Mercedes-Benz EQC: carsales Car of the Year 2020 contender

First and foremost, because it is beginning to become relevant. The Mercedes-Benz EQC is not only the German car-maker’s first electric SUV, it is also the first of a wave of new Benz EVs designed to take on the likes of Tesla, Audi and Jaguar.

The mid-size luxury SUV is the first of more than 20 promised new all-electric models from Daimler’s fledgling EQ family and it arrives amid continued local investment in electric charging infrastructure.

The EQC packages a 300kW/760Nm twin electric motor all-wheel drive system with a 405-volt, 80kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor between the axles.

Performance is spritely, with claimed 0-100km/h acceleration of 5.1sec putting the Mercedes-Benz EQC in a similar performance ballpark to the entry-level Tesla Model X (4.9sec) and Jaguar I-PACE (4.8sec).

Depending on how you measure electric range, the EQC is claimed to deliver readouts of up to 471km (NEDC), 434km (ADR) or just 353km (WLTP) between recharges.

On the outside, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 looks a lot like the Mercedes-Benz GLC – one of Australia’s top-selling luxury vehicles – with which it shares its platform and wheelbase.

In fact, it wears all-new sheet-metal and Mercedes says just 15 per cent of parts are common to both five-seat mid-size SUVs.

It is hoped this positioning will align the EQC with a raft of buyers, offering a 1.8-tonne towing capacity and 500-litre cargo area, along with the safety, technology and driveability commensurate with the three-pointed star.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC is available in one model grade and comes with a non-negotiable price of $137,900 plus on-road costs.

The EQC is the first Mercedes-Benz available to purchase directly from the manufacturer online in Australia. For buyers who choose this option, the new process cuts out dealerships, which will only be responsible for delivering and servicing the vehicles.

On par with its chief rivals, the Mercedes-Benz EQC battery comes with an eight-year/160,000km warranty. The rest of the vehicle is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty – better than many other premium brands – and service intervals are 12 months or 25,000km.

Mercedes-Benz EQC drivers will also have access to free, unlimited fast-charging for the first five years via the Chargefox ultra-rapid (350kW) charging network.

Reduced headroom, weight and price aside, the Mercedes-Benz EQC demands few compromises for its ability to transport up to five occupants and their cargo in spirited luxury with zero exhaust emissions for long enough to make it a daily driver and even a household’s only vehicle.

At the Australian launch, carsales managing editor Marton Pettendy said: “It is another convincing example of how far EVs have come in a short time. It’s also a tantalising taste of what’s on the way in a variety of shapes from Mercedes-Benz, providing the first real litmus test for the acceptance of premium EVs.”

That statement certainly augers well for the EQC, but it will have its work cut out at the carsales Car of the Year for 2020, proudly presented by Bingle.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 at a glance:
Price: From $137,900
Powertrain: Two asynchronous electric motors, all-wheel drive
Output: 300kW/760Nm
Battery: 80kWh lithium-ion
Range (WLTP): 353km
Energy consumption: 21.4kWh/100km