It’s tough at the top! Or in other words, avant-garde, comfortable, luxurious, and refined? We spent two weeks in the Dolomites putting Mercedes’ flagship e-SUV through the wringer to find out whether the 170k EQS SUV can turn a dull driving routine into an exciting travel experience with its massage seats, state-of-the-art infotainment, and the fragrance system. But are the fancy features really enough, and what is the car really capable of?

In the luxury segment, you need superlatives to justify what often can’t be justified: the exorbitant price tag. Using their typical understated approach, Mercedes-Benz describes their flagship e-SUV as avant-garde and luxurious. And with a starting price of just over € 110,000, you wouldn’t expect any less. But, of course, exclusivity doesn’t have limits: our test model retails at around € 170,000, and that’s still not the most expensive configuration – Wilhelm Maybach would approve, but he wouldn’t settle for less than € 200,000. So, is the Mercedes EQS SUV only for the ultra-wealthy, extravagant dentists, and successful businesswomen? Absolutely. But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t want to travel like royalty in an outrageously expensive, utterly impractical luxury car, complete with features that would even outclass some premium airlines’ First Class? Exactly! And that’s why we indulged in two weeks of mobile extravagance, taking this mighty eSUV from Stuttgart to the late-summer beauty of the Dolomites. Does the cutting-edge infotainment, massage seats, and on-board fragrance system turn ordinary road trips into an unforgettable experience, or are you just glad to reach your final destination? We found out!



Built on the same platform as the Mercedes EQS saloon but a whopping 20 cm taller, the EQS SUV is another technological showcase for Daimler, particularly when it comes to electromobility and connectivity. Just like the conventional S-Class, the luxury SUV allows you to unlock certain features and functions via over-the-air updates. So far, these include the trailer manoeuvring assistant and the MBUX multimedia system with augmented reality. Of course, the option list is still long – no surprises there. But maybe that’s all part of the luxury experience: ticking expensive boxes, simply because you can! That said, one little tick on the EQS SUV’s options sheet can quickly drain your bank account, with five-figures summing up in the bat of an eyelid. Who cares, though?

Our test vehicle makes it clear at first glance that Mercedes sent an extremely expensive premium car to our office. The latest configurator quotes around € 170,000, give or take. But here, the price seems less important than the “everyday practicality.” As Mercedes highlighted early in the press release, you can fit a full four golf bags in the boot. Perfect for that exclusive carpool heading to the first tee of the day!

So, what’s the burning question with the Mercedes EQS SUV? Whether it’s worth its money? Well, if you’re even thinking of ordering one, you know the answer. But what we really want to know is: does a luxury car with the latest connectivity features truly make travelling more enjoyable?
Prices and features of the Mercedes EQS SUV: for those who want to reach for the stars…
With many modern electric cars, like the Volvo EX30 and the BYD Seal, the list of optional extras is refreshingly short, and with Tesla, there’s almost nothing to configure. The Mercedes EQS SUV, however, is a different story. Despite its eye-watering entry price of over € 110,000, the list of chargeable options reads like a Stephen King thriller: just as intense and, at times, just as impenetrable. For many potential EQS buyers, though, probably just as thrilling. Welcome to the world of unrestrained luxury, where you can quite literally reach for the stars.

Priced at around € 170,000, even our test model could be described as “fully loaded”. And yet, there’s still plenty of room to push the price higher. Enter the Mercedes-MAYBACH EQS 680 SUV, starting at over € 200,000 – your ultimate ride to the golf course or private jet. It’s unlikely many will opt for the base rear-wheel drive version. Most will probably choose a similar spec to our test vehicle. The EQS 580 4MATIC SUV comes with all-wheel drive and a dual-motor setup churning out 400 kW (544 hp), and is capable of hitting 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The only way to go faster? You guessed it – the MAYBACH variant: 4.4 seconds, courtesy of 484 kW (658 hp). For the price of a decent flat, you do get perks like heated and cooled cup holders in the rear seats. We didn’t exactly miss having a champagne cooler or humidor, but we wouldn’t have minded a nice bottle of bubbles on our way back home from the Alps!


