Review: The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is a very 'special' electric car
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There has always been something special about the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. When it started using that name in 1972, the top model of the brand was called the Sonderklasse, denoting its place as the company's flagship.
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There are other electric vehicles made by the automaker, but they are built on platforms that are shared with internal combustion engine models. The EQS is the first built on a dedicated EV chassis and will inspire other lines in the future.
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Starting at $103,360, the EQS is no bargain, but it is around $9,000 less than the lowest-priced S-Class, even before taking into account the $7,500 federal tax credit.
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Even though the two cars are similar in size, the EQS has an entirely different look. With a ‘cab-forward' design that flows into the windshield and over the roof to the rear hatchback,
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Since electric cars need to stretch their electrons as far as they can, even at the most powerful public charging stations, aerodynamic efficiency is especially important.
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A 107-kilowatt-hour battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in as little as 31 minutes on the EQS. Chargers slow down above 80% to prevent over-stressing batteries, which can reduce their lifespan.
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The EPA-rated range of the entry-level 329 horsepower rear-wheel-drive EQS 450+ is 350 miles, while the 516 horsepower all-wheel-drive EQS 580 4Matic can achieve 340 miles between charging stops.
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In my real-world tests of the EQS 580 4Matic, the figures are fairly accurate, and anything above 300 miles per charge reduces "range anxiety" significantly.