Mercedes-Benz unveiled the EQS SUV on Tuesday, a taller counterpart to the EQS sedan launched last year. The new model is expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships later this year as a 2023 model.
The EQS SUV shares Mercedes’ EVA platform with the EQS and EQE sedans. It also has the same 126-inch wheelbase as the EQS sedan but is 7.8 inches taller, offering seating for seven in three rows.
Similar to the EQS sedan, Mercedes emphasized aerodynamic efficiency for the SUV version, highlighting features such as aerodynamically optimized wheels and tires, underbody panels, and Formula One-style side sills to help direct airflow around the vehicles.
However, Mercedes acknowledged that an SUV can never be as aerodynamic as a sedan. The automaker did not disclose the drag coefficient for the EQS SUV, so it’s unknown how close it is to the sedan’s very low figure of 0.20.
Like the EQS sedan, the SUV will be available in basic configurations as EQS 450+ and the high-end EQS 580 4Matic. The rear-wheel-drive single-motor EQS 450+ produces 355 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque, while the all-wheel-drive dual-motor EQS 580 4Matic boasts 536 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque. Both versions come with a 107.8 kWh battery.
Mercedes has not disclosed EPA range estimates but aims for up to 372 miles on the more forgiving European WLTP test cycle. The final figures are likely to be lower than the sedan EQS’s impressive 350-mile rating (for the 450+ version) due to the SUV’s less aerodynamic shape and additional weight.
DC fast charging can achieve 10% to 80% in 31 minutes at 110 kW, while a 10% to 100% charge from a 240-volt Level 2 AC source takes 11.3 hours, according to Mercedes.
Standard equipment includes air suspension, 10-degree rear-axle steering, and paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking levels. The EQS 580 4Matic also shares the Hyperscreen display with the EQS sedan, comprising a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, totaling 56 inches of screen space.
Among the extensive list of standard driver assistance features are adaptive cruise control with route-based speed adaptation and stop-and-go assistance, lane-change assistance, lane-keeping assistance, and automated parking.
The EQS SUV will be the first utility vehicle with the EQ badge sold in the U.S. Originally planned for a 2019 summer debut, the EQC was canceled for the U.S. in 2021. A 2021 report suggested a redesigned EQC might launch around 2025, and the smaller EQB is also scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships later this year.
Prices will be announced closer to the EQS SUV’s U.S. market launch.
