Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 2022 Review – International

In Europe, there are two hot versions of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQE – the EQE 43 and the even faster EQE 53, which is the only one locked in for Australia and won’t disappoint.

Whereas the EQE 43 pushes out a punchy 350kW and 858Nm of torque, Australians will be offered only the full-fat EQE 53 with a bespoke AMG twin-motor powertrain that produces 460kW and 950Nm as standard.

Pay less than $10,000 extra (we’re estimating) for the AMG Dynamic Plus pack and outputs rise to 505kW and 1000Nm.

Speaking of money, there’s still no word on how much or how well equipped the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ will be as Mercedes-Benz Australia says both are yet to be finalised.

That said, when it touches down late this year, the EQE 53 is tipped to cost around $225,000 plus on-road costs.

That would place the high-performance EV an estimated $100K more affordable than the EQS 53 with which it shares much, while also keeping it competitive with the Tesla Model S Plaid that’s had its prices pulled from Australia but can still be reserved (asking about $200K, based on current trends).

What’s more, the $225,000 figure puts it well below the 450kW/850Nm V8-powered Mercedes-AMG E 63 S that starts from $268,200 plus on-roads.

There’s likely to be a long list of optional extras to inflate the starting price for desirable options like the wild 1.4m-wide Hyperscreen infotainment system, or the cool 21-inch aero wheels, but we also expect a long and generous list of standard items to entice buyers.

Among the standard fare, expect to see the ultra-bright Digital Light headlights and a full AMG styling kit finished in gloss black that combines with 20-inch aero alloy wheels.

Inside, there will be a pair of AMG sports seats finished in Artico faux leather, a leather-effect wrapped dash and AMG-specific pedals and steering wheel.

New options include an AMG Track Pack that adds an on-board ‘race engineer’ that can record up to 80 vehicle-specific data points, including lap times and data overlays to help you drive quicker on track.

Once introduced, the EQE 53 will be protected by Mercedes-Benz’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with the batteries benefiting from 10-year/250,000km cover that will help provide peace of mind for those worried about the emerging tech.

It’s believed the EQE 53 will also be offered with pre-paid scheduled servicing costing considerably less than the $4300 charged for the first three years of maintenance for the V8-powered E 63 S.

While the lower-powered Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 gets a boosted version of the upcoming dual-motor powertrain in the Mercedes-Benz EQE 450, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ heading Down Under gets a pair of AMG-specific electric motors.

These new motors come with adapted windings and new laminations that enable them to handle far higher currents. Throw in a bespoke inverter and both the front and rear motor spin quicker, producing considerably more power and enabling a higher top speed.

Ensuring rear-biased handling, the bigger and more powerful motor is based on the rear axle. Both motors feature advanced water lances within the shaft of the rotor, plus additional cooling circuits and even an oil heat exchanger within the transmissions that all boost thermal efficiency.

The result is a powertrain that doesn’t wilt under extreme use – unlike some of its rivals.

That means the 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds is repeatable using the Race Start function, while 240km/h is perfectly achievable.

To put that in perspective, the acceleration figure is still some way off the claimed 2.1sec 0-100km/h dash achievable in the Tesla Model S Plaid.

Even without the power-boosting Dynamic Plus pack’s launch control, the fast battery-powered EQE can still launch itself to 100km/h from rest in just 3.5 seconds, but only if there’s 70 per cent of charge, with top speed limited to 220km/h.

Just one 90.6kWh (useable) battery option is available that provides for a range between 444-518km.

Featuring Benz’s next-generation battery technology, the EQE 53 can be replenished at a fast-charging station to 170kW, with a 15-minute top-up adding 180km of range.

As standard, the EQE 53 gets an 11kW on-board charger with a 22kW available as an option.

On the move, brake regeneration can be added using the steering-wheel-mounted paddles, the car-maker claiming that up to 260kW of energy can be recouped under braking.

Like the bigger EQS 53, the smaller EQE equivalent gets the highest-grade 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system that can virtually distribute torque front-to-rear and across axles, with the ECU able to adjust torque at up to 160 times a second – far quicker than any conventional mechanical system.

