2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

　　

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a fully electric midsize crossover SUV that slots between the smaller EQB and larger EQS SUV. It has two rows of seats for up to five passengers and a luxurious interior to match its futuristic battery-powered drivetrain, which comes in single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive flavors. 

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV EV Insights

Trim:EQE SUV EQE 350 4MATIC

　　EQE 350 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $77,900 MSRPEQE 350+ 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $77,900 MSRPEQE 500 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $89,500 MSRP

　　

Range

　　253 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 215 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　No charging time information available

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: This program is a charging agreement between Mercedes-Benz USA and Electrify America. Customers who purchase or lease a new Mercedes-EQ model will receive 2 years of complimentary 30-minute DC fast charging on the Electrify America network. Complimentary charging expires 2 years from the initial activation. To take advantage of this benefit, customers must be registered with Mercedes me Charge. Offer is non-transferable and only valid to first owners or lessees. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$89/mo

　　EQE SUV

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The EQE SUV checks a lot of boxes for U.S. consumers shopping for an all-electric vehicle. It offers enough space for families, respectable driving range, a luxurious cabin, and plenty of the latest technology and driver assist features. Sharing many components with the EQE and EQS sedans, the EQE SUV enters a growing class of premium all-electric SUVs that also includes the Audi e-tron, BMW iX, Lexus RZ 450e and Tesla Model Y.

　　The EQE SUV can cover up to 279 miles on a single charge, depending on which drivetrain you choose. Mercedes says it can also go from 10% to 80% battery life in 32 minutes at a DC fast-charging station. Drivetrain options are numerous, with a 288-horsepower single-motor rear-wheel-drive EQE 350+ serving as the base model and a 402-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive EQE 500 4Matic topping the range — at least until the 614-hp AMG EQE SUV arrives for the 2024 model year.  

　　On the outside, the EQE SUV might look a tad frumpy, but inside there's a lot to like. Mercedes' use of soft materials and impressive build quality is on full display, and the available dashboard-wide Hyperscreen infotainment system is a sight to behold, though it might be a bit much for some. But even the standard 12.8-inch OLED center touchscreen is no slouch, running Mercedes' easy-to-use MBUX system. Ride quality is another highlight, and the EQE SUV's smooth ride is further enhanced by its silent-running electric drivetrain. If you want a midsize battery-electric sport-ute that will pamper you, the EQE SUV should be on your list.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the EQE SUV drive? Our test vehicle was an EQE 350+ SUV  fitted with the optional rear-wheel steering. With this option, the EQE SUV is supremely easy to maneuver in tight spots and make U-turns in. This system, coupled with smooth and responsive propulsion, makes the EQE SUV ideal for city commuting.

　　At our test track, our 350+ accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. That's adequate speed for routine driving, but you'll for sure want to get the EQE 500 SUV for a sportier experience. We also found the brake pedal's action to be odd and hard to get used to. Handling around turns is stable but not particularly inspiring.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the EQE SUV? The Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV's front seats are comfortable, though the seat heating and cooling functions are a little slow to get going. We also found the cushioning of the rear seats to be somewhat uncomfortable. On the upside, the vehicle has a pretty smooth ride, especially if you opt for the optional adaptive air suspension. It's also very quiet.

　　The vehicle's climate control system could be better. While it has robust cooling power, we found some quirks to be annoying, such as how the system will blow very warm air before transitioning to cold. The air recirculate button, hidden in the screen's air quality menu, can be initially tricky to locate too.

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