EVs are becoming more mainstream and their range is increasing. Supporting this is a growing network of charging stations that support road-tripping journeys in your EV. Mercedes-Benz, who have been offering an increasingly comprehensive range of EVs across their range, kindly offered us their EQS 450 4Matic SUV to review doing just that – a road trip.
The EQ series of vehicles are all built on a common Mercedes-Benz-EQ modular electric platform that is shared across both SUVs and sedans.
At DriveLife, we are familiar with some of the Mercedes-Benz EQ range, having previously had the pleasure of reviewing a number of these including the EQB 350 SUV, the AMG EQE 53, and the AMG EQS 53.
We took the EQS from Wellington to Auckland return, with a side-trip via New Plymouth for good measure to find out what it is like to road-trip in a class-leading EV.
What We Like and Dislike About The 2024 Mercedes Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Performance Range Design Comfort Driver assist systems that work An EV that can do it all Interior luxury and finish Headlights Burmester Surround Sound system | Not much! |
What’s In The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV Range?
In New Zealand, the EQS 450 4Matic SUV is the only model available. Overseas, however, there are at least two others, a base model EQS 450 SUV (rear-wheel drive only) and a higher spec EQS 580 4Matic SUV. There is also a Maybach EQS SUV variant available in New Zealand, which takes the model to an altogether different and more exclusive league. For completeness:
- EQS 450 4Matic SUV, starting at $197,500 (with more than $30k worth of options available)
- Maybach EQS 680 SUV, starting at $304,500 (with more than $110k of options available)
Should you be more interested in an AMG version, this is only available in the EQE range at a similar price point
- EQE AMG, starting at $201,899.75
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV Colour Range
MANUFAKTUR
Opalite White Bright $2,199.95
Alpine Grey Solid $2,900.30
Paints – Metallic
Obsidian Black Metallic N/C
Velvet Brown Metallic N/C
Sodalite Blue Metallic N/C
High Tech Silver Metallic N/C
Emerald Green Metallic N/C
Selenite Grey Metallic N/C (Colour of our test car)
Paints – Standard
Polar White Non-Metallic N/C
For a full list of specs and options available for the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV head on over to Mercedes-Benz New Zealand’s website
How Does The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV Compare To Its Competition?
| Make/ Model | Battery Capacity kW-hr | Power/ Torque kW/Nm | 0-100km/h seconds | Range (WLTP), km | Boot Space, litres | Towing capacity (unbraked/braked) | Price |
| BMW iX xDrive50 (5 seats) | 111 | 385/765 | 4.6 | 587-633 | 500/1,750 | 750/2,500 | $207,800 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV (7 seats) | 108 | 265/800 | 6.0 | 592 | 245/1,030/2,020 | 750/1,800 | $197,500 |
| Audi Q8 E-Tron (5 seats) | 106 | 300/664 | 5.6 | 560 | 569/1,637 (Frunk 62) | 750/1,800 | $181,900 |
| Volvo EX90 (7 seats) | 111 | 380/910 | 5.9 | 600 | 310/655/1,915 | 750/2,200 | (no price in NZ yet, predicted around $180,000) |
| Kia EV9 GT Line (7 seats) | 100 | 282/700 | 6.0 | 505 | 333/828/2,318 | 750/2,500 | $134,990 |
Please note that DriveLife does its best to ensure the information above is correct at the time of publication, however, prices, specifications, and models can change over time. Please bear that in mind when comparing models in the comparison table.
First Impressions Of The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV
Mercedes-Benz has been deliberate in developing an all-new design language for its EQ series of 100% electric vehicles. When you first see the EQS SUV, it is clearly identifiable as being from the Mercedes-Benz EV range, and being the “S” for S-class says it is going to be the largest and most luxurious. While there is outwardly little visible difference between the 5-seater EQE and 7-seater EQS, the latter is built on the longer wheelbase platform from the EQS Sedan, the increase in length enabling the inclusion of the two further seats.
