Mercedes’ EQE SUV and AMG versions on steroids unwrapped

Ahead of the Paris Motor Show opening, and after letting seep through several details in the weeks before, Mercedes-Benz has put its new EQE SUV, the ‘multi-purpose variant of the EQE executive saloon’ in the full spotlight. It is more compact than the latter, and at 3030 millimeters, it has a wheelbase that is nine centimeters shorter.

It’s the fourth model using the electric EVA II platform and comes in five flavors, the EQE 350+ rear-wheel drive, the 350 and 500 4MATIC all-wheel driver versions, and two sporty siblings, the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV 43 and 53 4MATIC right from the start. The latter offer two AMG-specific electric motors with a total output of 350 kW (476 hp) and 505 kW (687 hp).

First electric SUV from AMG

The AMG EQE SUV is the first all-electric SUV from the performance and sports car brand with fully variable all-wheel drive, AMG air suspension, rear-axle steering, and AMG-specific roll stabilization as standard.

Maximum torque ranges from 858 to 1000 Nm. It propels the 2,6 ton heavy SUV in the lighter-powered 43 version in 4.3 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The 53, although weighing another 90 kg more, can pitch off another second with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.

Range penalty

That power comes at a price in the form of a range penalty. All variants of the EQE SUV, including the ones on steroids, share the same (328V or 400V) battery with 90.56 kWh of usable energy. The lithium–ion battery consists of ten modules.

The maximum range of the 43 with an average (WLTP) consumption of 25.1–22.0 kWh/100 km is estimated provisionally at 431–488 km. The bigger bully needs 27.8–22.6 kWh/100 km and gets only 370 to 470 far.

170 kW fast-charging

In the more down-to-earth versions of the EQE SUV, Mercedes promises that European vehicles can achieve WLTP ranges of up to 590 kilometers for the basic rear-wheel drive version depending on the vehicle equipment and configuration. This one consumes 21,8–17,7 kWh/100 km. The other 4Matics 350 and 500 offer 459–558 and 460–547 km, respectively. To compare: the more aerodynamic EQE sedan offers up to 659 km range.

AC charging capacity is standard 11 kW, 22 kW optional as with the other variants, and 170 kW DC fast-charging. You’ll get ten years of battery performance guarantee or 250 000 km. The top speed is limited to 210 km/h, but even in Germany today, you’ll have a hard time finding a stretch of Autobahn where you can experience that.

Series production of the EQE SUV is set to start in December at the US plant in Tuscaloosa, built alongside the EQS SUV of which production started in August of this year. Prices are yet to be communicated.