Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV 2023 Review

Priced at $134,900 plus on-road costs, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is the entry-level model in the German prestige car-maker’s electric vehicle line.

The only single e-motor rear-wheel drive model, the EQE 300 SUV’s more expensive brethren are all dual e-motor all-wheel drive and include the EQE 350 4MATIC SUV (from $144,900), the limited-edition EQE 500 4MATIC SUV (from $164,900) and the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ SUV (from $189,900).

Logical EV opposition for the EQE SUV include the Audi Q8 e-tron (just launching now in facelifted form), the BMW iX and the Jaguar I-PACE.

The EQE SUV is only a five seater, so if you want a seven-seat Benz EV then you’ll have to upgrade to the EQS 450 4MATIC SUV, which is also soon to go on sale locally with a price of $194,900 plus ORCs.

Alternatively, if you’re not wedded to the clean and green thing, then the EQE 300 SUV is priced pretty directly against the Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d, which misses out on some high-end equipment the EQE gets, but does come with all-wheel drive, the option of third row seating … and a stinky diesel engine.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is well equipped, which is as it should be considering its pricing.

Exterior features include 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels shod in run-flat rubber, and AMG Line enhancements including dark tinted glass and illuminated aluminium-look running boards.

These accoutrements can’t hide a plain fact about the EQE SUV – it looks a hell of a lot like the EQS SUV. And yep, we know, styling is in the eye of the beholder, but am I alone in thinking this exterior is more bulbous people-mover than squared-off SUV?

Accessed by keyless entry, the EQE interior includes heated and powered AMG Line front sports seats with memory settings. AMG Line also includes a Nappa leather five-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel.

Also standard are AMG brushed stainless-steel pedals, a huge sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control using a heat pump, leather upholstery, Anthracite trim, a power tailgate and cargo area roller cover.

There are some significant options on offer including $2900 rear axle steering that reduces the turning circle from 12.3m to 10.5m, $3400 air suspension and $1800 22-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels. Metallic paint is a no-cost option.

However, the 300 is the only EQE SUV that can’t option the spectacular $6700 MBUX Hyper Screen or access the new ‘transparent bonnet’ camera tech that primarily aids in off-road driving or parking.

The EQE 300 SUV is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, including five years’ roadside assist. Its high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack is protected for 10 years/250,000km. Also guaranteed is a retention of at least 70 per cent of capacity over the period.

Service intervals are 15,000km/12 months. Service plans start at $1950 for three workshop visits, rising to $3000 for four and $3555 for five.

As yet, there is no ANCAP independent safety rating for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV range but one should show up in the next few months.

Other new battery-electric vehicles based on Mercedes-Benz’s EVA2 platform, the EQE and EQS sedans, have already gained five-star ratings based on 2022 and 2021 Euro NCAP testing respectively.

The EQE comes with a family of sensor-based driver assist systems including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping and lane changing support, active steering assist, evasive manoeuvre support and traffic sign assist.

Its ambient lighting even changes colour when the car drifts out of its lane.

In addition to the usual front, side and curtain airbags, the EQE 300 SUV includes a driver’s knee airbag and a front centre airbag.

The EQE 300 SUV also has digital LED headlights with the ability to mask the beam from oncoming traffic, driver monitoring, a 360-degree camera, active parking assist, tyre pressure monitoring and the pre-safe systems that prepare the car for imminent impact.

The digital transition Mercedes is making is underlined from the driver’s seat of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV.

Directly in front is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster configurable through five different views and is augmented by a head-up display. To the left is a 12.8-inch OLED infotainment touch-screen that dominates the dashboard.

Contained within the touch-screen is sat-nav with augmented reality that can display directions on a forward-looking camera view.

The EQE 300 SUV also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection, streaming and digital radio and a generous serving of six USB-C outlets spread through the cabin. Wireless smartphone charging is provided too.

The EQE SUV comes with the Mercedes me smartphone app but over-the-air (OTA) updates are not available in Australia.

The 15-speaker Burmester 3D sound system comes standard with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos which is accessible exclusively via the Apple Music app (which is accessible via Android Devices).

Demonstrated on the launch in an EQS SUV, it cranks out a pretty good sound. But if you don’t have Apple Music don’t worry, the stereo is still pretty good without it, even sending vibes up through the floor via subwoofers mounted in the front chassis rails!

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is powered by a permanently excited synchronous electric motor that turns the rear wheels via a single-speed direct drive.

The motor produces a maximum 180kW and 550Nm and claims the ability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

That’s one second slower than the EQE 350 SUV and 3.6 seconds slower than the AMG flagship.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV employs an 89kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery of Benz’s own design and construction. The range claim between recharges is 539km on the more generous NEDC rating. On the tougher and more realistic WLTP, it is rated at 446km.

The 300 can fast-charge at a claimed rate up to 170kW, which delivers a 10-80 per cent recharge in 32 minutes. At the maximum 11kW AC recharging rate (which requires three-phase power), the recharge time from empty to full is about 8.5 hours, while plugging into a 240V socket would mean a 48h (approx) stay for a full recharge.

Benz does offer an optional 22kW AC wallbox installation for the EQE SUV that costs $2475. Again, you’d need three-phase power to take advantage of it.

The claimed consumption rate for the EQE 300 SUV is 18.9kWh/100km (NEDC). On WLTP that translates to 22.9kWh/100km. On the drive we were seeing economy averages in the 22-23kWh/100km range.

