The longer term is a troublesome enterprise. No person is aware of that like Mercedes-Benz. The German firm has constructed a status for being the tip of the automotive tech spear, defining the applied sciences that characteristic into mainstream automobiles 10 or 20 years from now. Antilock brakes, digital stability management, even superchargers—it’s an extended listing.

However that method comes with a considerable threat. Guess proper and also you’ll endlessly be the innovator that modified the sport. Guess incorrect, and also you’ll be caught with complicated, unproven tech and an entire lot of sunk value.

No automotive exemplifies this just like the Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan. Heralded because the flagship of the electrical period, it arrived to middling critiques and lackluster gross sales. Mercedes already is aware of this, which is why it’s pivoting away from the egg-shaped designs, ditching the EQ names and continuing with hybrid choices. The following electrical S-Class will probably be precisely that—an electrical S-Class, in identify and appears, not a standalone mannequin like this. 

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Mercedes-Benz

However the EQS is right here now, and obtainable for a music on the used market in addition. It additionally obtained a lightweight facelift for 2025, with a barely extra conventional front-end fake grille and a much bigger battery for extra vary. Let’s have a look at what it will get proper and what it will get incorrect in regards to the future.

(Full Disclosure: Mercedes loaned me a 2024 EQS for per week for this overview. It arrived totally charged.) 

Mercedes EQS: Driving Expertise

Get into any EV and you may see why it’s the posh automakers that guess so massive, so early on this know-how. Electrical powertrains are merely higher for effort-free, silent cruising. So whereas the S-Class’ inline-six and V8 engine choices are each delightfully easy, they’ll’t maintain a candle to the EQS’ completely perfected drivetrain. 

The EQS is available in 4 flavors: 450+ rear-wheel-drive, 450 4Matic all-wheel-drive, 580 AWD and AMG AWD. The EQS 450+ I drove made 355 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque from its single-motor powertrain. The all-wheel-drive model makes the identical hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Neither determine is especially spectacular on this interval of stratospheric energy, however keep in mind that in an EV you by no means hear the powertrain pressure.  

A 335-hp gasoline engine can be groaning to maneuver the 5,500-lb EQS round. However the electrical motors register no such complaints. Because you rarely use a luxurious limo for drag racing, its 5.9-second 0-60 time is fast sufficient that your consolation, not the motor, would be the limiting issue on pace.

Mercedes up to date the EQS for 2025 with a brand new grille meant to imitate its internal-combustion lineup. I sampled the 2024 mannequin, however this overview explains the 2025 modifications as effectively.

Those that demand further energy may need an EQS 580 as a substitute. That makes 516 hp and 611 lb-ft of torque. The gluttons amongst you may go for the absurd AMG EQS Sedan and gorge yourselves on 649 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. However on condition that I by no means needed for energy and the already hefty $117,375 sticker value on the EQS 450+ I drove, I wouldn’t spend up for the massive energy variations. Even the bottom powertrain is pleasant.

Betting on electrical motivation, then, was a sensible play. But in providing a automotive with extra weight, completely different weight distribution and a trick rear-steer system, someplace alongside the way in which Mercedes overpassed making it journey like an S-Class. The marque’s signature buttercream journey is the primary cause I’d advocate one. The brand new gas-powered S-Class is the best-riding automotive this facet of a Rolls-Royce. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

The EQS isn’t. It’s not uncomfortable. It’s nonetheless an exceptional freeway automotive. However round city, over bumps and divots, all of the air suspension trickery on this planet can’t disguise the factor’s weight. It lumbers over crests and flops into depressions. These phrases could also be harsh—it nonetheless rides higher than the common automotive—however these chasing on-road perfection gained’t discover it right here. Thus, our first warning from the Ghost of Mercedes Future: In your quest to chase what’s subsequent, don’t neglect how you bought right here.

I additionally suppose the Germans’ reluctance to supply a real one-pedal driving mode is weird, if solely as a result of they maintain providing “configurable” choices that get shut, however not all the way in which there. Within the EQS, you may crank up regen so it virtually looks like one-pedal driving. However the automotive won’t ever come to a whole cease by itself. That’s self-defeating. Guess on one-pedal or don’t. Skip the half-steps.

Don’t suppose that every one the brand new chassis tech is for nothing. Mercedes carried out a rear-wheel-steering system within the EQS that merely blows different such methods out of the water. Whereas a Cybertruck makes use of its comparatively aggressive rear steer to provide a large, 35-inch-tire-wearing truck with unhealthy wheel clearance a merely acceptable turning vary, Mercedes’ system makes the EQS deal with parking heaps like a compact automotive. Finishing u-turns on normal-sized metropolis streets isn’t a difficulty. The one drawback is that my mind wasn’t used to it, so I discovered myself chopping parking maneuvers too tight, and having to regulate. That’s a very good signal: Tech so good it makes you recalibrate your senses.   

