Used 2023 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV

As luxury automakers get more serious about going electric, the Mercedes-EQ line has a new flagship SUV. It’s the Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV and we wouldn’t blame you if you’re a little confused by the name. There’s also an EQS Sedan, which rides on the same EV platform as this two- or three-row SUV.

The EQS SUV lineup is comprised of the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450+, the all-wheel-drive EQS 450 4Matic, and the more powerful EQS 580 4Matic.

What every EQS has in common is a luxurious interior loaded with futuristic tech features like a navigation system with augmented reality, a Dolby Atmos sound system with Burmester speakers, and the latest driver assistance features.

The 2023 EQS SUV comes from the Mercedes-Benz factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The lithium-ion batteries are built at a special facility in the same area.

The EQS SUV is entering the electric luxury SUV scene with few direct rivals. The closest would be the Tesla Model X and BMW iX.

We got to spend some time behind the wheel of the Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV in and around Denver, Colorado. We put this EV through its paces in city, highway, and mountain road driving, and we’re happy to report that it’s good at all three.

For starters, this SUV has a supremely quiet cabin. Even when a pack of Harley-Davidson motorcycles rode by, their characteristic roar was muffled to a subtle growl. Luxurious features like massaging seats, fragrances, and the Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos technology further add to the tranquility.

The ride is smooth and comfortable as you might expect from a luxury SUV in this price range, but the electric powertrain further enhances the experience. Even with the base EQS 450+ powertrain, this SUV has swift acceleration and pretty nimble handling thanks to standard 4-wheel steering turning the rear wheels up to 10 degrees.

However, it’s hard to get around the fact that electric vehicles are so much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts. Hitting the brakes at high speeds is a reminder of how heavy the EQS SUV is, but the brakes never feel inadequate.

Speaking of braking, there are four different settings for the regenerative braking system. Normal mode makes the EQS SUV feel much like a regular SUV (in a good way). Turning it off takes away the advantages of recapturing energy. Auto mode automatically adjusts how aggressive the regenerative braking system is. High mode provides enough deceleration that you don’t need to jump back and forth between the accelerator and brake pedals as often.

The drive gets more exciting with the dual-motor EQS 580. It turns up the performance with much more power and torque resulting in acceleration that throws you in the back of your seat when you floor it, especially in Sport mode. However, that doesn’t mean this large electric Mercedes SUV is hard to manage. It’s still easy and comfortable to drive.

The EQS 580 also comes with an off-road drive mode, which can provide up to nine inches of ground clearance thanks to the adjustable suspension. Features like hill-descent control and extra cameras add to the capability off-road. We took an EQS 580 on an off-road course and came away impressed with its capability and maneuverability, although the SUV was equipped with all-terrain tires you can’t get from the factory.

While the brand-new Mercedes EQS SUV doesn’t drive just like the more traditional, gasoline-powered Mercedes-Benz GLS, we feel this 7-seater has the range and capabilities to make it shine as a multi-seat electric SUV. Provided it fits in your budget, of course.

The Mercedes-EQ line continues to impress with top-notch interior quality. The material quality in the EQS SUV is outstanding. Everything you touch from the driver’s seat feels premium. The seats are supremely comfortable. The steering wheel has a nice heft, feeling luxurious without being too chunky. We also love the multi-color ambient interior lighting throughout the cabin, which looks especially cool while driving at night.

The standard infotainment system has a big, tablet-like screen loaded with features and joined by a customizable digital gauge cluster.

Technophiles will want to upgrade to the Hyperscreen, a 56-inch curved display housing three screens. It has an even bigger infotainment screen, which flows nicely into the digital gauge cluster and the passenger screen. That passenger screen has a learning curve, but once you figure it out, you can easily control audio, seat massaging functions, and more.

The available third row is tight. It’s best reserved as a just-in-case option. There’s a clever power-sliding function for the second row to gain access to the third row, but once you climb back there, there is very little legroom. Even small children would be cramped back there. That stated, we like how the 2-row 5-seat configuration makes for a roomy SUV with gobs of back-seat space and plenty of cargo room.

It’s easy for the GLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s regular large 3-row luxury SUV, to spring to mind. Think of the 2023 EQS SUV as similar to a GLS, but making concessions to aerodynamic efficiency. It’s a few inches shorter, about 4 inches less tall, and nearly 3 inches narrower. Clearly, it’s sculpted to be sleek, even under the body.

Where the grille would usually be is the Black Panel, which houses things like cameras, ultrasound sensors, and radar equipment. The door handles are flush, and the rear looks refreshingly simple and clean. Even the alloy wheels (20 or 21 inches) are optimized for aerodynamics — including the tires.

1. Hyperscreen
The available Hyperscreen is a massive 56-inch curved glass surface with three screens underneath. It has a digital gauge cluster, an intuitive center infotainment screen, and a passenger screen that can control audio, climate, and more.

2. Augmented reality
With this optional feature, arrows and street names are superimposed over a live view of the road to assist with navigation. You can even get augmented reality on the head-up display with graphics appearing right on the road in front of you.

3. 4-wheel steering
Standard rear-axle steering makes the Mercedes EQS SUV more maneuverable than most SUVs this size. The steering angle at the rear axle can vary either 4.5 degrees or 10 degrees, giving the EQS SUV added stability at highway speeds and the tight turning radius of a much smaller SUV around town.

4. Driver Assistance Package
This safety tech suite comes standard on the EQS SUV. It bundles a long list of driver assistance and safety tech features like Distronic adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and the Pre-Safe Plus system.

5. Dolby Atmos sound system
A Dolby Atmos 360-degree sound experience is programmed into the standard Burmester 3D audio system. It makes for movie theater-like audio that immerses the cabin in high-quality sound.

6. Airmatic air suspension
This standard air suspension comes with an active damping system. This improves on-road performance and comfort and enhances off-road capabilities.

There are two electric motor configurations available for the EQS SUV and they both use the same battery pack with the same estimated charging times. It’s a 108.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery pack, covered by a warranty of 10 years or 155,000 miles, whichever happens first. Charging the battery on a home system with a 240-volt supply takes 11.25 hours to go from 10% to 100%. A DC fast charger can move the meter from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes.

2023 Mercedes-EQ EQS 450+ and 450 4Matic

The standard electric powertrain in the EQS 450 has a single electric motor mounted at the rear wheels. The EQS 450+ has rear-wheel drive and delivers the best range. The EQS 450 4Matic has all-wheel drive.

108.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack
One electric motor
355 horsepower
419 lb-ft of torque
MPG equivalent: TBA
Range: Mercedes estimates 305 miles

2023 Mercedes-EQ EQS 580

The dual-motor EQE 580 turns up the performance with a dual-motor configuration and standard 4Matic AWD. The extra power and torque make the EQS SUV more exciting to drive, but driving with enthusiasm reduces range.

108.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery pack
Two electric motors
536 horsepower
633 lb-ft of torque
MPG equivalent: 79 city/74 highway/77 combined MPGe
Range: Mercedes estimates 285 miles