Mercedes-Benz EQS electric luxury saloon on sale
Mercedes’ flagship EQS electric saloon is now on sale, priced from £99,995 and introducing advanced technology and a new electric drivetrain.
It’s the first of the brand’s EQ electric line-up to sit on a new dedicated EVA (Electric Vehicle Architecture) platform, also being used for the smaller EQE saloon revealed at Munich last week and the EQE SUV and EQS SUV.
It also showcases the MBUX Hyperscreen dashboard, a massive 141cm-long curved glass screen incorporating three displays and available on higher trims for £7,995.
The powertrain line-up includes an entry-level EQS 450+ featuring a 107.8kWh battery and a rear-mounted motor, giving a total 333hp of power and 568Nm of torque, along with an official 453-mile WLTP range. The battery features a 200kW DC on-board charger, allowing it to charge from 10 to 80% in around 31 minutes.
There will also be a 580 4MATIC version that gets an extra motor on the front axle for all-wheel drive, giving it a total 524hp of power and 855Nm of torque, but this model won’t arrive in the UK.
Trim levels cover AMG Line, AMG Line Premium/AMG Luxury and AMG Line Premium Plus/Exclusive Luxury, with a £7,000 step up between each trim. AMG Line models have a more sporty dynamic while Luxury trims are focused on more classic styling.
The entry-level model EQS 450+ AMG Line comes as standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, AMG Line body styling in high-gloss black and chrome, 4.5-degree rear-axle steering, panoramic sunroof, full leather upholstery, heated seats front and rear and Nappa leather sports steering wheel. Onboard tech includes 12.3-inch driver display, MBUX multimedia system with 12.8-inch OLED central display, Driving Assistance Package and MBUX augmented navigation.
AMG Line Premium adds 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, Digital Light with Light Band, interior active ambient lighting, acoustic privacy glass, a 360-degree camera, Driving Assistance Plus and a Burmester surround-sound system.
The AMG Line Premium Plus brings a head-up display, remote parking functionality and the gesture-controlled MBUX interior assistant.
The EQS 450+ Luxury models features equipment levels equal to the AMG Line Premium trim, but with revised interior styling, such as the Microcloud Artico upholstery combined with ship-deck wood, comfort seats with comfort headrests and a heated steering wheel and 22-inch alloy wheels. It’s priced the same as the AMG Line Premium trim, costing £7,000 more than AMG Line cars.
Buyers can also opt for the Exclusive Luxury trim, which adds multi-contour massage seats with climate control, an air balance package and Nappa leather upholstery, and costs an extra £7,000 over Luxury-spec vehicles.
All EQS models come with a three-year subscription to Mercedes me Charge, providing access to multiple public charging providers from a single account and including a one-year subscription to Ionity with free rapid charging.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is on sale now, with first UK deliveries expected late 2021.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
