2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG EQS

　　

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　, rating written byDan FrioVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Mercedes-Benz debuted its new EQ line of electric vehicles, including the flagship EQS sedan, just last year. Like the name suggests, the EQS adopts the spirit of the S-Class sedan, with its luxury features, in-car tech and advanced driver aids, but combines it with an all-electric powertrain.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Mercedes-Benz EQS EV Insights

Trim:EQS AMG EQS

　　AMG EQS 4dr Sedan AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $147,550 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　332 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 282 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

　　12.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　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

　　$94/mo

　　EQS

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Car 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 EQS offers impressive range in its base and all-wheel-drive trims. The base trim's Recurrent beat the current Tesla Model S's EPA estimate of 405 miles, and does it with a more refined interior and cutting-edge tech. (In our testing, we've found Tesla models typically have real-world range results near, or just shy, of EPA estimates.) Even the high-performance EQS AMG version, which can produce thumping 751 horsepower in short bursts, is rated for nearly 280 miles on a full charge.

　　For 2023, Mercedes-Benz expands the EQS lineup with a new dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version of the base model trim, the EQS 450 4Matic. A few other new features trickle down from the S-Class and even the Mercedes-Maybach, such as adjustable rear seat overhead lighting, tablet gesture controls, and upgraded pillows, headrests, and slightly extended seat cushions. A new 20-inch AMG wheel design is also available.

　　The EQS stands as a solid choice for a luxury EV alongside other options such as the aforementioned Model S plus the Audi e-tron GT, all-new BMW i7 and Porsche Taycan. Read our Expert Rating below to learn if it's a good fit for you.

　　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

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the EQS AMG drive? This may be an AMG, but it's also a nearly three-ton sedan. Even with AMG's engineers working their magic, there's only so much you can do to hide the car's weight. On our test track, its braking and handling performance were no better than the EQS 580's. They were also worse than what we've seen from the Tesla Model S Plaid and some versions of the Porsche Taycan. In corners, the AMG EQS exhibits more body roll and brake dive than we would expect from a sport sedan of any ilk, and the steering doesn't offer much in the way of feedback. We do like the rear-axle steering, which helps the AMG EQS feel more nimble in tight corners and makes it easier to park by reducing the turning radius.

　　With a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, the AMG EQS isn't as quick as some of its rivals either, but there's more than enough power for real-world driving. The AMG EQS moves with verve at any speed, so passing on the highway is a breeze. The car isn't overly sensitive with either the accelerator or brake pedal, and we're happy that Mercedes offers one-pedal driving.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the EQS AMG? As you might expect from anything wearing a Mercedes-Benz emblem, the EQS is comfortable and quiet on the road even in AMG guise. The suspension is compliant enough to smooth out most bumps. We think it's on par with the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan in this respect, though the AMG EQS is still not quite as refined as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Helping comfort were our test vehicle's optional heated, ventilated and massaging front seats and heated and massaging rear seats. There's tons of adjustment for the bolsters, lumbar and more, and the padding is more than adequate for a long day of driving. There's minimal road and wind noise too.

　　The climate control is almost all touchscreen-based but is easier to use than most touchscreen interfaces. There's a screen that provides real-time air quality inside and outside of the cabin, which we found very cool even if it is a bit of a gimmick. Both the seat heating and ventilation functions are very effective, and the optional massaging feature is helpful to keep the blood flowing on longer drives. Rear passengers get their own climate control settings.

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