Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 2022 Review

Look out Tesla, that’s a three-pointed star in the mirror coming fast.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the brand’s first-ever dedicated battery-electric large SUV and it’s promising to deliver the sort of three-row, seven-seat tailpipe-emissions-free experience that the Tesla Model X has had almost entirely to itself.

Set to arrive Down Under in the third quarter of 2023, the EQS SUV will be offered in a single, seven-seat 450 4MATIC guise – at least initially. A higher-performance EQS SUV 500 is already on the cards for Australia and both a 580 4MATIC and even a Mercedes-Maybach range-topping model are likely too.

But with the launch just underway, global EV supply chain challenges and the car already in big demand in markets like the US and China, local Mercedes-Benz connections are still to confirm the Aussie line-up, full specifications and pricing.

The best clues regarding price are via the EQS sedan with which the EQS SUV shares its dedicated EV platform and many components and sub-systems.

At this stage only the EQS AMG 53 sedan has a confirmed Australian price tag – in the region of $330K. Best guesses are that the 450 variant of the sedan will be around $260,000 (plus on-road costs), with the EQS SUV 450 4MATIC very close to that mark.

There’s a clue to the level of standard equipment we can expect in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV in the name.

This is an electric Mercedes-Benz S-Class in SUV form, and as such you’ll want for little, have myriad customisation and option combinations, but can expect to pay handsomely for the right.

Creature comforts include both vegan and real leather upholstery choices, real wood and aluminium trim and, as standard, the second-gen MBUX infotainment system. The stunning but, frankly, at times distracting full-width MBUX Hyperscreen will be an option.

Seats with heating, cooling and massaging functionality, depending on the options you tick, are a given. So too is keyless entry and start, and all the goodies you’d expect from a top-end SUV from the three-pointed star.

It’s possible to pre-condition the car in terms of both climate and charging. A power tailgate is another given, as are soft-close doors, laminated side glass and the option of a massive two-panel panoramic roof.

Audiophiles will appreciate the optional Dolby Atmos immersive sound which couples with a Burmester system. Two 11.6-inch rear screens should keep the second row entertained.

More than passive infotainment, that rear system has the ability to interface with the vehicle’s navigation and other systems and for the passengers to use voice commands and other functions normally reserved for front-seaters.

For the driver, head-up displays are offered with an augmented reality version delivering an oversized image.

A variety of ‘soundscapes’ are also part of the EQS SUV experience. Each features unique interior driving sounds.

The big Mercedes wagon even has the ability to deliver a ‘Power Nap’ cabin configuration to help refresh those taking a short break on a long journey. This program moves the driver’s seat, closes windows and blinds, activates ionisation of the incoming and circulating air, delivers “soothing” sounds and at a predetermined time can initiate a wake-up sequence.

Oh, and there’s wireless charging and smartphone integration. But no spare wheel – in any variants.

Electric cars already have a divisive reputation when it comes to safety. On one hand you have the structural benefits a battery platform can deliver plus dynamic benefits of low centre of gravity, etc.

On the other is the oft-quoted but largely unwarranted concern regarding high voltage and battery fires, etc.

Mercedes’ EQ platforms address the latter with high-voltage ‘self test’ systems, fully protected separate positive and negative lines and a zoned safety concept for the battery packaging itself.

There are both automatic and manual voltage cut-off systems which operate in the event of a significant crash. In some instances, that shutdown requires a professional reboot.

Of course, Mercedes’ various passive and active safety systems are present in their most advanced forms in the new 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

EV-specific front, side and rear impact strategies are employed. While the battery is isolated in most impacts, in big ones its structure itself adds to the vehicle’s integrity.

There’s a suite of restraint systems including extras like a driver’s knee airbag. Curtain and window bags protect all three rows of passengers, and expect Aussie-spec versions to feature additional side and front centre airbags.

The most recent version of Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe is featured. This now even boasts a side safety system that uses inflatable seat bolsters to move an occupant inboard if a side impact is imminent.

A full suite of driver assistance packages is fitted to the EQS SUV. Adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking front and rear, blind spot and lane keeping assistance and more are all standard.

New assistance features include Evasive Steering Assist which can, according to Mercedes, “assist the driver when seeking to avoid another road user detected by the system in a critical situation”. Scenarios covered include standing and moving pedestrians and cyclists, including those moving along the path of the vehicle.

New parking assistance features include a memory function which allows the car to ‘learn’ to enter and leave a home or apartment garage autonomously. It’s also package protected for even more extensive auto parking functionality as it becomes available via Mercedes me connected services.

It’s unclear whether any level of driverless parking will be offered Down Under.

At low speed (up to 30km/h), sound is generated to warn pedestrians and other road users.

In addition to the multi-layers of safety tech detailed above, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has a tech suite that will impress.

‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control has been improved and the number of functions it can control expanded with or without the Mercedes me App. That said, it’s still got glitches…

There is a choice of instrumentation themes. In addition to a digital interpretation of the traditional gauge-based dash, like the EQS sedan there’s a Pure EV theme with 3D performance ‘bar graph’. A ‘Discreet’ mode pares back information even further.

