2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic Sedan
Class: Electric Vehicle
Miles driven: 246
Battery capacity: 120 kWh
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A+ |
| Power and Performance | A |
| Fit and Finish | A+ |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 516-horsepower |
| Engine Type | Electric motors |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
EPA-estimate MPGe: 91 city/98 hwy/94 combined
EPA-estimated driving range: 340 miles
Consumer Guide range estimate (ideal conditions): 340+ miles
Base price: $125,900 (not including $1050 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Cardinal Red Metallic paint ($1750), Energizing Air Control Plus with HEPA Filter ($450), Beltbag rear seat-belt airbags ($500), MBUX augmented-reality head-up display ($2000), laminated safety glass ($1010), Executive Rear Seat Package ($1690), AMG Line Interior Package ($2100), Pinnacle Trim package($4350)
Price as tested: $140,800
More EQS price and availability information
Quick Hits
The great: Exotic-car acceleration, unruffled ride quality, opulent cabin appointments
The good: Impressive range, surprisingly simple-to-use controls
The not so good: Pricey options, only a technician can open the hood (really)
Tom Appel
The flagship sedan of Mercedes-Benz electrified lineup, the EQS is the first “EQ” model to arrive in the U.S., to be followed shortly by the EQS SUV, the EQE midsize crossover, EQC compact crossover and sedan, and the EQB small crossover.
The EQS sedan is offered in two trim levels for 2022: the EQS450+, and the EQS580 4Matic. The rear-wheel-drive 450+ delivers 329 horsepower, the all-wheel-drive 580 4Matic an impressive 516 hp. Both models are powered via a 108-kWh battery, which provides an EPA estimated 350 miles of range in the 450+ and 340 miles in the 580.
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To me, the most notable feature of the EQS is how well it mirrors the driving experience of the gasoline-powered S-Class—except the EQS is much faster. The sedan’s much ballyhooed “Hyperscreen” touchscreen spans most of the dash area between the driver-side door and the center console, and it does much to simplify the cabin’s design. And, despite the almost inexhaustible number of features there are to control and customize via the screen, overall vehicle operation is surprisingly simple.
Otherwise, the EQS rides and handles as a big Mercedes should, and the cabin is almost sinfully indulgent in trim quality. This driver found the seating position a little low relative to the door-sill height, though that is a minor quibble.
In moderate Chicago summer weather I saw range slightly in excess of the EPA estimate.
While I am reluctant to call the new Mercedes a value, it certainly offers a lot of comfort, performance, and technology for the money… all for roughly the price of a loaded Tesla Model S. Color me impressed.
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John Biel
In some ways, Mercedes-Benz’s new electric flagship is an assault on the senses—most of them at least. It is pretty darn quiet, so hearing gets a break. (Also, we resisted the urge to lick anything, in case anyone is wondering.)
Otherwise, there’s a lot going on in front of, under, and around passengers in this premium-large hatchback sedan. The inescapable, larger-than-life experience in an EQS 580 like the one we tested is the standard Hyperscreen, nearly 4.75 feet of visual content, the center of which is a massive map, or vehicle-function monitor, or any number of other things that the car is programmed to show you. And it is programmed to show you lots of things. Frankly, though, it is overwhelming. How many owners will truly ever master the contents of this thing?
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The twin electric motors in the all-wheel-drive 580 provide thrust that’s immediately effortless. It handles fairly directly for a car with a lot of prow to bring about, aided by the rear-wheel steering, and rides serenely with standard air suspension, even in sportier “Dynamic” mode. Only braking, with the hollow sense of feedback that manifests itself in so many electrified vehicles, seemed subpar.
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A spacious and lushly appointed cabin accords generous legroom for up to five adult passengers. The hearing that’s not taxed by engine or road noise is treated to an excellent Burmester surround-sound audio system. A hospitable owner might indulge passengers with the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus option that includes massaging seats and neck and shoulder heating. If we had a quibble, it was that the driving position that felt right for us in terms of pedal reach and steering-wheel angle made it appear that the cowl was too high. Cargo room under the hatch is wide and expansive with the 60/40 rear seats down.
There’s no getting around the fact that it takes a heightened sense of financial well-being to claim an EQS. The one CG tested stickered for $140,800 with options and delivery. That will get the blood rushing to your head.
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2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 Gallery
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