The EQE 300 SUV has recuperative charging that can be changed via steering wheel paddles through different levels of over-run and braking assist from nothing to full-on one-pedal driving.

There’s an auto function that autonomously judges the level of deceleration required, even slowing and pulling up behind other vehicles.

The EQE 300 SUV comes standard with both CCS2 and wall socket charging cables.

The fundamental issue the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV really has when it comes to driving is carving out a patch of its own identifiable territory.

It shares so much of mechanical platform and powertrain with other Mercedes-Benz EVs there is inevitably a sense of “haven’t we been here before?” As mentioned already, it also looks a lot like the EQS SUV, so that doesn’t help.

That EQE 300 SUV’s search for a unique identity applies wider than just rival Benz models. Electric motors and their single-speed drives provide a similar feel no matter the badge, so it’s a challenge for any EV to define itself as really different or special.

And if there is one thing a $140,000-plus car needs to convey, it’s some specialness. In the past with its internal combustion engine (ICE) models, Benz has been able to do that very well.

Not so much with the EQE 300 SUV. It’s a decent drive, just not especially memorable.

Hit the start button and select drive via the gear wand on the steering column and in that typical EV way the EQE 300 SUV accelerates more impressively than the figures would suggest. They just don’t do the motor’s tip-in throttle response justice.

It launches from standstill with alacrity and would slice up any GLE 300d foolish enough to drag it at the lights.

You can retune the powertrain’s behaviour through different modes from Eco (dull) to Sport (energetic), with Comfort the in-between option. There’s also an Individual mode to combine different powertrain, steering and stability control behaviours.

It’s also a more convincing handler than any traditional top-heavy SUV. With the big and heavy battery slung low in the platform, the EQE 300 SUV feels more nimble, responsive and manoeuvrable than a vehicle with a 2385kg kerb weight, 4863mm length and 1940mm width.

That’s aided by a taut but well-controlled passive (yep no active dampers despite the price) multi-link front and rear suspension and electric-assist steering that remains responsive, avoids rubberiness in whichever drive mode chosen and doesn’t vary its light weight too dramatically.

The result is the EQE 300 SUV drives more like a passenger car with sporting pretensions than the SUV it’s classified as and the people-mover it looks like.

Not all was positive about the drive experience at the launch. On wet and lumpy roads the anti-lock brake system would occasionally and momentarily release the calliper during a hard brake and then reclamp. It was an unappealing sensation.

The autonomous recuperation mode also proved a bit of a head scratcher because of the variable retardation it chose to provide.

More amusingly, the EQE 300 SUV offers three artificial tunes to accompany acceleration. The most striking is Roaring Pulse, which sounds like a V8 with several dropped valves and a holed exhaust.

Silence became the preferred option.

Nope, not in any real sense. Its all-wheel drive relations will tackle mild scenarios, but the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is rear-wheel drive and made for formed roads.

The cabin of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is striking for its depth.

You really sit deep, something accentuated by the vertical slabbiness of the dashboard and the high position of the flying bridge centre console dividing the front occupants.

Thankfully, there’s generous adjustment of the large and comfy front seats via the door controls as per Benz tradition – everyone should do it this way – and power adjustment of the steering wheel as well. Even if you like to sit low, you may find the bottom of the range in this car too extreme.

Made in Tuscaloosa in the US, the EQE 300 SUV’s cabin presentation is decent without feeling as opulent as the price tag might warrant. For instance, the shiny trims on the floating door arm rests are faux-metal plastic.

Really, it’s the big screens that deliver the interior wow factor. Both have multiple levels to drill down into and adjust, but there are also shortcuts so potential annoyances like steering assist can be quickly switched off.

The air-con controls are digital, but at least they are represented on the OLED screen.

The touch-screen and instrument panel can also be accessed via controls on the spokes of the steering wheel, while voice control is another way to operate the system.

Overall, it’s pretty straightforward in here. As is typical of EVs, there is plenty of space both front and rear for adults and plenty of storage as well.

The centre console is the prime space to stick bottles and other stuff up front and the smartphone charger is also located within. But there is a huge gap between the upper section and the flat storage space below, which seems a waste of potential usable space.

Rear seat passengers get both air-con vents (but no temp controls) and dual USB-C outlets, as well as the more prosaic stuff like cup holders and door pockets.

The boot is rated at a decent 520 litres of storage, which expands to 1675L if the rear seat is split-folded.

There is no frunk; in fact, as is normal for Benz EQ models, you can’t even open the bonnet.

If we are to accept the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV is positioned as affordably as possible, then it has a problem.

It’s one that is not unique to this car or the EQE SUV range. All its prestigious European rivals we’ve already mentioned have this problem. There are more efficient EVs at much cheaper prices.

For instance, the standard-range rear-wheel drive Tesla Model Y is $70,000 cheaper than this vehicle. It has a slightly longer range, is more economical, has its own compelling tech story and a spacious five-seat capacity.

But they’re not direct competitors is the logical argument. Benz is a luxury brand and Tesla isn’t. The reality is, in the brave new world of EVs brand loyalties and distinctions like that are being discarded like unused fuel cards.

The EQE 300 SUV doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the EV herd, especially at this money. It’s competent but vaguely familiar.

At the same price as a Tesla or even a bit more, we’d celebrate it as a fine achievement worth considering. But at Benz money it’s a hard sell.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV at a glance:
Price: $134,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanently excited synchronous motor
Output: 180kW/550Nm
Transmission: Single-speed direct drive
Battery: 89kWh lithium-ion
Range: 446km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 22.9kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested