2021 Mercedes EQS Liftback. 1st generation
The Mercedes EQS is an all-electric luxury liftback, introduced in 2021. This is the flagship of the Mercedes-EQ electric sub-brand. The EQS electric vehicles are manufactured at the same Factory 56 plant in Sindelfingen, where the new S-Class is made. Israeli buyers can currently purchase a new 2021/2022 first generation Mercedes EQS. As for the prices, the ‘simplest’ Mercedes EQS 450+ Platinum EV Plus single-engine version costs about 890,530 shekels (including registration fee), while the most sophisticated EQS 580 4matic Platinum EV Plus with the AMG Line package costs 1,390,530 shekels.
The new EQS is an eco-friendly alternative to the S-Class sedan with traditional combustion engines. This electric vehicle will surely impress you with its innovative technologies, eye-catching design, functionality, uncompromising comfort, and especially with its cost. Perhaps, this is currently the most expensive Mercedes electric vehicle.
Exterior
The electric Mercedes EQS is not a sedan, but a five-door liftback with a large trunk lid. The wheelbase is stretched as much as possible, the body overhangs are short, and the interior is pushed forward. Clean lines, sculpted surfaces and smooth seamless transitions. Such elements as innovative headlights connected by a light strip, a black radiator grille, which can be complemented with the 3D star pattern for an exclusive look, and a curved volumetric spiral rear lighting design make this vehicle look more distinctive and unique. The length x width x height is 5,216×1,926×1,512 mm, respectively. The length of the 2021 Mercedes EQS makes it close in size to the new generation S-Class. The trunk volume reaches 610 liters, which is slightly more than the S-Class. With the rear seats folded down, you get 1,770 liters. But the EQS does not have a front trunk at all.
The company assures that the EQS is the most aerodynamically verified production vehicle in the company history, with a drag coefficient of 0.20. This was achieved through the body shape, flat bottom, ‘recessed’ door handles and special wheels (19 to 22 inches in diameter). The new EQS has frameless doors, which can be optionally equipped with an electric drive, which is activated both from the passenger compartment and via the remote control. Optional Digital Light headlights can ‘draw’ directions for the driver in the form of arrows and symbols on the road. Each headlight has three powerful diodes and a matrix of 1.3 million micromirrors, which control the electronics to create an ‘image’: a total of 2.6 million pixels.
Interior and equipment
The new MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system is gorgeous. A huge 56-inch screen across the entire width of the dashboard combines three displays: a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster, a 17-inch multimedia touchscreen and a 12.3-inch front passenger touchscreen. The number of physical buttons is minimized, and they are all located on the central tunnel. The developers promise ‘artificial intelligence’, that is, a self-learning program: the multimedia system will be able to offer certain functions for the driver or passengers. But such beauty is not a cheap option. The entry-level EQS looks almost the same as the S-Class: a separate instrument screen (12.3 inches) is installed in front of the driver, while a vertical media system tablet with a diagonal of 12.8 inches is located in the center. In this case, the vehicle start button and all hot keys are located on the dashboard.
The interior is equipped with comfortable seats with numerous individual settings and exclusive options for maximum comfort. The innovative side cushions provide intense lateral support, while the massage effect with pleasant warmth gives you a pleasant driving experience. Active LED interior lighting sets the mood.
The general list of basic options is impressive, almost as diverse as that of the S-Class! The vehicle comes with the heated and ventilated seats, various massage programs, a panoramic roof (with two sections), a Burmester sound system with a power of 710 watts (15 speakers), as well as a media system for rear passengers (two 11.6-inch screens and a removable tablet in the armrest), rear door electric drive. In total, the new Mercedes EQS, depending on the version, has about 350 sensors that are responsible for the operation of various systems. For example, as the driver approaches the vehicle, the electronics will extend the door handles, which are ‘hidden’ in the body to improve aerodynamic performance. And as soon as the owner comes close to the vehicle, the driver’s door will automatically open slightly.
Powertrain and chassis
There are currently two modifications of the 2021/2022 Mercedes EQS: single- and twin-engine. Both are equipped with a 400-volt battery with a capacity of 107.8 kWh. A 15-minute charge from a 200-kilowatt terminal increases the range of a single-engine electric vehicle by 300 km or by 280 km for the twin-engine version. The maximum speed in both versions is limited to 210 km/h.
Modifications
- The Mercedes EQS 450+ is an entry-level model with rear wheel drive and single 333 hp electric motor, which allows you to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The driving range reaches 700 km.
- The Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic is a top-end version with all-wheel drive and two electric motors with a total capacity of 523 hp that accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The driving range is 627 km.
The EQS comes standard with air suspension and a fully steerable chassis. By default, the rear wheels steer 4.5 degrees, which increases stability at high speeds and improves maneuverability at low speeds. But you can choose the option with 10 degrees, in which case the turning radius is reduced from 11.9 to 10.9 meters. This option can be activated immediately after purchase via an over-the-air software update. Interestingly, the new EQS is the first Mercedes to offer this functionality.
There is an optional Drive Pilot semi-autonomous driving system, corresponding to the Level 3 autopilot. According to the manufacturer, artificial intelligence will allow the driver to ‘let go of the steering wheel and take care of other things’. However, it can only be done when driving at speeds up to 60 km/h, exclusively on some sections of the route and only in Germany. It’s a pity…
But the parking assist meets even the Level 4 of autonomy. Thus, in the presence of a sensor system in a closed parking lot, the vehicle can go to the parking lot in a completely autonomous mode. Finally, you can activate two special driving modes with severely limited capabilities for inexperienced drivers and service.