There’s native online streaming music services and significant scope for vehicle interface personalisation via a blend of vehicle-based and app controls – Benz claims 800 parameters, from climate and seating preferences to favourite radio station to ambient lighting and so on.

Of special note is the optional MBUX Hyperscreen. As the label suggests, this is a massive presentation that spans almost the width of the car and blends functionality seamlessly across three screens with consistent display formats and style.

This is very much the command centre of the car and in the centre and passenger zones uses haptic feedback to deliver a blend of new-tech look and traditional high-precision switch feel. The ‘zero-layer’ user interface concept means you’re just one click from key functions.

The EQS SUV also benefits from what Benz terms ‘Navigation with Electric Intelligence’. This system blends smart traffic planning with charging availability and other factors (geographical, environmental and vehicle) to plan routes, prompt charging stops and pre-condition the vehicle for fast charging. It’ll also display whether the vehicle has enough charge to get you home.

Again, like the EQS sedan, the EQS SUV features over-the-air updates. These facilitate not only updates but also the potential to purchase services/features after taking delivery of the vehicle.

Examples given by Mercedes-Benz include a Trailer Manoeuvring Assistant and augmented reality navigation.

How Mercedes-Benz Australia will treat these features or other subscription-based services and functionality will be clearer closer to the EQS SUV’s local launch.

The new 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV shares its battery-electric powertrains with its sedan counterparts.

All of these are based around a 12-module, 108.4kWh lithium-ion battery with, in the case of the 4MATIC-only EQS SUV versions coming Down Under, dual 400V permanently-excited synchronous motors.

The front and rear motors are rated at 140kW and 265kW respectively and are used in 450, 500 and 580 variants. The rear motor is more powerful thanks to a more energy-dense, six-phase design.

Unlike some comparable EV drivetrains, Mercedes-Benz eschews a two-speed gearbox or similar. Simple reduction gears are used on each axle.

All-wheel drive is delivered via continuously variable (it’s calculated 160 times per second) torque split across front and rear axles. One axle (front or rear) can be shut down in some conditions to reduce base load.

Up front, large discs are clamped by four-piston callipers. The rear set-up uses twin-piston callipers.

In addition to the mechanical braking system, up to 290kW of energy recuperation is delivered and there are low-traction and off-road modes incorporated into the system’s smarts. The latter give the EQS SUV remarkable traction.

Mercedes offers a 10-year/250,000km 70 per cent capacity performance guarantee on the battery.

The EQS 450 4MATIC has a maximum output of 265kW and a hefty 800Nm of torque. The EQS 500 4MATIC is rated at 330kW and 855Nm. The EQS 580 4MATIC ups power to 400kW but only marginally increases torque – albeit to a still very impressive 858Nm.

The trio have near identical claimed range which is noted below.

Mercedes-Benz quotes a 0-100km/h time of 6.0sec and a top speed of 210km/h for the EQS 450 4MATIC. The 580 is quicker at 4.3sec but also tops out at 210km/h. Unsurprisingly, the 500 splits the difference – 0-100km/h in 5.1sec.

None challenge the highest-performance versions of the Tesla Model X or Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, but they’re nonetheless impressive for a seven-seat, 2730kg SUV…

And in the real world, even the 450 we drove exclusively feels plenty fast enough.

For the record, braked towing capacity of the EQS SUVs is 1800kg.

There’s a single kilometre difference in the claimed WLTP range of 450 and 580 versions of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV – 610km versus 609.

The EQS SUV has a max charging power of 200kW. When hooked up to a DC fast-charger, Mercedes says its flagship electric SUV can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 31 minutes, with up to 250km of range being added after just 15 minutes.

An ECO Charging mode prioritises battery health. The onboard charger is rated at 11kW with an option to upgrade to 22kW.

Bidirectional charging is available in the EQS SUV for the Japanese market. At this stage it’s highly unlikely Mercedes-Benz will offer the functionality Down Under. Good to know, however, it’s on the way.

A large part of the EQS SUV’s efficiency at highway speed is thanks to slippery aerodynamics.

At 0.26Cd, the EQS SUV doesn’t match the standout record-setting (for a production car) 0.20Cd drag coefficient of the EQS sedan, but many of the same optimisations are used.

Witness the flush door handles, smooth ‘black Panel’ front-end and very careful air management around the rear and underfloor of the big seven-seater.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV features the car-maker’s height-adjustable AIRMATIC adaptive air suspension and rear-axle steering system which helps make the big SUV more manoeuvrable and dynamic.

But there’s no escaping the sheer size of this thing.

Mercedes has thrown a kitchen sink’s worth of active driver aids and safety tech at it, and it’s child’s play to shuffle it along, but you are constantly aware of its dimensions – and sometimes its sheer mass – over 2.7 tonnes

The EQS is not going to outrun a Tesla Model X in a straight line – not even close. But it’s a level above the American electric seven-seater in almost every regard. Steering precision, ride comfort, noise levels, and overall polish are all superior.

And that Mercedes DNA is present in almost every aspect of the car’s on-road performance – even in terms of how the controls feel and function.

