battery capacity remaining to return to the original starting point, prioritise different charging points and estimate charging costs per charging stops.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL PLUS incorporates a range of filtration, sensors and displays into the air conditioning system to ensure high air quality in the EQS. The charcoal coated HEPA filter traps fine particles and pollen from entering the cabin as well as reducing sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and odours entering. The HEPA filter has the "OFI CERT" ZG 250-1 certification for preventing viruses and bacteria entering the interior. With pre-entry climate control, the EQS can clean the interior air before you get into the car, as well as the car being able to display the level of particulates inside and outside of the car. If the air quality is low outside then the EQS will recommend closing the windows or sliding sunroof.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
This advanced function enables guide markings or warning symbols to be projected onto the road via the 1.3 million micro-mirrors in each headlight which provide a resolution of more than 2.6 million pixels per car.
The lights also provide a recognisable lighting signature and adapt to the road conditions, other road users and driving style to provide maximum illumination.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
The EQS features a range of driver assistance systems. ATTENTION ASSIST analyses the driver’s eyelids to ensure the driver is not too tired, there are over 350 sensors in total. The EQS can even warn of a potential collision and intervene to help prevent it if required.
Should a collision take place the EQS has been designed to ensure the battery is crash-protected, plus due to the limited number of moving components the front of the car could be made stronger.Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
The optional hyper screen stretches over 141cm wide and covers 55”, consisting of three digital displays under a single piece of glass. It transforms the interior, providing a real ‘wow’ factor.
Powered by eight CPUs and 24gb of RAM, the screens have power comparable to an advanced home computer.
The artificial intelligence built into the system can learn your habits, such as the locations you drive to, people you call regularly and other details which you can pre-load to make everyday life with the EQS easier.
Get in touch today to learn more about the technology in the EQS.
Practicality
The EQS is built on an electric specific platform which means there is a lot of storage space around the interior, such as the large central storage bin in the centre console and under the front centre armrest.
In the rear there are large door bins, seatback pockets and a small storage area in the central armrest.
Opening the electric hatchback reveals a large 610 litre boot which increases to 1,770 litres when the seats are put down.
Discover the latest EQS offers at Inchcape Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz EQS Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is worthy of the S-Class model denotation due to the range of advanced features, style, luxury, quality, and refinement. It pushes the boundaries being the most aerodynamic production car, has one of the largest ranges of any electric production car and offers an experience like no other car.
The electric drivetrain of the EQS ensures it is one of the most refined and relaxing cars to drive, whilst DYNAMIC SELECT allows you to sharpen up the experience and enjoy your favourite roads. If you are looking for an electric luxury car which offers refinement, power and range you have to consider the EQS.
Enquire now for the latest offers, to ask any questions or to book a test drive.