Mercedes EQS: Vary, Battery Dimension, and Noticed Effectivity

All 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedans get a 118-kWh battery, providing as much as 390 miles (628 km) of vary within the EQS 450+. That will not match the Lucid Air or Tesla Mannequin S, however it trounces a lot of the legacy competitors. My tester had larger wheels and was a 2024 mannequin with the smaller, older battery pack, so it had a 352-mile (566 km) vary. That’s the candy spot, in my view. 

Listed below are the vary breakdowns for the opposite trims in 2025:

• EQS 450 4Matic: As much as 367 miles (590 km)
• EQS 580 4Matic: As much as 371 miles (591 km)
• AMG EQS: As much as 316 miles (509 km)

All of these figures are respectable and present that Mercedes is critical about providing the kind of long-range EVs American luxurious patrons demand. I noticed effectivity of two.9 miles per kWh in combined freeway and around-town driving, giving me a projected real-world vary of round 342 miles. That’s fairly strong on condition that my driving included a golf journey with 5 passengers and three luggage of golf equipment. 

The EQS has an superior lift-back trunk that makes it far more sensible than a gasoline S-Class. We match three luggage of golf golf equipment again there (and two instances of Food regimen Coke), with loads of room left over.

Photograph by: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs

Mercedes EQS: Charging Expertise

Sadly, as a consequence of some charger-side points, I wasn’t in a position to report a clear 10-80% time for the EQS. I can say I noticed charging speeds near Mercedes’ claimed peak charge of 200 kW. The automotive additionally robotically preconditioned the battery for fast-charging once I chosen a charger within the navigation menu. I used to be additionally impressed by how lengthy the EQS held a excessive charging pace—it was nonetheless pulling 137 kW at round 65%, which is on the excessive finish of regular for a 400-volt system.

Mercedes claims the EQS Sedan can go from 10-80% in 31 minutes. Primarily based on what I noticed, I consider it. There are definitely faster-charging automobiles in its class—a Porsche Taycan can go from 10-80 in round 16 minutes, and a Lucid Air can do it in 20—however I contemplate this a tremendous sufficient efficiency. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes EQS: Inside

That is the place style enters the image in a serious approach. The Mercedes EQS Sedan’s inside high quality is unimpeachable. The corporate makes use of good supplies and attire issues up moderately effectively. Sadly, the previous leather-based and wooden motif has given method to loads of black plastic on the EQS. This can be a consequence of its concentrate on its large “Hyperscreen,” the usual pillar-to-pillar show interface with three separate screens.

It’s spectacular, however it’s additionally mainly all there’s to take a look at. The largest slab of wooden within the cabin is the lid that covers the cupholders and wi-fi charging pad. Given that you simply’ll most likely be utilizing that space to carry your keys and telephone, I don’t suppose you’ll ever see the wooden. The remaining, then, is quite a lot of piano black trim and actual property taken up by the display. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Those that desire a automotive that wows them with know-how will definitely discover it right here. However when you anticipate the kind of old-world-luxury inside of an older Mercedes, you’re going to be dissatisfied right here. Mercedes is all-in on screens, voice instructions and tech. That’s the guess the corporate has made, and it isn’t backing down. At the very least the seats are nonetheless great, even when the driving place is a bit awkward as a result of automotive’s excessive beltline and awkward proportions.

Know-how, Infotainment & UX

Mercedes believes that know-how is the longer term. That’s why when it constructed the EQS, it mainly guess on all of them without delay. It has the anticipated massaging seats and high-end Burmester stereo. Nevertheless it additionally has Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos Assist (this rocks). It might vibrate your seats alongside to the music. It has a conversational voice assistant that may flip all of those options on, and give you restaurant suggestions alongside the route.  

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

It has a browser that you need to use to stream movies. It has “augmented actuality” navigation, a particularly distracting setup whereby it overlays arrows onto digicam feeds from the entrance of the automotive. It has built-in music streaming however nonetheless provides CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a Cheesecake Manufacturing facility menu of choices piled onto a 17.7-inch display, with two 12.3-inch shows for sides.

It’s, in summation, so much. Too intelligent by half, for my part. There are such a lot of menus and settings that—regardless of the system being extremely quick and secure—I nonetheless discovered myself persistently befuddled by this. I additionally discovered the voice assistant not fairly adequate. Its insistence on saying “How might I make it easier to?” when cued up means it interrupts your question and offers you a weirdly fast window to make your ask, and it nonetheless had a stunning variety of whole whiffs.

Tech-savvy house owners will finally grasp it. However at 27, I’m about 30 years youthful than the common $100,000 sedan purchaser, and I nonetheless felt overwhelmed. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

The EQS’ in-car navigation is strong, and may do route-planning for longer journeys.

This can be a matter of style. I’ve lengthy been of the opinion that luxurious isn’t just about addition but additionally focused subtraction. Providing each characteristic below the solar isn’t as helpful as providing one coherent software program product that feels intentional in each menu. That’s what Tesla and Rivian do, and I believe they’re nonetheless forward of Mercedes there. Mercedes, for its half, does do over-the-air updates like these manufacturers, and even added ChatGPT help with Google Gemini-powered “conversational navigation” coming too. However after 20 years of continually betting on new additions, I truly hope the subsequent technology of MB.OS does much less.  

Mercedes says its “conversational navigation” characteristic will debut on the brand new CLA, however will finally be added by way of an over-the-air replace to many present automobiles. We anticipate the EQS to be on the highest of that listing.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Security & ADAS

Right here, Mercedes fares much better. The EQS comes with a improbable freeway driving assistant and a full suite of superior driver aids. The freeway help system will totally deal with the steering, brakes and accelerator, even robotically altering lanes to get round slower visitors.

I beloved its German method to lane self-discipline—shortly getting again into the precise lane after passing—however it was virtually always altering lanes on California’s busy, fast-flowing five-lane freeways. It sounds an alert to tell you of those modifications, quieting the music, and I obtained a bit bored with four-minute songs being interrupted 5 – 6 instances. However calling your consideration earlier than it makes a lane change feels crucial, so it’s most likely a worthwhile tradeoff. I’d nonetheless flip auto modifications off only for a extra peaceable expertise. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes provides the one true eyes-off driving system in a U.S. manufacturing automotive proper now, however it’s solely obtainable in Nevada and California. I wasn’t in a position to attempt it. 

The EQS additionally provides Mercedes Drive Pilot, the one driver help system within the U.S. the place you’re legally allowed to take your eyes off the street below particular circumstances. These methods—dubbed “Degree 3” in SAE parlance—are a minimize above Degree 2 methods like Tesla Autopilot and Common Motors Tremendous Cruise, which all the time require full supervision. However the scope is slender: Drivers can solely take their fingers and eyes off the wheel on sure mapped freeways in California and Nevada whereas caught in visitors under 40 mph.

My press automotive didn’t have Drive Pilot, and regardless of constant makes an attempt, I’ve by no means been in a position to truly pattern the know-how in the actual world.

Mercedes EQS: Pricing

Pricing for the Mercedes EQS 450+ begins at $105,550 together with the vacation spot cost. Like all German automobiles, you’re going to finish up spending so much on choices, even when the bottom EQS within reason well-equipped. My $117,375 tester didn’t have a heated steering wheel, because the Mercedes voice assistant politely instructed me once I requested her to show it on. That’s foolish contemplating it got here customary on my Chevy Blazer EV, however automobiles on this section have by no means been beneficiant with customary equipment. 

Different notable choices on my tester embody the $2,150 Unique trim that features massaging entrance seats, the MBUX “Inside Assistant” and four-zone local weather management. The automotive’s perfuming system was a $450 choice, too. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Pricing for the AWD EQS 450 4Matic begins at $108,550. The EQS 580 kicks off at $128,500, and the range-topping AMG EQS Sedan goes for $148,700. 

Mercedes EQS: Verdict

With the EQS Sedan, Mercedes guess that it may use the EV transition as a reset level, not only a chief in know-how however totally outlined by it. Take a look at used EQS values and also you’ll see how that labored out. Two-year-old variations of this $100,00-$150,000 automotive can simply be snapped up for $45,000.

The market has spoken, and it didn’t have a lot good to say about these automobiles. However that’s maybe a bit unfair. The EQS is a fairly strong automotive, however one trying to find an identification. It’s a strong EV, however not the most effective in its set. It’s a very good luxurious automotive, however not even the most effective one within the Mercedes showroom, given the S-Class’ much more refined journey. It’s an fascinating tech showcase, however from an organization that also can’t match the cohesive expertise of true software-defined autos. 

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Greater than something, it’s a check mattress. A few of it really works: the superior spatial audio system, the snappy display, the sleek powertrain and respectable vary. A few of it doesn’t: the awkward styling, the ho-hum journey, the in-your-face nature of its dizzying array of options.

It was an experiment. Mercedes went into this market head-first and appears to have discovered so much fairly shortly. I can’t say the corporate produced a cohesive, compelling product. However in a world the place so many automakers are tiptoeing as slowly as potential into the EV period, I’ve to provide Mercedes credit score for being daring sufficient to go all in.

It might not have paid out this time round, however on an extended sufficient timeline, the market rewards firms which can be courageous sufficient to take actual dangers.

Contact the writer: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com.