Review | 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS | Rush with hush in a time machine
Is it fair to say that our population is fairly un-used to change?
This question was explored further by our roving reporter Graham Courtney, who recently enjoyed an introduction to the 2022 Mercedes EQS - Can we adapt to electric, and are we ready for it?
As we head into autumn 2022, it means we have just over seven years in which to start getting used to life without petrol and diesel engines. Yep, the UK government …and loads of other governments to be fair...have, from 2030, banned the sale of cars which are powered solely by conventional petrol or diesel engine. There can't be many occasions when the entire population of a country is told that they are going to have to do without something that they've relied upon for the last century.
For a lot of us petrolheads, the internal combustion engine is up there with fresh air and running water as a necessity in life. Of course, this change and adaptation rely on three things.
First, the government came up with the 2030 cut-off date. Whether it does happen then, well, time will tell. Secondly, we need the infrastructure which allows us to charge all of these cars. Thirdly, we need the manufacturers to provide us with a range of cars to suit all pockets.
At the moment, we need to assume that number one is going to happen while number two will require an awful lot of work over the next seven or so years. As for number three, to their huge credit, the car manufacturers are getting their act together.
One snag is that a large chunk of the current batch of electric cars is a stop-gap. The manufacturers take one of their current models and rejig a few things to make a battery and electric motor fit. Result; Box ticked.
Well, sort of.
The best electric cars are those which have been designed from scratch to be powered by a battery. And that is what we have here with this EQS from Mercedes.
It's very easy to assume that the EQS is a rejigged Mercedes S Class. Granted, it has similar dimensions inside and out and is unashamedly luxurious - but, it isn't. This is a brand new car designed from the get-go to use electric power.
At the moment there are two EQS models available in the UK. There's the EQS 450 which has five different levels of trim and the AMG EQS. Prices start at just over £102,000 for the 450 model, while if you go for the full-fat AMG you've looking at a shade over £157,000 …they ain't cheap!
Okay, for many people this car is way beyond their pay scale, but this is the Mercedes flagship model and the sort of gizmos and technology which appear in the EQS will trickle their way down the Merc range in much the same way that Formula One is often where you will see new tech first before eventually landing in a humble runabout.
Let's do some number crunching.
The Mercedes EQS 450 produces 328bhp from the biggest battery that's ever been fitted to a production car. It gives you a 0-60mph time of just over six seconds and tops out at 130mph. There is a predicted range of 453 miles. Find a rapid charger and you'll get an 80 percent battery top-up in half an hour. If you have deep pockets, the AMG EQS has much more power, developing 357bhp to give you a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds. Your range drops to 356 miles mainly caused by the extra weight of an additional motor and an all-wheel drive system.
The best I managed was 390 miles predicted range, but that is still impressive and suggests that if we'd been driving more gently the 453-mile estimate won't be far away.
Needless to say that you waft along in silence. There's some distant tyre rumble and the odd bit of wind flutter but to call your progress serene is an understatement. The ride is uncannily smooth thanks to the air suspension. It even manages to be better than the S-Class. Something we really appreciated is that you don't need to re-educate yourself when stepping from one Mercedes into the EQS. If you own or drive a recent Merc, you'll be familiar with all of the levers and switchgear.
The interior is a work of art. It's tasteful and hi-tech at the same time. There is an option called Hyperscreen - go for it. This turns the entire width of the fascia into a feast of screens, cameras, and information. It looks fantastic and has been referred to as in-car cinema. Oh, and the 'Hey Mercedes' voice activation is better than ever. However, don't be put off by all of this wizardry. It's simple, easy to grasp, and intuitive a neanderthal man would quickly get the hang of it.
The EQS is also extremely versatile thanks to being a hatchback. Most cars of this class and stature are saloons; not so with the EQS because the hatch opens to reveal a sizeable load area. The cabin is also roomy and, thanks to the flat floor, feels rather spacious.
Overall the Mercedes EQS can be seen as the start of the future for Mercedes. By 2025 Mercedes will offer a fully electric car in every segment of its range. By the time we reach the 2030 deadline, every Mercedes car will be electric.
If you want a roomy limo with a good range, excellent performance, and imperious build quality, look no further than the Mercedes EQS. It's fantastic.
words: Graham Courtney