Back to our test vehicle: listing all the features in detail would fill an article on its own, so here are all key highlights at a glance. On board is Mercedes’ most premium multimedia system to date, the MBUX with augmented reality function, which forms part of the absurdly expensive AMG Line Business Class package – it can be yours for just € 16,603! This also includes front multi-contour seats with massage function, automatic steering wheel heating, and electrically adjustable rear seats. Our luxury SUV also featured an OLED passenger display, fingerprint scanner, Burmester 3D surround sound system with Dolby Atmos, 21-inch AMG alloy wheels, and a TV tuner – just to name a few goodies. However, despite fitting our test location rather nicely, the pricey MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey paintwork (€ 4,641) didn’t quite live up to its promise. It just looks flat, lacking both depth and contrast. We’d rather spend our money on something else – perhaps on a new set of golf clubs. The AMG Line Exterior and Night Package add a touch of modern sportiness, toning down the old-school chrome in favour of something more contemporary.


I see a sky full of stars – The Mercedes EQS SUV inside and out
The EQS SUV makes one thing clear straight away: it’s the spearhead of Mercedes’ SUV range. Despite its rounded design, this electric SUV stands tall like Ronaldo after scoring a wonder goal – dynamic, confident, almost with a hint of arrogance. Competitors? Hardly any in sight. Maybe a Tesla Model X, but it’s already outdated. Or a BMW iX, but it’s too small, too cheap, and too “mainstream”. The big electric SUV with the star badge impresses with a thoroughly modern look. Sure, it’s got no sharp edges, but it’s anything but characterless. Think sleek, with Mercedes’ modern design language, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But who knows – perhaps some of the criticism is just a healthy serving of envy. After all, aerodynamics matter too! Overall, the exterior feels coherent and very much like a luxury liner. It’s a car that guarantees you’ll turn heads – even in the car park of your favourite golf resort.




The optional running boards are a must-have. They look tough, bruise your shins every time you get out of the car and cover your trousers in muck – and they’re too narrow to stand on comfortably too! But they’re perfect for the school run, and ticking that box on the options list feels almost like a civic duty. Jokes aside, there are far more useful and refined details on the EQS SUV. The retractable door handles, for example, ooze luxury and coolness. And then there’s the barely noticeable, yet oh-so S-Class, service flap below the A-pillar on the driver’s side – for refilling the windscreen washer fluid. That’s about all you’ll do yourself with this car. Fittingly, only the workshop gets access to the bonnet. Dirty hands? Not in the land of the stars!




More than the exterior, it’s the interior that fits the much-used “premium” definition. It feels like stepping into a new galaxy. Most people will likely never have sat in such an expensive car before, and we’re no different. The interior exudes luxury, with plenty of ambient lighting, a panoramic roof, and even a custom fragrance. Yes, you heard that right. Hidden in the glovebox is a fragrance bottle – though it’s more of a plain little bottle, really. But “flacon” sounds much more luxurious. Luxury also describes the extremely comfortable, impeccably crafted multi-contour seats, with soft leather pillows on the headrests. You really feel like you’re in First Class – very different from the so-called first class of the ICE, Germany’s supposed “fastest climate protector.” Compared to the EQS SUV’s interior, the first-class carriage of the ICE feels more like an adventure in a cargo hold. And those seats: when you first get in, you can input your height, and the seat, along with the steering wheel, will adjust automatically to an ergonomic position, which you can further fine-tune to your liking. This is what luxury feels like. The same goes for the automatic steering wheel heating, which ensures that your hands are warm for that first tee shot. The EQS impresses with excellent craftsmanship and high-quality materials– there’s no cheap plastic, even below eye level. You could debate the use of carbon-look finishes and the abundance of piano black trim, but at least Mercedes included a microfiber cloth with the press car to handle those fingerprints!