The laws of physics dictate that even before the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 turns a wheel in anger it will never quite measure up to the finest super-sedans ever built.

Tipping the scales at 2525kg, it’s simply too heavy to ever offer the agility need to usurp cars like the latest BMW M5 CS or hallowed HSV GTSR W1.

That said, the way the EQE 53 goes about its business on a demanding country road is likely to still raise plenty of eyebrows among performance car fans.

Like the bigger EQS 53, there’s air suspension all-round combined with the EQE’s four-link front suspension and multi-link rear.

There’s been huge changes over the regular EQE, with AMG links, carriers and different, more rigid anti-roll bars to curb body lean through bends.

Adaptive dampers are standard while the EQE 53 rides on specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.

Helping boost agility is a rear-steer axle that pivots up to 3.6 degrees.

Four driving modes are available: ‘Slippery’ that limits power to 50 per cent; Comfort that winds back total output to 80 per cent; Sport that only offers 90 per cent of maximum thrust; and Sport+ that gives the full beans, although in all modes full power is available if you reach the ‘kick-down’ part of the throttle pedal.

Like the EQE, there’s also a virtual soundtrack pumped into the cabin that has plenty of novelty factor, but we’d imagine most owners will simply switch it off and enjoy the silence.

Climb behind the wheel and instantly the EQE 53 impresses. Our car had the Hyperscreen full-width infotainment system that sounds like a gimmick but is both clear and intuitive to use, while highly entertaining for the passenger.

The next major advantage offered over even an E 63 S is just how effortless the battery-electric super-sedan is.

We think many existing owners will instantly be seduced by not only the sledgehammer punch of the dual-motor powertrain at almost any speed but it’s mind-warping levels of traction.

Even in the rain, the 4MATIC+ does not waste a single Newton-metre of torque, with the electric sedan feeling more than a match for its V8 sibling cross country.

Reining in all its might is a set of huge brakes. As standard there’s six-piston steel brakes combined with massive 415mm front rotors. Our car had the even larger 440mm carbon-ceramic discs.

Despite being huge, the way the actual braking is blended with regen is impressive and barely perceptible for the most part.

Where the EQE 53 finds itself struggling to match its very finest combustion-powered peers is where cars like the M5 and E 63 S are at their very finest and the very extremes of their handling repertoire.

Push harder in the EQE and you’ll begin to notice its excess baggage – more pitch and dive than you’d want and the inconsistencies of having a rear-steering axle.

It makes for a car that’s difficult to judge, and tricky to trust. Push too hard and understeer is all that’s waiting on the other side, while even those carbon-ceramic brakes begin to groan and feel out of their depth.

Another annoyance is visibility – or lack of it. The front A-pillars are thick and a right pain when climbing an alpine pass. And it’s a similar story for rearward vision.

Where in an E 63 S you begin to long for a wide-open track to truly push it to its most extreme oversteer angles, the EQE 53 feels far too mature and grown up for such frivolity.

Instead, expect owners and families to enjoy the EQE’s cabin, the space afforded by the EVA2 architecture and the unexpected comfort, with the air suspension offering a far better ride than you might imagine considering the performance on tap.

After our first encounter with the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+, it’s hard to fathom any buyer choosing a Tesla Model S Plaid over it – unless pub bragging rights demand you buy the fastest four-door in humanity.

In reality, we doubt you’ll ever pine for more power in the EQE 53 on the road.

Then there’s the pretty wonderful cabin, the ridiculous (but fun) Hyperscreen and what could be the biggest surprise of all: a starting price close enough to $200K that might just be the catalyst for choosing EV over ICE.

If you can live with the hassle of plugging it in, the EQE 53’s storming performance, quirky looks, delightful cabin and decent range make it an appetising proposition for performance car fans who may never before have considered flicking the switch.

How much does the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ cost?
Price: $225,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: Late 2022
Powertrain: Dual permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 460kW/950Nm (505kW/1000Nm with AMG Dynamic Plus pack)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 90.6kWh lithium-ion (usable)
Range: 444-518km provisional (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 20.3-23.2kWh/100km provisional (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast