2024 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-EQ EQS

Whenever there’s a Mercedes-EQ in the name, that signifies an electric vehicle (EV) from Mercedes-Benz. And when there’s an S in the name, that means the height of luxury. Think of the archetypal S-Class flagship sedan, ditch hydrocarbons in favor of electrons, and the result is the EQS sedan. The EQS sedan debuted for 2022, so everything still feels fresh and cutting-edge, or still wonderfully cushioned. Even so, Mercedes-Benz has made several improvements this year.

What’s New for 2024

The most visible update is that the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) Hyperscreen, which runs almost the full width of the dashboard, is now standard in every 2024 EQS sedan. Rear passengers gain heated, power-adjustable seats with extendable lower cushions, an armrest that includes wireless phone charging, and side airbags. The cabin’s standard ambient lighting takes on an active dimension — when there’s a potential hazard, it will flash red. The charge port flap is now power-operated, while a 110/240-volt charging cable becomes standard. The EQS 580 4Matic gains fine Nappa leather upholstery, plus multi-contour/massaging/rapid-heating front seats.

Available equipment now includes a head-up display with Augmented Reality for every variant, an updated rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headsets, plus a rear Energizing Comfort package. There are 10 more exterior paint choices, including seven from the high-end Manufaktur personalization program. A Manufaktur Nappa leather package becomes available, along with a Norwegian Maple wood trim.

Under the skin, Mercedes-Benz has boosted outputs. The EQS 450+ gains 26 horsepower, for a total of 355 horsepower, while the EQS 580 jumps from 516 to 536 horsepower. Both drivetrains get an imperceptible 2 lb-ft bump in torque as well. Range is also improved ever so slightly. The EQS 450+ adds two miles to its previous 350-mile maximum, and the EQS 580 4Matic can go a further five miles beyond last year’s 340.

The company has installed a heat pump as standard (which scavenges heat from the drivetrain to warm the cabin, easing the burden on the battery) and added an automatic disconnect/connect function for the front motors in all-wheel-drive systems — thereby improving efficiency. Additionally, the braking system’s energy regeneration feature has been overhauled to bring a more natural feel to the pedal.

The EQS 450+ now comes with 355 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque, enabling a standstill-to-60 mph time of about 5.4 seconds. That’s fast enough for any luxury sedan, and only a tenth off the BMW i7 eDrive50, which has 449 horsepower. The 536-horsepower EQS 580 4Matic does the dash in under four seconds. Or the breathtaking AMG puts 649 horsepower to the ground, with 60 mph coming up in just three seconds. Electric motors are especially good at making power and creating thrust, so this category of high-powered luxury cars is full of impressive performance indicators. Nevertheless, to experience this silent rush in something like the EQS still feels incredibly special. An adaptive air suspension is standard, along with rear-wheel steering. So the EQS flows over bumps and pours itself around corners. We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say the EQS drives beautifully.

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

Range and Charging

We’ve found that official range figures actually translate to real-world driving. It is actually possible to get 352 miles out of the EQS 450+, while the all-wheel-drive version is only 10 miles short. The EQS 350 4Matic achieves a maximum range of 345 miles, and the EQS AMG is expected to cover about 277 miles before a full recharge. For comparison, the BMW i7’s best is 321 miles, the Lucid Air claims a remarkable 516 miles, and the Tesla Model S has a maximum of 405 miles.

On a DC fast charger, the battery in an EQS can go from 10% to 80% capacity in 31 minutes. That’s pretty good considering the gain in range that represents.

Luxury meets technology in the 2024 EQS. The interior shuns the bare-bones Tesla approach of nothing but a big central display. This year sees the wide and high-resolution MBUX Hyperscreen 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. Comfort levels are high, of course, from the seat cushions to the pillow-like headrests. There’s plenty of space up front, which is where tall passengers should be angling to sit. The sloping roof compromises rear headroom, although we’ve found rear legroom quite acceptable. There isn’t a conventional trunk, but a hatchback, so there’s quite a bit of cargo space and versatility.

We get the feeling that even if the EQS sedan didn’t have to be especially aerodynamic, Mercedes-Benz would have made it look sleek anyway. We also think the proportions are pretty much perfect.

Augmented Reality
This is a cool addition to the navigation system, superimposing things like street names on the screen, or direction arrows to make life easier. 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
This is one of the many driver assistance features that come in every EQS. It’s a self-parking feature for parallel and perpendicular spaces, and includes a 360-degree camera system.

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

Executive Rear Seat Package Plus
For the full rear passenger luxury experience, this optional bundle brings heated rear seats, with heat for the neck and shoulders, a massaging function, and a tablet linked to the infotainment system.

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

The EQS has a 108.4-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. The most efficient models in the lineup deliver around 100 MPGe, the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon according to EPA formulas. For reference, the Porsche Taycan tops out closer to 80 MPGe, while the exceptionally efficient Lucid Air is rated for up to 140 MPGe — about as good as it gets in any electric vehicle.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Mercedes-Benz has new-vehicle coverage that’s typical for German luxury marques, with a warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. The electric components fare better, 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 did earn a maximum overall score of five stars from the Euro NCAP program. The array of standard driver assistance features in the EQS covers just about everything.