Want a Mercedes EQE but in SUV form? The Mercedes-EQ EQE SUV is now here, offering the same formula but in a more practical package

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Photos: Ben Chia and Cheng Yu Hung

SINGAPORE

Mercedes-Benz have long been the expert purveyors of the ‘one sausage in different lengths’ philosophy of car-building.  Barring a few exceptions, the Stuttgart carmaker has often used this strategy for its mainstream sellers, with a single design language translating down its range. The C-Class looks like a smaller E-Class, which itself looks like a smaller S-Class, and the result is that it help establishes a clear identity for the brand that is distinctive for owners.

And so it is for Mercedes-Benz’s electric EQ range too. The EQE sedan looks much like a downsized version of the EQS, and both models now have SUV spinoffs, which again looks like copies of each other in differing sizes.

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Given that, it can be a bit hard to place where the EQE SUV sits in not just the vast Mercedes-Benz lineup, but also amongst the many, many electrified SUVs that have flooded the market now.  What are its direct competitors, for instance? A BMW iX is well over a 100 grand more, and mainly sits between it and the EQE’s bigger sibling, the EQS SUV. Closer to the mark though are Audi’s recently-updated Q8 e-tron, and Lexus’ new RZ, but neither seems like they’re targeting the same sort of customers as the EQE SUV, with their slightly sporting slant as opposed to the Merc’s comfort-oriented persuasion.

Who then is the EQE SUV for? The simple answer is really that it’s probably meant for those who fancy the idea of the EQE, but want something with a slightly more practical SUV form factor. For all the engineering strengths of the EQE sedan, it remains a slightly flawed product, with its sleek design resulting in compromised visibility and reduced rear headroom. The EQE SUV then should addresses these two issues, without hopefully detracting from the good bits.

On the face of it, the EQE SUV appears to have hit the mark. While it’s not quite the enormous seven-seater luxury cruiser as its bigger EQS SUV sibling, the EQE SUV is still pretty generous with its interior space. There’s plenty of legroom for rear passengers, and of course the SUV shape means that headroom is significantly improved over the EQE sedan. The boot is similarly large with its 520-litre capacity, expandable to a whopping 1,675 litres if the rear seats are put down.

The rest of the cabin is really as it were from the rest of the EQ range, with the large vertical-set central infotainment screen now a familiar sight to anyone who’s set in a recent Mercedes-Benz product. The vast triple-display Hyperscreen though is a cost option (unlike the EQS where it is standard), and does transform the interior ambience hugely. Regardless, the EQE SUV remains a pretty nice place to sit in, and is a reflection of how Mercedes-Benz offers some of the most inviting car interiors on sale today.

That same philosophy seems to translate into the EQE SUV’s driving manners as well. It’s a nice, comfortable car to sit in, and it’s a nice, comfortable car to drive. Like most of Mercedes-Benz’s EQ models, the EQE SUV is remarkably quiet, and the car delivers a refined ride that puts you at ease. It’s a pleasant experience for sure, but there’s also the sense that the larger size of the SUV makes it feel more stable and planted at speed than the sedan equivalent. 

And while it’s not exactly dynamically exciting, the EQE SUV acquits itself better than most when it comes to handling. Part of this could perhaps be down to the rear wheel steering system, which shrinks the turning circle, and makes the car feel more nimble and agile in the corners than its size suggests. It certainly feels less cumbersome and clumsy than one might expect of a heavy-set SUV of its type, which is a pretty impressive undertaking indeed.

For now, the sole EQE SUV variant on sale here is the EQE 300 SUV Electric Art. The name is quite a mouthful, but what it means that it produces 245hp and 550Nm of torque from its single electric motor. It doesn’t sound like a lot for an SUV of its size, but it’s really mostly adequate for a car of its nature. After all, this is a car made for cruising in comfort, and the EQE SUV in this form does that exceptionally well indeed. If you want more oomph, the more powerful EQE 350+ SUV AMG Line with nearly 300hp is expected to drop some time in early 2024.

On the whole, there really very little to fault the EQE SUV. It’s a nice, comforting electric SUV that offers plenty of space and a pretty cool looking interior. Perhaps its only ‘failing’ is its visual similarities to its fellow electric siblings, but that need not necessarily be a bad thing. After all, if a formula works, why change the recipe?

Mercedes-EQ EQE 300 SUV Electric Art

Drivetrain	Full electric
Electric Motor / Layout	Single motor / Rear
Motor Power / Torque	245hp / 550Nm
Battery Type / Capacity	Lithium-ion, 90.6kWh
Standard Charge Time / Type	9.5 hours (10-100%) / 11kW AC
Fast Charge Time / Type	32 minutes (10-80%) / 170kW DC
Electric Range	467-553km
0-100km/h	7.6 seconds
Top Speed	210km/h
Efficiency	18.9kWh/100km
VES Band	A1 / -S$25,000
Agent	Cycle & Carriage
Price	S$435,888 with COE
Availability	Now
Verdict:	SUV version of the EQE proves to be a more practical package, while offering the same quiet and refined drive

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