I like that with their EQ range design language, they are not trying to simply blend in as if to normalise EVs, but rather it’s a deliberate celebration of EVs.
The overall EQ design theme is futuristic, smooth, and slippery, with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency. For the record, it achieves a very commendable drag coefficient (cd) of 0.26. It also makes a bold statement that the EQ range is all new, and not to be confused with any internal combustion-engined Mercedes-Benz.
All surfaces have a gentle curve to them. The “grille”, although it’s not a grille in the traditional sense, is an elegant, completely smooth surface that flows right across the front, and up onto the bonnet, integrating perfectly into the headlights. In the centre is one of the biggest Mercedes-Benz stars, making it unmistakable. The grille panel is black and glass-like, detailed with an expanding circular pattern of repeating Mercedes-Benz star images.
Complimenting this aero theme, the doors are fitted with flush-mounted handles that project when the car is unlocked. The back of the car features an elegant, rounded, and swooping light bar extending across the rear and around onto the sides. The two ends forming the taillights have a striking illuminated 3-dimensional helix design – very cool. Any black sections of bumpers and wheel arches are highly polished black, while the restrained use of chrome highlights around the car adds a touch of class.
The running boards are a cool-looking feature, but they can cause you to catch the back of your leg on the outer edge when stepping out.
Everything about the car exudes quality in a very refined and restrained way. The paint finish, the choice of materials, and the detailing are all consistent with delivering high-class elegance. It is not exceptionally showy, instead it exudes class without being brash. It demonstrates how well Mercedes-Benz knows their clients who simply want the highest standards for themselves and, what it says about them.
What’s The Interior Like In The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV?
Mercedes-Benz knows how to build an interior to impress; a blend of modern hi-tech with traditional touches, all made from quality materials. They are also very good at retaining a sense of familiarity. If you have experienced other recent Mercedes-Benz, then while the interior is all new, there are enough design influences from the past to ensure you quickly feel at home. On opening the door, the stainless steel sill has an illuminated “Mercedes-Benz”, backing up the Mercedes-Benz “Star” that is projected from the mirror onto the ground at your feet.
The internal touch point surfaces are generally finished in soft-touch materials. Hard surfaces are used as highlights, like the main dashboard, an attractive grey textured panel spanning the width of the car. It is punctuated with the instrument and infotainment panels, and two stunning “jet engine-like” air vents. A fine and unobtrusive LED strip runs the full width of the dash and continues along the top cappings on the doors.
The leather-covered steering wheel is a classic three-spoke format, albeit each “spoke” comprising a pair. The horizontal spokes have haptic control surfaces for phone and audio on the left and cruise control on the right. A pair of paddles directly behind the left and right spokes move with the wheel and are used to move through the various drive modes; Economy, Comfort, Sport, and Intelligent. The stalks behind are conventional with wipers and indicators on the left and the right is for drive selection. There are auto settings for both the headlights and parking brake, and in reality, they rarely need to be changed.
Behind the steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen stands almost vertically up out of the dashboard. It is the classic and clear Mercedes-Benz screen, with a format that is common across their range. There are a number of configurable screen formats to choose from to suit your taste and needs, selectable via control pads on the steering wheel. I used “Classic”, comprising two rotary dials, the left one shows speed, and on the right, the percentage of power being used at that moment – a little like a rev counter in a conventional car.
Supplementing the dash is a heads-up display (HUD). It is up there with the very best; clear, and like the instrument panel, it is configurable from the steering wheel. I selected a regular set of information including my speed, the posted speed limit, the adaptive cruise control settings, and navigation.
Dominating the centre of the car is a 12.8-inch infotainment screen standing slightly proud of the dashboard. This is potentially an earlier version dashboard. The current specifications for the EQS in New Zealand now has the “Hyperscreen” dashboard as standard. The Hyperscreen is cool, comprising a single panel that includes two touch-screens. One located centrally in the car, with similar functionality to that in our test car, and a second one for the passenger to make their own inputs for comfort and controls. For a review of a car with a Hyperscreen, pop over to Fred’s review of the new Mercedes-Benz E Class.