The difference from the EQS saloon? The second seat row. While it’s still luxurious, comfortable, and fully electric, features like massage seats, lumbar support, and ventilation are only available up front – unlike in the saloon, which remains the true star of the Mercedes line-up. At least the rear seats fold electrically, which you’d expect. But the elegance with which they do so? That’s worth watching.
Despite the undeniable luxury and comfort, Mercedes have to face a key question: do you really need all of this? And more importantly, do customers actually want it? Many of the options and customisation features require some effort to set up and familiarize yourself with. If you lean towards Scandinavian minimalism and cool restraint, you might not feel at home in Mercedes’ luxury liner. But what about tech enthusiasts? They’ll be in heaven.
Infotainment and assistance systems in the Mercedes EQS SUV: infinite horizons…
Admittedly, the interior of the Mercedes EQS SUV doesn’t quite resemble a spaceship, though the glowing Mercedes star galaxy always twinkles on the passenger display in standby mode. Yet, the idea of infinite space still becomes reality – not in terms of room, but rather in the endless list of infotainment and assistance systems. There’s practically nothing this luxury SUV doesn’t have. Screens for every passenger, and even the middle rear seat gets a tablet. However, the rebranded Samsung tablet doesn’t quite match the high-end expectations of this luxury liner – nor its the flimsy holder and the creaky, awkward cup holders in the back. Up front, though, the cup holders are tactile and functionally flawless.

The display stretches from A to A, meaning from the left to the right A-pillar across the dashboard. This allows the front passenger to enjoy their own OLED screen, where they can even play games or watch movies while travelling. And if the driver tries to sneak a peek? Two invisible sensors in the instrument cluster detect this and immediately deactivate the passenger display. Spooky stuff – the system can reliably tell the difference between a glance at the right wing mirror and a sneaky look at the passenger’s screen. Rear passengers also have screens mounted on the back of the front seats, and even the middle seat gets a tablet – though it feels a bit cheap. All of this entertainment is accompanied by sound from a true Hi-Fi star: the Burmester 3D surround sound system. Not only does it offer great sound, wide stereo imaging, and clear channel separation, but it also supports Dolby Atmos. Instead of assigning sound to a specific speaker, Dolby Atmos creates free-floating sound objects in the space. This means you can enjoy a genuine cinema experience in the car. Ready for a Star Wars marathon? Curtain up!


When it comes to driver assistance systems, the Mercedes EQS SUV leaves nothing to be desired. It’s not just the variety of systems but also their fine-tuning and specific features that make this SUV a shining star in the luxury class. It starts with the flawless recognition of road signs, including overhead signs and those with time restrictions, seamlessly integrating them into the adaptive cruise control. This system won’t overtake on the right, recognises emergency lanes, and adjusts accordingly. It works nearly perfectly with the lane-keeping assistant in most driving situations, though it does get a bit jittery in narrow roadworks areas. On the plus side, it’s easy to override gently, and it smoothly takes control again afterward. The head-up display with augmented reality blends in seamlessly with the modern infotainment experience, while the driver always has all relevant data clearly in view thanks to a digital instrument cluster and a massive central screen. However, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming at times, and some of our testers found it more distracting than helpful. When the car starts demanding more attention than the road, the technological fireworks turn into a potential hazard. As a result, we ended up deactivating some of the assistance features on country roads and taking control ourselves.

