Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 2021 Review – International

The Australian launch of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ is expected around April 2022, with local pricing and specs still to be announced.

As the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz EQS range, which is likely to kick off at close to $300,000 for the EQS 450+ entry model, the EQS 53 AMG will carry a price tag that reflects its position, so we’re counting on at least $350,000 plus on-road costs.

That would place it in similar territory to the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, which starts from $345,800 plus ORCs.

The EQS 53 is quite a large liftback sedan based on the Mercedes EQ architecture, stretching a lengthy 5.3 metres.

All models will come standard with infinitely variable all-wheel drive, featuring an AMG-specific electric motor at each axle.

Its super-smooth exterior looks almost amorphous, so it’s no surprise that the electric EQS’s coefficient of drag is a slippery 0.23Cd.

There are also plenty of AMG-specific styling cues, like a unique front grille, rear spoiler and diffuser, black side sills and aerodynamically optimised 21- or 22-inch wheels.

Under the panoramic roof, the cockpit is dominated by a glass panel that spans the entire dash. The glass covers three separate screens that are user-adaptive interfaces for viewing and controlling most of the EQS 53’s functions.

It will also no doubt collect dust and fingerprints.

Upholstery is either man-made leather or Nappa leather. A Burmester surround-sound audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complement the standard sat-nav nicely.

Four-zone climate control, heated and cooled front and rear seats, and adjustable outboard rear seats ensure everyone inside will be comfy.

The cabin also features AMG sport seats, sport pedals and a flat-bottom leather-clad steering wheel with touch control buttons on parallel gloss black spokes. Those are also going to collect dust, too. Imagine flossing your steering wheel!

Almost an excess of technology is packed into luxury cars today, and the 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is no exception.

It’s a complex car that takes a good amount of time to learn, and an instruction manual would honestly come in handy. Nearly everything is customisable to a fault. 

There’s a standard assist system for so many things: parking, stop-and-go traffic, braking, steering, backing up, blind spots, changing lanes, staying in a lane, high beams, driver attention, and more that you didn’t even know you needed help with.

It feels a bit much, though most of it lies silently in the background until needed.

When the blind spot warning went off it was startlingly loud. And I consistently fought the EQS 53’s lane keep assist for control of the steering wheel to keep it from ping-ponging down the highway lane. I switched it off as quickly as I could. 

Six USB-C ports and wireless charging in both the front and rear seats won’t let any of your devices run dry – as long as the EQS itself doesn’t. We’ll get to battery range and such next.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS has received five stars through Euro NCAP, based on the 450+ model.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 has dual electric motors producing a combined 484kW and 950Nm, which should be good for a 3.8-second sprint from 0-100km/h.

With the AMG Dynamic Plus package, output bumps up to 560kW and 1020Nm, and shears 0.4sec off its 0-100 time.

Like most EVs at this end of the market, it feels alien fast, with gobs of intoxicating torque available whenever asked. Top speed is limited to 220km/h or 250km/h with the power boost.

Muscle car stats are expected wherever the AMG name goes, and these are all pretty impressive numbers. But the more humble 2021 Kia EV6 GT we recently tested is just as quick.

The EQS 53 compensates with luxury appointments and a longer range, which is estimated at 511-585km. The 400-volt lithium-ion battery has 107.8kWh of usable energy, more than the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo. Up to 300km of range can be topped up at quick-charging stations in less than 20 minutes.

It can gather up 300kW of power using regenerative braking. Three levels of regen are selectable using the flappy paddles behind the AMG steering wheel.

You can ‘downshift’ with the paddles as if it were a car with traditional gears, though grabbing the highest regen mode while cruising throws you into the seat belt. It does allow for one-pedal driving, a neat trick around town once you adjust how you expect the accelerator to behave.

Normal mode feels like a traditional internal combustion engine car, and the lowest regen mode is basically coasting.

Huge six-piston front brakes with 415mm rotors hide behind the aero wheels, while a ceramic set-up with 440mm rotors is optional.

Mammoth brakes are welcome given the EQS 53’s equally mammoth 2655kg kerb weight.

In average everyday situations, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is an easy and enjoyable thing to drive.

Standard rear steering that can turn the rear wheels up to nine degrees helps make the big EV feel a little smaller than it is.

But while the AMG air suspension is smooth and comfortable, it surprisingly felt like it bottomed out in a few harsh dips.

The low-profile 275/35R22 tyres also transmit rough pavement into the cabin a bit. 

Lead-footed drivers will find that the EQS 53’s handling isn’t quite up to AMG’s reputation, either.

A tendency to understeer sucks the joy out of pushing the EV harder in corners, instead inspiring you to slow down a few ticks.

That’s a big bummer when you’d rather be relishing the AMG performance that you’ve invested in.

The thick driver’s-side A-pillar makes visibility around corners a challenge, and there’s something off about the steering feel, too. I made more than one mid-corner correction on the mountainous drive route, even in Sport+ mode.

AMG offers optional track data software on the EQS 53, but it’s doubtful anyone will want to drive it on a racetrack.

Speaking of drive modes, there are five: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. Each alters power delivery, suspension and steering feel.

A new sound system with its own speakers plays a futuristically vroomy soundtrack to match mashing the accelerator in the Sport modes. The sounds synch up perfectly with what’s happening, but I’d expect most drivers to tire of it pretty quickly and turn it off.

Squirting through gaps in dense urban traffic and gliding silently from stoplight to stoplight in Comfort mode is the likely destiny of the average EQS 53 anyway. It’s very good at those things.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is an exceptionally refined EV with an impressive range and acceleration to match. It handles everyday life comfortably, quickly and efficiently.

What I’m not sure it handles as well as its closest competitors is high-speed handling – a deal breaker for some, not for others.

But if not, do you need an AMG model at all?

It’s packed with all the latest equipment a technophile could want, and maybe overly so. The EQS 53 has so many menus and screens and ways to configure things that learning it all and getting everything just so can be tedious.

Most of the driving nannies and screen pop-ups that are supposed to be helpful are just annoying.

“Keep it simple, stupid” is a saying for a reason.

How much does the 2021 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ cost?
Price: $350,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: April 2022
Powertrain: Two permanently excited synchronous motors
Output: 484kW/950Nm (560kW/1020Nm with AMG Dynamic Plus Package)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 107.8kWh lithium-ion
Range: 511-585km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 24.3-21.1kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested