We Test India's Highest Range EV - Mercedes-Benz's EQS

The EQS was chosen because it is the highest range EV out there now with a claimed figure of a whopping 857km. However, does that translate into the real world?

We found the steering wheel a touch too big though but the 56-inch hyperscreen still remains the talking point inside while the EQS simply wafts as a limo.

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

Electric cars are indeed developing at a faster rate with battery technology evolving and of course the result being more range along with less anxiety. Hence, earlier this month on Environment Day, we drove the EQS from Mercedes-Benz to see how much range we can get out of it.

The EQS was chosen because it is the highest range EV out there now with a claimed figure of a whopping 857km. However, does that translate into the real world? The EQS is a luxury sedan but isn't merely an electric version of the S-Class as it is based on a different architecture along with its swoopy styling being aerodynamic plus it is a neat solution to extract even more range.

Everything in the EQS is about aerodynamics and its huge 107.8kWh battery pack means the range on offer is quite high too. Speaking of which, driving around in the city and with a light foot resulted in a real world range of around 600km with combined city/highway use.

For an EV, this is as high as it gets amongst the current crop and even if you drive the EQS hard in its most aggressive setting, you will get a range of around 500km plus at least. The massive battery helps here but how is the driving experience?

 

With upwards of 500bhp and 855Nm, the EQS is fast but in a smooth way so much so that you do not even feel that some large numbers are coming up on the digital driver display. It is incredibly refined and easy to drive with absolute silence. We found the steering wheel a touch too big though but the 56-inch hyperscreen still remains the talking point inside while the EQS simply wafts as a limo.

 

That said, the ground clearance is a bit of an issue over bad roads but atleast the GPS remembers potholes and lifts the car next time you drive over it. Overall, while the EQS isn't as luxurious in the back seat as the S-Class, as an EV luxury car, it is lovely with its performance, comfort and the huge range which means you hardly need to charge it in a week or two weeks while even road trips are doable- even if you have to be careful for the ground clearance. Right now for EVs available in India, this is about high as it gets in terms of real world range.