Back to our review car, the central screen provides access to a vast array of controls and preferences from radio stations to drive modes, navigation, air conditioning, ventilated and massaging seats, service, and even updates. It is all logically laid out through tiers of menus. There is also the Mercedes-Benz personal assistant you can summon by saying “Hey Mercedes” and asking your question. This screen also displays the navigation which automatically scales out to give you oversight of a larger portion of your journey and zooms in for key intersections or when lane choice is important. And of course, at these navigation key points, the map and directions are available in the HUD.
The lower edge of the infotainment screen is integrated into the centre console where there are a series of touch buttons providing quick access to some key functions such as activating the hazard lights, 360-degree cameras, and volume controls. Beneath this is the piano-black front centre console under a soft-opening/closing lid. It houses two cup holders, two USB-C power outlets, a single wireless phone charger pad, and a small storage area suitable for the car key for example. The cup holders are oriented one behind the other along the driver’s side of the console. The wireless charger is located in front of these, literally under the Infotainment screen. If you are not using the cup holders the retention rings can be latched closed to make more general space available within the console. If even more space is required, then the cup-holder assembly can be completely removed.
This portion of the centre console bridges over a lower-level storage area which is accessible from either side and it comes with a couple more USB-C power outlets.
Behind this is a larger storage area covered with a combination armrest/twin-opening lid configuration. This offers a much larger central storage space, easily enough for my SLR camera and notebook.
On the driver’s door card are the standard set of window and mirror controls, and above these are controls for the seat, laid out in the form of the seat, complete with a touch panel for controls to set levels of heating, ventilation and customisable memory settings for up to three drivers. There is also the ability to drive the position of the front passenger’s seat should that be required – a nice touch.
Within the lower door card drink bottle storage pocket of the driver’s door there is a handy boot release button for the powered tailgate.
The front passenger has a similar seat control set including the same memory setting options for up to three passengers. On the rear door cards, similar seat controls are provided like those in the front to electrically adjust the seat back angle and forward/back location.
A feature of all four doors is the classic Burmester speaker grille “art”, an object often copied in lesser cars… “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”- Oscar Wilde.
The seats are superbly finished and have electric controls for all movements including the headrests, and the front with additional features for fine adjustment to suit you exactly. The front seats also come with heating, ventilation, and massaging. The latter offers a multitude of options for strength, patterns, and even a hot-stone massage. The headrests are fitted with an extra-soft padded cushion, a nice touch that helps personalise the car. Certainly nice to lean back into.
The second row has seating for three, and although there is a clear preference for just two, the second-row occupants are well looked after with adequate space for adults, a fold-down centre armrest with provision for two cups, and a convenient cellphone holder. Located in the rear of the centre console are two USB-C ports and digital controls for a further two-zone climate air-conditioning.
The third row of seats is best suited to smaller people. However they are very comfortably appointed, each having its own wall-mounted armrest, a cupholder, and a storage pocket complete with two further USB-C ports.
Attention to detail extends to areas you may not even consider. Examples of this include the use of laminated glazing throughout the car effectively providing double glazing for improved noise and heat insulation. Even the brake and accelerator pedals are given detail attention, silver metal finish with a regular array of black dots for that nod to sporting.
The predominately black interior is never overbearing, helped greatly by the full-length glass roof. It effectively lightens and brings a feeling of spaciousness for those sitting in either the second or third rows. Solar gain is well managed, at no time did we overheat on sunny days, so we never felt the need to use the powered blind.
The front portion can be opened, and this did cause some buffeting at speeds above 80 kph. While it does generate some wind noise, it can give you that direct connection to the outside, with greatly reduced impact than the alternative of lowering a side window.
The interior of the car is fitted with subtle LED highlighting strips. These are never enough to be distracting, however are used in an intelligent way to warn of hazards to the left or right by flashing the LED red, attracting your attention to that side. At the same time, the message is reinforced through a subtle vibration off the steering wheel.