And when certain features don’t work as expected, like trying to open the sunroof with a swipe gesture, and you’re left waiting for the sluggish system to respond, frustration quickly replaces the joy of using it. Even getting into the EQS SUV can be puzzling with the slow system startup. Plug and play – just jump in and drive – doesn’t quite work here. The navigation map isn’t ready the moment you turn on the ignition, and starting apps or some games can be irritating with long loading times. More processing power is clearly needed–and should be expected at this level. While interior design enthusiasts can have fun with endless colour combinations for the ambient lighting and various fragrance options, it hardly makes up for these shortcomings.
Test and driving impressions of the Mercedes EQS SUV – Refined Luxury
What’s the point in having the most luxurious features and maximum interior comfort if the driving experience doesn’t match? Let’s start by saying: if there’s anything to criticise here, it’s criticism at the highest level. The EQS SUV feels on the road just as it does when you first step inside – luxurious, comfortable, and commanding. With 400 kW of power, this luxury SUV is always confidently motorised, though even in Sport mode, it never becomes a brute force machine. It’s far from an unruly beast, and that wouldn’t align at all with the premium image of this Mercedes flagship. That said, its digital “Roaring Pulse” engine sound, played through the speakers inside and out, does bring it close to an AMG-like growl.
If you skip the artificial driving sounds, the most noticeable thing is the absence of noise – the wind and road sounds you’d expect in any car, no matter the brand or price range, are simply not there. It’s only in the absolute luxury segment that you truly notice the difference from more ordinary cars. Passengers in the EQS SUV are almost completely isolated from the outside world while driving. Even beyond 200 km/h, wind noise is basically non-existent. The big tires, combined with the excellent air suspension, create a sensation more akin to floating through space than merely driving on a road. Naturally, the suspension adapts based on the selected driving mode. In Sport mode, it’s a bit firmer, yet even when tuned for comfort, body roll is minimal.
That said, the SUV’s significant weight does become noticeable when accelerating, braking, and particularly when cornering at high speeds. Fast motorway exits can feel a bit tight at times. The all-wheel drive, though quietly working in the background, provides reliable assistance, especially on wet or wintry roads, smoothing out potentially tricky situations.

What surprised us most about this Mercedes luxury liner was its performance in tight city traffic– not exactly the natural habitat for a luxury-class SUV over 5 metres long. Yet, thanks to the rear-wheel steering, the EQS SUV boasts a turning circle more akin to that of a compact car, which initially feels quite strange. At first, you instinctively take wide turns and approach tight corners cautiously, until you realise: “Hey, this thing handles corners like Mum’s Mini!” And when space really gets tight, for example when parking, the 360° camera provides practical assistance.
On faster mountain passes, however, the rear-wheel steering seems to have caused a bit of discomfort for rear-seat passengers. Whether it was the steering, the driving style, or simply too much Sudoku on the mobile phone, that’s still a mystery!



Speaking of practicality: the easily accessible boot has a generous capacity of 645 litres – or enough for four golf bags. The rear seats fold down electrically, creating a flat loading surface, and can also be raised back up at the touch of a button. Not exactly surprising, but for the average driver, it’s a fun feature you’ll want to try more than once. There’s no frunk, though. Mercedes doesn’t even let its well-heeled customers open the bonnet, so the idea of a front trunk is out of the question from the start. A tow bar is available, allowing up to 1,800 kg of braked towing capacity– not quite enough for your horse trailer though! But honestly, who’s going to use this car for towing? The racetrack and horse betting? Absolutely. A stable and horse manure? No chance!

A duty without much glamour – Charging and range in the Mercedes EQS SUV
Luxury and comfort aside, even an outrageously expensive premium electric SUV has to cover the basics of an EV with ease. And yes, Merc’s luxury liner might end up at the same charging station as a FIAT 500e and Opel Corsa-e. The biggest advantage of the Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC SUV is its 118 kWh usable battery capacity, meaning it needs far fewer charging stops on long journeys than smaller electric cars. The magic word here is destination charging – sipping champagne in a hot tub while your car charges quietly at the AC point of your wellness hotel. And if a charging stop is needed on the road, the interior provides the perfect retreat. With great music, heated seats, and a fresh breeze from the fragrance dispenser, you’ll soon forget you’re not lounging in your living room.

With a peak charging capacity of 200 kW for fast chargers, the big electric Mercedes doesn’t quite match the top-level performance of rivals like the Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron, both of which reach 270 kW. In fact, even the family-friendly Hyundai IONIQ 5, which is far more affordable, delivers up to 240 kW. And let’s not even mention the current charging champion, the Rimac Nevera, with a staggering 500 kW. However, more important than peak charging power is how long the car can maintain a high charge rate. This is where the Mercedes EQS SUV performs admirably. From nearly empty to well over 60%, the charging power stays consistently above 180 kW. Mercedes claim 31 minutes for a 10–80% charge, which seems realistic. For slower home charging, an 11 kW onboard charger comes as standard, but given the large battery, the optional 22 kW charger is certainly worth considering. With just 11 kW, even an overnight charge might not be enough for a full recharge.

What many other electric car manufacturers still struggle with is integrating intelligent charging planning into the route. BYD, for instance, still have some catching up to do, as our recent test of the BYD Seal showed. Tesla remain the benchmark in this regard, which is partly due to their proprietary Supercharger network. But what Mercedes deliver with the EQS SUV in this area is top-notch, offering exemplary charging planning with adaptive adjustment of charging stops during the journey. All key details about charging stations are displayed, including power levels, available ports, and estimated charging times. Plus, there’s an option to set a desired battery level for when you reach your destination, which is especially useful in regions with sparse charging infrastructure.

Mercedes claim a WLTP range of up to 757 km, which corresponds to a consumption of around 15.6 kWh/100 km. Like with any EV, this figure is rather theoretical and achievable only at summer temperatures and in eco-driving mode. On our trip to South Tyrol, we used about 25 kWh/100 km on the way there and just under 20 kWh/100 km on the way back. So, the average consumption was around 22 kWh/100 km – which are perfectly respectable figures given the size and power of this luxury SUV. Credit goes in part to the decent drag coefficient of 0.26. However, Tesla’s ageing Model X shows it can be done even better, with a cW value of 0.24. In real-world conditions, the EQS SUV’s range will likely settle around 500 km in the summer and closer to 400 km in winter. That makes it more than suitable as a long-distance cruiser or business vehicle.
Who should take a closer look at the Mercedes EQS SUV?
The answer is simple: the Mercedes EQS SUV suits anyone who can afford it. But taking a closer look, this luxurious, comfortable premium EV might not tick all the boxes for the discerning buyer. The design, for instance, is sleek and modern, but we found ourselves more drawn to the bold, angular lines of the G-Class. It lacks that real “wow” factor, the immediate “must-have” feeling. When spending € 170k on a car, some may want to feel like they’re standing out from the crowd. The EQS SUV, however, leans more towards luxurious travel with understated elegance. As for the infotainment system, it undeniably sets the bar extremely high. Yet the 20-second wait for the system to boot up is unacceptable at this price point. And with its size, weight, and powerful motors, the EQS SUV certainly isn’t a saviour of the world or the climate – EV powertrain or not. No electric car can do that; we need a completely new approach to mobility and a mindset shift for that to happen.
The EQS SUV is so much car, so much luxury, and so much comfort that it works as an everyday car, a family vehicle, a company car, a fun-mobile, and an adventure machine. It has enough space, power, and range – enough of everything. It strikes a balance between exclusive status-symbol and a car for everyone. Ultimately, the EQS SUV will likely find its home in upscale suburban driveways or the executive parking lots of boardrooms. Or perhaps it will provide a peaceful escape from the hustle and smog of the city, offering fresh filtered air and a concert-worthy Hi-Fi system.

Conclusions about the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: a piece of automotive heaven
The goal for the EQS SUV is nothing less than perfection, and this €170,000 luxury SUV lives up to that promise – in many respects. However, small missteps, like the clunky rear cup holder and the underpowered infotainment system, stand out even more in the premium segment than they would in “ordinary” cars. Despite these quirks, the EQS SUV impresses with exceptional comfort both when parked and cruising down the road. It’s one of those rare vehicles where you’ll find yourself lingering after the journey, savouring the peace, comfort, and your favourite tunes before diving back into your everyday routine.

Tops
- Top-notch build quality and materials
- Exceptional seating and driving comfort
- Wide sense of space
- A true technological flagship
- Highly customisable interior
- Surprisingly nimble, thanks to rear-wheel steering

Flops
- Touch controls can be irritating
- Charging speed not class-leading
- Unnecessary slip-ups, like the clunky rear cup holder
- Technology overload with painfully slow system start-up
For more info, visit mercedes-benz.de.

Words: Patrick Gruber Photos: Peter Walker