Mercedes-Benz EQE India Review: Expensive But A Well Packaged EV

While being the biggest luxury car player, Mercedes-Benz wants to replicate the same in the EV space.

The EQE is more important since it is an SUV and plays to the car-makers strengths.

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

The luxury car segment has taken a better liking to EVs than the mass market buyer largely due to more choice and being early adopters. While being the biggest luxury car player, Mercedes-Benz wants to replicate the same in the EV space. After the EQC, it had the EQS and now it has the EQE. The EQE is more important since it is an SUV and plays to the car-makers strengths. However, is it any good? Let us find out

The EQ brand is completely different from the rest of the Mercedes portfolio and that means an EV specific platform brings in more space along with greater flexibility. In terms of looks, it is more of a curvaceous crossover than an upright SUV like the diesel/petrol GLE. However, the styling is different here and it stands out.

The front with the star pattern blanked off grille gets the attention as well as the slippery shape. Everything has been done in keeping aerodynamics in mind, even with the 20inch alloys. From the rear it is more of a crossover but again is quite radical.

The interior though is like a spaceship and the part piece of the EQS has also been given here. We are talking about the massive 56 inch hyperscreen which occupies the entire width of the dashboard including a touchscreen for the passenger also. The driver is not disturbed or gets his/her attention diverted due to this as if the driver glances at it, the light gets dim for the driver.

The main screen is a superb OLED display with excellent design. Most of the basic functions are stacked along for easy access while physical buttons have been replaced. You have finger print access to create specific driver profiles and the voice assistant is also there which takes care of everything else. It all works while the quality/finish is top notch too. The air vent design to the star pattern on the lower part of the centre console along with the overall aesthetic is easily one of the most inviting cabins.

The feature list contains everything from ventilated/massage seats, massive glass roof, a superb all round camera, 15 speaker Burmester audio while a transparent bonnet feature helps taking the EQE on bad roads with a view of the ground below. There is also ADAS with the latest features and a lot more. While the front seats are very comfortable, the rear seat experience could have been better since we were expecting sublinds at the rear plus more adjustability while the seat itself is short on thigh support although legroom/headroom is very good.

The steering wheel feels too big but the serene driving experience is what separates the EQEA from others. There is literally no noise at all-nothing and the soft air suspension just absorbs the road. In terms of comfort, it is better than its firm EV rivals. It is also easy to drive and light while importantly unlike the EQS or the EQC, the underside does not scrape at all. You can raise the suspension but I did not have to- it does handle our roads very well on its standard setting.

Twin motors develop 408hp and a huge 858Nm of torque which means a simple tap at the accelerator will make the EQE break the speed limit many times over! This is a fast car and it gathers performance in such a way that you hardly notice the speed. The speed is shocking and you are taken aback at how this big SUV goes so quickly.

There are drive modes and regen modes too which you can customise but even in eco mode, acceleration is sharp. The large 90.5kWh battery pack will give you enough range so as to not charge at all during a week's worth of commute or you can do Delhi-Jaipur and back. That said, the real world range is closer to 400-430km rather than 550km.

Despite the weight, it feels stable around corners with a touch of softness but that also brings a comfortable ride.

Priced at Rs 1.4 cr, the EQE is expensive than rivals but not by much and if you look closer at the spec sheet, the EQE has a bigger battery plus the better cabin too. If you want a luxury SUV, this delivers it big time due to the refinement plus the experience of driving an EV which matches with what a luxury car buyer demands.

What we like- Quality, interior, performance, range, ride quality

What we do not like- Rear seat experience could be better, expensive