The boot is accessed by a powered tailgate. It is fully carpeted, including the backs of the second and third rows of seats. With these dropped, the floor is flat, level with the opening. The boot with the third row of seats folded is generous and provided with a draw-out blind and a mesh screen to keep loads unseen and occupants safe. With all seats in use, the boot space is limited. Under the floor are the tyre repair kit, emergency triangle, and first aid kit. The side walls of the boot are equipped with clips to keep the third-row seat belts away from damage or getting caught up with luggage. A nice touch is the stainless steel boot lip protection – adds class and practicality.
The front bonnet release is hidden away behind a removable cover. It is clearly not intended for anyone other than a service agent to need to open it. For this reason, a small opening panel is provided in the front guard on the passenger’s side. It hinges open to present nothing more than a funnel to fill up the washer fluid. Basically, there is nothing else the owner should have any reason to access.
What’s The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV Like To Drive?
This was going to be our first long-distance roadie in an EV. While we are EV owners, ours is just an around-town commuter car, so we were interested to see how it is to travel farther in an EV. The route we had planned was Wellington to New Plymouth where we would overnight with family then on to Cambridge for another overnight and finally on to Auckland the following day for a concert before heading back to Wellington.
With the car at 100% charge we set off, aiming to stop at Bulls where we could take advantage of the Supercharger. Everything went to plan, finding the charging station and plugging it in. No sooner had we done this than the EQS’s little brother, an EQA, arrived and was plugged in alongside us. This initiated a friendly and unexpected conversation, with its owners sharing stories of how they are enjoying their car and the trips they’d been on. While ours charged, we enjoyed a coffee/lunch stop at a Bulls cafe, and with the charging app on my phone, it was easy to track the progress, so as not to overstay the charger.
On returning to the charging station, the EQA had gone, replaced by an EQC. A second equally unexpected and engaging conversation ensued before we headed on our way. As it turned out, our stops at charging stations invariably lead to conversations with fellow EV drivers – turns out driving EVs out of town can be quite the social event – who knew?
I’d thought with us driving the top-of-the-range EQS, that it may have been an impediment to people wanting to know about us and the car as virtually all other EVs on the road would be cheaper. But I couldn’t have been further from the reality. Most were genuinely keen to share stories and enquire about our car. This became an unexpected highlight of our trip.
Because the car was fitted with messaging seats we did use this function a few times going to Auckland and only once on our return journey. The seats also have heating and ventilation functions both of which worked amazingly, however, the weather conditions and driving comfort did not require either of these features to be used.
During much of the driving, I used adaptive cruise control. It is so very good, and together with steering assist it enables you to expend less energy over a longer drive. For example, along the Himitangi Straights with those crosswinds, the car is continuously self-correcting much of the wind impacts, significantly reducing the corrective input normally required by the driver just to keep your position in the lane.
With speed limit recognition, simply tapping the resume function accepts the new speed limit. Alternatively using the “plus” or ”minus” the set speed will increase or decrease in 10 kph steps, while finer 1 kph increments can be made sliding across the haptic button. I know others in the DriveLife team are not all that fond of the haptic controls, however for me, I found these to work just fine.
The car has four drive modes, Economy, Comfort, Sport, and Intelligent, and through much of our road trip, we used a combo of the Comfort and Intelligent modes.
Economy mode moderates the accelerator significantly damping the responsiveness thereby saving energy. Comfort mode is a good all-round mode providing good acceleration and modifies the suspension system to be compliant without being too soft. Sport mode elevates the responsiveness of the car, quickening the acceleration, stiffening the suspension, and sharpening the steering to match the increased performance. Initially, I preferred the Sport settings, because you feel much more connected to the drive and it sits flatter through the corners. However, on this longer trip (and let’s be fair, on New Zealand roads) if I was honest, the firmer Sport setting for the kind of car it is, can be too harsh for its own good. It is a larger vehicle and with that extra weight it is no sports car and trying to be is not entirely its happy place.
