When the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ sedan showed up at my house, I was astounded to see how much battery range it has.
Mercedes lists it at 350, but since EV range can fluctuate with driving style and conditions, the vehicle was showing a max of over 400 miles and an estimated remaining range of around 385 or so when the car was dropped off.
The battery capacity, if you’re wondering, is 108.4 kWh.
Other key specs — 329 horsepower, 417 lb-ft of torque, and a price tag of $115,160 as tested on top of a base price of $104,400.
Let’s dive in to the pros and cons.
Pros
- This is one sublime package overall. The ride is smooth and supple but never soft.
- Handling is fun, even without selecting the stiffer Sport mode.
- There’s plenty of power on tap.
- Mercedes might be the only OEM doing haptic touch even remotely well — and even then, it’s not perfect.
- I love huge center-stack screen. Well integrated and easy to read.
- The customizable gauge cluster is fun.
- It’s very silent inside, as a luxury EV should be.
- The interior materials are class appropriate.
Cons
- Unlike with the last EQS sedan I drove, I had a hard time getting the seating position just right.
- The wireless cell phone charger requires an awkward reach, especially if you’re using the retractable cupholders.
- Rear headroom is cut down by the sloping roof line.
- There’s a retractable cover for the cupholder area, and it’s too easily activated if you bump it.
- MBUX infotainment is generally easy to use, but certain functions are overly complicated or require too much menu-diving.
- I didn’t need to charge it — not that I can, anyway, where I live — but the spec sheet shows an 11.25 hour charge time 10 percent to 100 percent on a 240V and 31 minutes 10 percent to 80 percent when using DC fast charging. While the fast charge time is only a few minutes more than other vehicles, that’s still a bit longer.
I dig the EQS overall. It has a very livable range, it’s comfortable, it’s fun to drive, and it feels like a luxury sedan should. The price tag is dear, even for a Mercedes, and I was let down by the seating position. Still, overall, I’d consider an EQS if I was in the proper tax bracket.
[Images © 2024 Tim Healey/TTAC.com]
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