It’s not an exciting drive. It is, however, what it says on the tin – a luxury seven-seater capable of fuss-free travel, across town or across state.

Having said that, I’m not at all keen on how the dash seems too high and the steering wheel feels oversized. And I can’t see over the bonnet so it’s hard to work out exactly where the corners are…

I’m tipping the EQS SUV will be intimidating to some drivers. And everyone will welcome the parking and camera tech Mercedes has delivered when you head into town or to your nearest high-end destination.

On the plus side of the equation, Mercedes’ paddle-shift regenerative braking settings are a model for how all car-makers should handle this important aspect of the EV drive experience.

Auto optimises regenerative braking by interfacing with adaptive cruise control (and other active systems) and delivers almost perfect one-pedal driving. It’s clever enough to be a default setting.

In hilly terrain or heavy traffic, however, extra regen can be accessed and tuned by simply clicking a paddle. Far better than the menu-based systems many other car-makers use.

In addition to the regular Eco, Sport, Comfort and Individual driving modes, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV comes standard with a new Off-road mode.

Mercedes-Benz says it ensures the all-wheel drive wagon is “capable of tackling light terrain with ease”.

Normal ground clearance is 197mm, but that can be bumped up 25mm at slow speed for rough roads. (At high speed the car automatically lowers itself 20mm below its static setting.)

The short off-road track we tackled near Downieville in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver wouldn’t have challenged any purpose-built off-roader, but the EQS SUV ate it up with ease.

The standouts were: traction on the properly steep and loose track; the reduced turning circle the rear-steer delivers; and the uncanny quiet. Not even the hydraulic pulsing you’d expect from a ‘normal’ car using hill descent control was heard.

This part of the EQS performance envelope is probably academic, but if it’s a glimpse of how an electric powertrain can work on the rough stuff then I can’t wait for the battery-powered G-Wagen – the incoming Mercedes-Benz EQG.

Meantime, the EQS SUV’s off-road performance is much more capable than it has any right to be.

Measuring 5125mm long, 1959mm wide and 1718mm tall, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is no shrinking violet.

Indeed, it shares its long 3210mm wheelbase with its EQS sedan counterpart, but is more than 20mm taller and therefore delivers what should be very generous internal dimensions.

Two interior design themes are offered – the luxury-focused Electric Art and sportier AMG Line. Seven interior colour combinations are just the start of your personalisation journey.

The soft exterior styling hides some of the sheer size of the vehicle.

Inside, the cabin – at least in the front seats – is cosy rather than spacious. The EQS SUV shares the same ‘Seat Position Reference’ as an S-Class with 800mm between driver and passenger. However, up front the high dash and two-level centre console makes it feel smaller than you’d expect.

The flat floor of dedicated electric cars tends to make them feel roomier. That’s not the case with the EQS SUV. That said, the seats are well shaped and tilt and reach adjustment on the wheel delivers a decent driving position quickly.

Impressions aside, there is the space you need and plenty of storage. That same centre console has a lower tray and two upper lidded compartments with myriad USB ports and wireless changing.

The 40/20/40-split folding second row slides and tumbles electronically. The 130mm fore-aft allows you to maximise legroom and/or third row or luggage space.

Access to the third row is via an electric tilt and slide that also moves the front passenger seat (or driver’s seat) for better egress.

The two seats in the third row are manual. They look cosy but actually deliver decent room for two small adults or teens.

Both the second and third rows can be optioned with heating and get more USB (C and A) ports, HVAC vents, soft arm rests (even in row three) and cup holders. The second-row centre arm rest has a wireless charging pad and optional separate tablet.

There’s little luggage space when all three rows are deployed for family and friends, but with two there’s truckloads (565 litres), as unlike the second row, the third folds completely flat. Four bags easily, say Benz’s tame golfers.

Put all the seats down and the litreage is over 2000…

There’s so much technology and know-how that’s gone into the new EQ EV architecture and been applied to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, a short video or review can only scratch the surface.

It’s impressive and the more you dig into it, the more it’s clear the electrification of Mercedes is inevitable and coming fast.

But while I admire that and can appreciate the overall excellence of execution in the EQS, it’s hard to get excited about this car.

The packaging benefits of electric powertrains should translate to cars that not only have plenty of space but feel spacious too.

The EQS feels classy but bloated, and perhaps from the driver’s seat even a little claustrophobic, all at the same time. Its sheer bulk and high dash and belt line means it won’t be a comfortable drive for many.

I can’t help but think given the step change this generation of Mercedes is intended to be, this feels like a lost opportunity.

If you need a large seven-seat electric SUV, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4MATIC is a better-resolved car and choice than the ageing Tesla Model X.

That doesn’t mean it’s a great car – we’re yet to be spoiled for choice in this segment.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4MATIC at a glance
Price: $260,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: Third quarter 2023
Powertrain: Dual permanently excited synchronous electric motors
Output: 265kW/800Nm (140kW front/265kW rear)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 108.4kWh lithium-ion
Range: 610km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 20.2-24.3kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested