Mercedes-Benz EQS Review: Insights from the Futuristic Frontier

Steering an EQS offers a journey filled with epiphanies and bewilderment. I doubt we’ll be returning anytime soon, though.

The future can be unforgiving, something Mercedes-Benz understands well. As a German automaker, they have established themselves as pioneers at the forefront of automotive technology, setting trends that will likely become standard features in vehicles over the next decade or two. From antilock braking systems to electronic stability controls and even supercharged engines—their innovations span an extensive range.

However, this method carries significant risks. Get it right, and you’ll be hailed as an innovator who revolutionized the industry. But get it wrong, and you could end up burdened with perplexing, untested technology and considerable financial loss.

No car embodies this quite like the
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Sedan. Praised as the pioneer of the electric age, it debuted with lukewarm receptions and disappointing sales figures. Recognizing this, Mercedes is shifting focus away from the oval-shaped aesthetics.
ditching the EQ names
And moving forward with hybrid alternatives. The upcoming electric S-Class will indeed be just that—
an electric S-Class
In terms of both name and appearance, it is not a separate standalone model like this one.

However, the EQS has arrived now, and
Available as a bargain on the second-hand market too.
It received a mild update for the 2025 model year, featuring a somewhat conventional front-end pseudo-grille along with an enlarged battery for increased range. Now, let’s examine its strengths and weaknesses concerning the future.

(Transparency Note: Mercedes provided me with a 2024 EQS for a week to use during this evaluation. Upon arrival, the vehicle was fully charged.)

Mercedes EQS: Driving Experience

Step into any electric vehicle (EV), and it becomes clear why high-end car manufacturers have invested heavily and early in this technology. The electric powertrain offers effortless, quiet driving experiences. While the S-Class’ inline-six and V8 engines are impressively smooth, they cannot compare to the exceptional performance of the EQS’ finely tuned drivetrain.

The EQS offers four variants: 450+ rear-wheel drive, 450 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and 580 AWD.
AMG
AWD. The EQS 450+ model I tested produced 355 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque via its single motor setup. In comparison, the all-wheel-drive variant delivers identical horsepower with a significantly higher torque output at 590 lb-ft. While these numbers might not stand out much today due to increasingly powerful vehicles, one notable aspect about electric cars is their silent operation; hence, even though figures may seem modest, they mask the actual driving experience where you won’t hear the powerplant struggling under load.

A gasoline engine with 335 horsepower would struggle to propel the 5,500-pound EQS. However, the electric motors face no such issues. Given that using a luxurious vehicle like this isn’t typically for high-speed races, its acceleration of zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds is sufficiently fast; thus, your personal comfort rather than the performance of the engine will likely set the pace.

For those seeking additional horsepower, the EQS 580 could be more appealing with its output of 516hp and 611lb-ft of torque. If you’re inclined towards extremes, the outrageous AMG EQS Sedan delivers a staggering 649hp and 700lb-ft of torque. However, considering my ample experience with power and the substantial starting cost of $117,375 for theEQS 450+, I find little reason to invest further in higher-power variants. In fact, even at the baseline configuration, performance remains impressively satisfying.

Choosing electric power turned out to be a wise decision. However, by providing a vehicle with increased mass, altered weight distribution, and a sophisticated rear-wheel steering system, Mercedes seemingly overlooked the importance of maintaining the smooth S-Class ride quality. The brand’s characteristic plush suspension is primarily why I would endorse it. In comparison, the latest gasoline-driven S-Class offers the most comfortable journey short of sitting behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce.

The EQS doesn’t fall short in comfort. It remains an outstanding choice for long drives on highways. However, navigating through city streets and traversing small bumps reveals that even advanced air suspensions cannot mask the vehicle’s considerable mass. The car feels ponderous when crossing hills and lands heavily into dips. These observations might seem severe—the ride quality is still superior to most cars—but enthusiasts seeking flawless handling will not find it with this model. Hence, our initial cautionary message from the Ghost of Mercedes Future: As you pursue future advancements, remember the foundation upon which you built your success.

I agree that the German automakers’ hesitance to provide an authentic one-pedal drive option seems odd, particularly since they continue to present “adjustable” settings that nearly achieve this but fall short. For instance, in the EQS, you can increase regeneration significantly, making it feel almost like single-pedal operation; however, the vehicle won’t halt entirely by itself. This inconsistency undermines their efforts. They should either fully commit to providing a genuine one-pedal experience or avoid such incomplete solutions altogether.

