2025 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-EQ EQS

Think of a prime example of a large luxury sedan, and it’s a pretty safe bet it’ll be a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Now, think of an S-Class with an all-electric drivetrain, and that’s the EQS. The body isn’t exactly the same — there’s more of a nod to aerodynamic efficiency, creating a slightly different look. And anyway, why shouldn’t this vehicle have its own identity? Even so, many luxury and tech features that make the S-Class so sublime and successful can be found in the EQS — like fine cabin materials, exemplary fit and finish, attention to the smallest details, and high-resolution displays. The EQS is a Mercedes-Benz through and through. It just doesn’t have a gas tank.

The Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury electric cars, including the Mercedes-EQ EQS.

A more capacious battery is installed, which should result in better ranges for each variant. The front end receives a mild restyle, and the interior gains a few upgrades, along with the option of even greater luxury for rear passengers. The braking system has also been improved for greater energy regeneration and better pedal feel (a welcome improvement).

On-Sale Date

We anticipate the 2025 EQS reaching dealerships in the second half of 2024.

The BMW i7 (which we also like a lot) starts in the same region as the EQS. The Lucid Air and Tesla Model S both begin closer to $70K.

Before buying a new EQS luxury electric sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to determine the correct price. Resale values are above the class average, and recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Big power numbers and fast acceleration times are expected with electric vehicles, especially from a company like Mercedes-Benz. The goods have been delivered. The 450 4Matic (the most popular EQS variant) channels its 355 horsepower and considerable 590 lb-ft of torque to zap from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. It’s possible to go faster in the pricier 580 4Matic (4.1 seconds) or AMG EQS 53 (three seconds flat), but we’re happy to live with the 450 4Matic’s performance — which is still remarkable for a large luxury sedan. To experience this silent rush in something like the EQS still feels incredibly special.

Beyond a certain level of performance, these things become academic. For those who want more details, though, the slowest Tesla Model S is around a couple of seconds quicker than the 450 4Matic. The equivalent Lucid Air Pure has almost a one-second advantage, as does the BMW i7 xDrive60.

The EQS comes standard with adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering that enhance agility and maneuverability. The car flows over bumps and pours itself around corners, and we don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it drives beautifully.

This year, Mercedes-Benz has given extra attention to the regenerative braking system. It recovers more energy than before, contributing to a better range and a more natural feel to the brake pedal.

Luxury meets technology in the 2025 EQS. The interior shuns the bare-bones Tesla approach of nothing but a big central display. The wide and high-resolution MBUX Hyperscreen is fitted as standard in every model. Behind the glass is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch OLED infotainment touchscreen, plus a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. Most functions can also be controlled by voice commands, even things like activating the (optional) massaging front seats.

Of course, comfort levels are high, from the seat cushions to the pillow-like headrests. Incidentally, these latter items gain contrasting stitching and Nappa leather piping this year.

There’s plenty of space up front, where tall passengers should be angling to sit. The sloping roof compromises rear headroom, although we’ve found rear legroom quite acceptable. The standard power-adjustable rear seats can recline from 27 to 38 degrees, and a little extra foam goes into the backrest this year. A new development for the 2025 EQS is the Executive Interior package for the top Pinnacle trim, bringing rapid heating for the rear seats, pneumatic adjustment of those seats’ lower cushions, plus a front passenger seat that goes far forward and tilts, maximizing space for one rear occupant. Other minor interior additions are chrome accents on the middle pillars’ vents.

The EQS has a hatchback instead of a conventional trunk, so there’s quite a bit of cargo space and versatility.

There is no grille as such, this being an electric car without the need for a radiator. But Mercedes-Benz has decided to make the 2025 EQS look more like the gasoline-powered S-Class with a kind of slatted look to the nose, plus a 3-pointed badge standing proud just above it. Overall, even if the EQS sedan didn’t have to be especially aerodynamic, we reckon the company would have chosen to go sleek anyway. We also think the proportions are pretty much perfect.

Augmented Reality
AR is a cool addition to the navigation system, superimposing things like street names on the screen or direction arrows to make life easier. We’ve used it, and it works well. And it’s standard.

Burmester audio
Both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have been using Burmester systems for years. That’s because they’re truly excellent. The EQS has one as standard.

Active Parking Assist
It’s a self-parking feature for parallel and perpendicular spaces and includes a 360-degree camera system. It’s one of the many driver assistance features in every EQS.

Fingerprint sensor
Owners can store up to seven user profiles, each activated by this form of biometric authentication. Sure, we think it’s a bit of a gimmick, but it’s also kind of cool and futuristic.

Pre-Safe Impulse Side
We’re using this as an indication of how much innovation and ingenuity go into a Mercedes-Benz. If a side impact is imminent, this feature inflates the corresponding front seat bolster to move the occupant a little further away and supply extra cushioning. It is another piece of standard equipment in the EQS.

AMG Dynamic Plus package
As if the straight-ahead AMG EQS 53 wasn’t already sufficiently muscular with 649 horsepower, power-crazy types can opt for this package to bask in a massive 715 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque.

When we say Mercedes-Benz has fitted a bigger battery to the 2025 EQS luxury sedan, we mean it has greater capacity, which will have a positive impact on range. The company has yet to supply any estimates, but we think there could be an improvement of 10% — which puts the longest range in the region of 385 miles, achieved by the rear-drive 450+ model. The 450 4Matic and 580 4Matic (both with all-wheel drive) might be capable of 375 miles, while the AMG EQS 53 could reach 300 miles. For some context, the Lucid Air’s maximum is a remarkable 516 miles, while the Tesla Model S is rated at 402 miles. The BMW i7 xDrive 60 (comparable to the 450 4Matic) manages 317 miles.

We can say with reasonable certainty that the quoted ranges of the 2025 EQS will be possible in real-life driving. We’ve noticed this with Mercedes-Benz all-electric vehicles. It takes about 31 minutes to go from 10% to 80% using a DC fast charger, which is good, especially considering the amount of range that represents.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Mercedes-Benz has typical new-vehicle coverage for German luxury marques, with a warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Electric components fare better and are protected for 10 years or 155,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The EQS has not been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, which is quite common with ultra-luxury vehicles. However, it earned a maximum overall score of five stars in the Euro NCAP program. The array of standard driver assistance features in the EQS covers just about everything.