All-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV launches in Europe

The EQS SUV from German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz has gone on sale in Europe, with the first models expected to be delivered to customers in December.

Mercedes-Benz launched the EQS SUV in April in a digital event showcasing the third electric vehicle (EV) to be built on the company’s dedicated EV architecture. Seating seven and offering a driving range of up to 660-kilometres (WLTP), the EQS SUV comes in three drive variants and three model types.

Distinct from the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan – which garnered unwanted headlines this week after the company was forced to issue a recall for 660 models in China due to potential faults – the EQS SUV is now available for order and will reach first customers in Europe in December.

With power output of 265kW for both the base model EQS 450+ and the second tier EQS 450 4MATIC, and up to 400kW for the top-of-the-line EQS 580 4MATIC, the EQS SUV delivers torque of 568Nm at the base model and up to 858Nm at the top end.

Charging time for AC is between 5 and 10 hours depending on power, while maximum DC charging at 200kW takes only 31 minutes to get from 10% to 80%.

Inside, the EQS offers plenty of space and comfort, with electrically adjusted seats in the second row as standard, and all rear seats fold flat to the floor.

A huge range of expensive extras are also available, including the MBUX Augmented Reality Head-up Display, a radiator grille with Mercedes-Benz pattern, MBUX Interior Assistant, Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, and sidebags in the rear.

Produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa in the United States in what the company describes as “a CO2-neutral manner”, those looking to get their hands on the SUV will have to lay down €110,658 (around $A162,000) for the base model EQS 450+, and up to €114,446 and €135,291 (around $A168,000 to $A199,000) respectively for the EQS 450 4MATIC and EQS 580 4MATIC.