Don’t assume that all this new chassis technology goes to waste. Mercedes introduced a rear-wheel steering system in the EQS that utterly surpasses similar systems used by others. While a
Cybertruck
Utilizing its notably assertive rear-wheel steering, Mercedes’ system enables a massive pickup equipped with sizable 35-inch tires and poor wheel clearance to navigate turns adequately. This technology transforms maneuvering through parking lots into an experience akin to driving a compact vehicle. Executing U-turns on regular urban roads poses no challenge either. However, my mind struggled to adapt initially; as a result, I often ended up making parking attempts overly tight and had to correct myself frequently. This indicates success: such advanced tech forces you to readjust your perceptions.

Mercedes EQS: Driving Range, Battery Capacity, and Recorded Energy Efficiency

Every 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan comes equipped with an 118-kWh battery, providing up to 390 miles (628 km) of range for the EQS 450+ variant. While this might fall short compared to vehicles like the Lucid Air or Tesla Model S, it still outperforms much of the traditional competitors. The one I tested featured larger wheels and utilized a smaller, earlier version of the battery from 2024, resulting in a range of 352 miles (566 km). In my view, this figure represents the ideal balance.

Below are the range breakdowns for the additional trims in 2025:

• EQS 450 4Matic: Up to 367 miles (590 km)
• EQS 580 4Matic: Up to 371 miles (591 km)
• AMG EQS: Up to 316 miles (509 km) of range

All of those figures are respectable and show that Mercedes is serious about offering the sort of long-range EVs American luxury buyers demand. I observed efficiency of 2.9 miles per kWh in mixed highway and around-town driving, giving me a projected real-world range of around 342 miles. That’s pretty solid given that my driving included a golf trip with five passengers and three bags of clubs.

Mercedes EQS: Charging Experience

Regrettably, problems with the charger prevented me from accurately measuring the 10-80% charge time for the EQS. However, I observed charging rates nearly matching Daimler’s advertised peak of 200 kW. When I chose a charging station via the vehicle’s nav system, the EQS pre-conditioned itself for rapid charging autonomously. Additionally, I found it noteworthy that the EQS maintained a swift charging pace; even at approximately 65%, it was still drawing power at about 137 kW, which falls within typical limits but leans towards the higher side for a 400-volt setup.

Mercedes states that the EQS Sedan can charge from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes. From my observation, this seems credible. However, there are definitely quicker charging options available within its segment.
A Porsche Taycan can accelerate from 10% to 80% battery charge in approximately 16 minutes.
, and a
The Lucid Air can achieve this in 20 seconds.
—however, I find this performance satisfactory enough.

Mercedes EQS: Interior

Here is where taste significantly comes into play. The interior quality of the Mercedes EQS Sedan stands out as impeccable. The brand employs high-quality materials and enhances the design quite effectively. However, the traditional use of leather and wood has been replaced by an abundance of black plastic within the EQS. This shift is largely due to the vehicle’s emphasis on its massive “Hyperscreen,” which features a continuous end-to-end screen encompassing three distinct displays.

It’s impressive, yet there isn’t much else to observe. The most prominent piece of wood within the cabin conceals the cup holders and wireless charging station. Since this space will likely be used for storing your keys and phone, you may never even notice the wooden surface. Instead, the interior predominantly features glossy black accents along with extensive areas occupied by screens.

If your priority is a vehicle brimming with advanced technology, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for here. However, those anticipating the classic luxurious interiors reminiscent of older Mercedes models will likely feel letdown. Mercedes is fully committed to incorporating displays, voice controls, and cutting-edge technology into their cars. This strategic direction shows no signs of changing. Fortunately, the seating remains top-notch, although some may find the driving posture uncomfortable because of the elevated waist line and unusual body structure.

Technology, Infotainment & UX

Mercedes believes that technology is the future. That’s why when it built the EQS, it basically bet on all of them at once. It has the expected massaging seats and high-end Burmester stereo. But it also has Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos Support (this rocks). It can vibrate your seats along to the music. It has a conversational voice assistant that can turn all of these features on, and provide you with restaurant recommendations along the route.

The system includes a web browser enabling video streaming. Additionally, it features “augmented reality” guidance, which superimposes directional indicators over footage captured by cameras at the vehicle’s front, likely proving quite attention-grabbing. Music streaming comes pre-installed yet remains compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. Essentially, this presents as a comprehensive array of choices akin to ordering off a Cheesecake Factory menu, all displayed on a large 17.7-inch screen complemented by dual 12.3-inch panels alongside.

In summary, it’s overly complex for my liking. Despite the system being extremely fast and reliable, I often felt confused by the numerous menus and options available. Additionally, I was disappointed with the performance of the voice assistant. It always starts with “How may I help you?” which disrupts the user’s question and offers only a brief moment to speak. Moreover, it frequently failed to understand even simple requests.

Technologically adept owners will ultimately get the hang of it. However, being 27, I am roughly three decades younger than the typical buyer for a luxury $100,000 sedan, and even then, I found myself feeling overwhelmed.

This comes down to personal preference. For quite some time, I’ve believed that luxury doesn’t merely involve adding features; it also requires selective removal. Providing an extensive list of options isn’t as beneficial as delivering a cohesive software experience where everything feels purposeful throughout all menus. This is something Tesla and Rivian excel at, and I believe they’re currently outpacing Mercedes in this aspect. On the other hand, Mercedes has embraced over-the-air updates similar to these companies and recently introduced ChatGPT integration along with “conversational navigation” powered by Google Gemini. However, after two decades of consistently introducing new add-ons, I sincerely hope that the upcoming version of MB.OS will focus more on simplification rather than expansion.

Safety & ADAS

At this point, Mercedes performs much better. The EQS includes an excellent highway driving assistance system along with a comprehensive array of advanced driver support features. This lane management system can take complete control of steering, braking, and acceleration, including making automatic lane changes to bypass slower vehicles.

I appreciated the car’s adherence to Germany’s disciplined driving style, swiftly returning to the correct lane after overtaking. However, it frequently switched lanes on California’s congested, high-speed five-lane highways. The vehicle would sound an alarm to notify you about these maneuvers, which often paused the music. After some time, I grew weary of my four-minute songs being disrupted multiple times during each journey. While having a warning before making a lane change seems essential, thus potentially justifying this feature, I’d prefer turning automatic lane adjustments off for a calmer ride.

The
EQS also provides Mercedes Drive Pilot.
The sole driver assistance system in the U.S. that permits drivers to look away from the road under particular conditions. Such systems, referred to as “Level 3” according to SAE standards, surpass Level 2 systems such as Tesla Autopilot and General Motors Super Cruise, both of which demand constant attention. However, this capability has limitations; drivers may remove their hands and gaze from the steering wheel only when they’re caught in low-speed traffic, less than 40 mph, on predetermined highways in California and Nevada.

The press vehicle I used lacked Drive Pilot, and even with repeated efforts, I’ve never had the chance to experience this technology firsthand in actual driving conditions.

Mercedes EQS: Pricing

The starting price for the Mercedes EQS 450+, inclusive of the destination fee, is $105,550. Similar to most German vehicles, adding optional features will significantly increase your expenses, despite the basic model being fairly well-appointed. TheEQS 450+ variant priced at $117,375 that I tested did not include a heated steering wheel; the Mercedes voice assistant informed me gently upon requesting it. This seems odd since such feature comes standard on the Chevy Blazer EV. In this class of car, manufacturers typically do not load their models with many standard amenities.

Among the additional choices on my tester were the $2,150 Exclusive package, which features massage functions for the front seats, the MBUX “Interior Assistant,” and four-zone automatic climate control. There was also an optional perfume distribution system available for $450.

The starting price for the AWD EQS 450 4Matic is $108,550. The EQS 580 has a base cost of $128,500, while the top-of-the-line AMG EQS Sedan comes with an MSRP of $148,700.

Mercedes EQS: Verdict

With the EQS Sedan, Mercedes took a gamble, seeing the shift to electric vehicles as an opportunity to reinvent itself—not merely as a technological frontrunner but entirely shaped by innovation. If you examine the resale value of pre-owned EQS models, it becomes clear that their strategy paid off. Vehicles from just two years ago, originally priced between $100,000 and $150,000, often sell for around $45,000.

The market has delivered its verdict, and it wasn’t particularly favorable regarding these automobiles. However, this assessment might be somewhat harsh. The EQS is indeed a fairly dependable vehicle, yet it seems to lack clear direction. As an electric vehicle, it holds up well but doesn’t stand out as the top choice within its class. In terms of luxury, it performs adequately but falls short compared to the S-Class when it comes to refinement. Additionally, despite being a fascinating display of technology, it originates from a brand that hasn’t quite reached the level of seamless integration found in fully software-driven models.

Primarily, it serves as a testing ground. Several aspects function well: the impressive spatial audio system, the responsive display, the seamless powertrain, and decent range. However, some elements fall short: the ungainly design, the unremarkable ride quality, and the overwhelming presence of its extensive feature set.

This was an experiment. When Mercedes entered this market with full force, they appeared to absorb numerous lessons swiftly. Although the company didn’t come up with a unified, captivating offering, their audacity stands out in contrast to most car manufacturers who are cautiously easing into the electric vehicle sector. Thus, one must commend Mercedes for taking such a daring plunge wholeheartedly.

Although it didn’t pay off this time, over an extended period, the market tends to favor businesses bold enough to embrace significant risks.

Contact the author:
Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com
.

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