Intelligent mode, sometimes also referred to as intelligent recuperation, is a feature that automatically adjusts the vehicle’s behaviour based on the road and traffic conditions. It functions similarly to adaptive cruise control but with additional capabilities. It helps in stopping behind traffic, reading the road to slow down for corners and intersections, and maintaining a safe distance from the car in front. On a long drive, and on roads that I was less familiar with, I found this feature to be awesome. It was never overzealous in slowing me more than I would for myself. It was particularly effective on tight and twisty roads, on hills, and when amongst traffic, on such roading sections.
It works especially well when used in conjunction with the navigation system, slowing in accordance with the planned route. For example, if it involves an intersection, it will slow the car for that intersection. And, even if you should veer off the navigation planned route, like taking a side road, as soon as you tell the car your intentions by using the indicators, it will slow to the degree necessary to enter the new (unplanned) route action and carry on. Seriously smart.
Overall, what stands out is how well-measured all these automated responses are. All of the car’s decisions and actions met my expectations and comfort levels for the car-led action, be it slowing down for corners or speeding up, and this includes steering (lane-keep) assistance. Mercedes-Benz has a lot of experience with these smarts and it shows – they are so well-polished.
If you choose to make all the driving decisions for yourself, another handy feature is to set the car to strong brake recuperation. The practical side is that energy is captured by slowing and helps to top up the batteries. As a driver, it works like enhanced engine braking, the more you lift off the accelerator pedal, the more braking force, and correspondingly, the more electricity is regenerated. And for much of the time you do not have to touch the brake pedal. It is especially effective in twisting hill roads enabling you to balance the car on the accelerator. It’s not quite one-pedal driving as it is not enough to bring the car to an absolute stop, but it’s very useful almost everywhere else.
Another great piece of tech on any journey but especially so for the longer drives, is the Heads-Up-Display (HUD). I am a huge fan of these and Mercedes-Benz is a master at these too. If you are not familiar, this feature projects onto the lower windscreen key information within the driver’s line of sight without the driver having to look down at the dash.
In the EQS, this, like the main dash, can be configured with different display options to suit. My preference is to have the vehicle speed and cruise settings, together with a pared-down representation of the navigation instructions. The latter is great like in Auckland, indicating which of the many lanes you should be in when all the road markings are so conveniently covered by the traffic around you.
Like a lot of cars, it has an excellent 360-degree camera system giving you clear guidance all around the car. To help with tight parallel parks or even just turning around in narrow streets, the EQS has a special trick up its sleeve – “rear-axle steering”. As standard, it comes with 4.5 degrees of angular movement, and this can be optioned with a 10 degree movement for an even tighter turning circle.
At slow speeds, this turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front, effectively reducing the turning circle. It’s a feature that makes it so much easier to fine-tune parallel parking – and fun to see the rear wheels steering when looking in the side mirror as you manoeuvre into a park. At high speed, rear-axle steering steers the wheels in the same direction as the front, improving stability through corners.
A couple of features I have mixed feelings about are the flush-mounted auto pop-out door handles and the running boards. Both are cool and look good, but several times the handles were reluctant to pop out for passengers less familiar with the car, needing the driver to unlock them.
The appearance of the car certainly benefits from the illuminated running boards, but on getting out of the car they effectively increased the distance you needed to extend your leg to reach the ground. Invariably, you’d end up rubbing the back of your leg on them, making it feel slightly awkward to step out of the car.
When it comes to driving especially long distances, the road holding and handling are solid and predictable, keeping you well informed and with good road feel; nothing really upsets it. The firm and supportive seats with included massaging functions are perfect for long journeys. To top it off, impressive sound-deadening of wind and road noise further contributes to your overall comfort. One feature to illustrate this is the inclusion of laminated glazing used throughout – effectively “double-glazing” the car. In the EQS, you really are traveling in first class.
The Mercedes-Benz personal assistant can be actioned by saying “Hey Mercedes”. We found this worked well, most of the time used to quickly set destinations into the navigation system. Although Android Auto connects wirelessly and performs without fault, we found the in-built Mercedes-Benz navigation system just so good that we stayed with this and only used the Android Auto connection for general use of the phone, social media, and music.
Surprisingly, there is only a single Qi wireless connection, and this is located in a rather awkward position. While this location may dissuade a driver from using the phone while driving, it is not the easiest location to access, especially if the cup holders are in use.
Fortunately, on leaving the car, and if your phone is still located on the out-of-sight Qi wireless charger, the car’s “personal assistant” will politely remind you that you have left your phone on the charging pad. I got to hear this message a few times!!
And of course, this helps to make the most of your listening experience from the Burmester stereo. The Burmester 3D Surround sound audio system is nothing short of incredible. At times you come back to the car just to sit and enjoy the sounds – we heard notes and subtleties in the music we’d not heard previously. It is a joy to listen to and goes a long way to enhancing long-distance travel.
As we neared home, nighttime overtook us. The Digital Light headlights are a major call-out feature of this and a number of Mercedes-Benz higher-order cars. The headlights and in particular high beam have the most phenomenal range.
They have the ability to cut out that portion of the light beam where it would otherwise impact or illuminate single or multiple cars in front and/or any number of oncoming vehicles. As the driver then, you simply leave the lights set to “auto-high beam” and with those specific portions blanked out, the remainder of the road around you is fully illuminated including in front and to the sides of the cars you are following.
While the headlights illuminate a vast area of the left-hand side of the road, they are also smart enough to recognise when they are illuminating a highly reflective road sign, and when this occurs, the light level on the road sign is reduced to avoid blinding you. Further, on twisty roads, additional side lighting illuminates the roadside on the side to which you are steering towards
Essentially, you have almost as much visibility as if it were daylight and as a result, night driving is almost as easy and relaxed as it is in the day.
After our all-day drive in the car, I was astonished to feel so very “un-tired”, if that is a term. We both felt that if we still had a further three to five hours to travel, this would not have been any problem. I don’t recall another car where I have driven all day and not felt tired/glad to be home, etc.
During our time with the EQS, we traveled 2,018 km, with an overall consumption rate of 22.4kWh/100km. This is not that much higher than the claimed 20.5 kWh/100km, especially given the performance and kerb weight of 2,918 kg.
READ ON TO CHECK OUT OUR SUMMARY OF THE 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV.
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4Matic SUV – Specifications
| Vehicle Type | Electric / SUV |
| Starting Price | $197,500 |
| Price as Tested | $197,500 |
| Engine | Electric |
| Power, Torque kW/Nm | 265/800 |
| Transmission | 1-speed automatic reduction gear |
| Spare Wheel | Repair kit |
| Kerb Weight, Kg | 2,918 |
| Length x Width x Height mm | 5,127 x 2,034 x 1,722 |
| Boot Space / Cargo Capacity, Litres (seats up/seats down) | 610/1,770245/1,030/2,020 |
| Energy Economy, kWh/100km | Advertised Spec – Combined – 20.5 Real-World Test – Combined – 22.4 Low Usage: 6-10 / Medium Usage 11-19 / High Usage 19+ |
| Towing Capacity Kg, unbraked/braked | 750/1,800 |
| Turning circle metres | 11.9 Small: 6-10m / Medium 10-12m / Large 12m+ |
| Warranty | 5 years (unlimited km) High voltage battery – 8 years or 160,000km, whichever comes first |
| Safety information | ANCAP Rating – 5 Stars – link (note; the ANCAP rating is for the EQE SUV, a shorter wheelbase vehicle than the EQS SUV, but same architecture and features set. The testing used comes from Europe (Euro NCAP Rating – 5 stars – link ) Rightcar.govt.nz – 5 Stars – Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4M (2024) |
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