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Faced with increasing competition and more customer demand for electric SUVs, Mercedes-Benz has taken a two-pronged approach for its latest entry - the EQE SUV.
Alongside the new EQE SUV comes the first all-electric SUV from its performance division, the AMG EQE 53.
Unveiled overnight in Europe, the new model slots into the range just below the new flagship EQS SUV and above the EQC, giving the brand a rival to the likes of the BMW iX, Tesla Model Y and Audi e-tron.
CarsGuide understands there will be two variants of the EQE SUV offered initially, the EQE 300 rear-wheel drive and the EQE 500 4Matic, which are scheduled to arrive in local showrooms in the third quarter of 2023.
Full technical specifications of the new model haven’t been revealed yet, with no official power or torque figures released but it’s likely to be very similar to the EQE Sedan on which it shares its underpinnings and powertrains. In Europe the EQE 300 is rated at 180kW/550Nm and has a 515km driving range, while the EQE 500 4Matic boasts 300kW/858Nm and 500km range thanks to its 90.6kWh battery.
Overall the design is very similar to the recently launched EQS SUV, but there are some design quirks for the EQE SUV to ensure the German brand’s expanding EV portfolio remains suitably different, despite sharing the same design language. For example, the EQE is not available with seven seats in order to not clash with the larger EQS, despite the fact the small EQB can be optioned as a seven-seater in some markets.
Another design decision for the EQE SUV is the absence of an extra storage area under the bonnet, typically referred to as a ‘front trunk’. While rival brands have opted to take advantage of the smaller packaging of electric motors, Mercedes said it believes its customers don’t want to use such a space and have instead used it to accommodate other mechanical elements, including a HEPA filtration system.
Inside the cabin is very similar to the other members of the EQ family, with the option to add the MBUX Hyperscreen that features multiple touchscreens embedded into a single design piece that fills much of the dashboard and centre fascia.
The EQE measures 4863mm long, 1940mm wide and 1686mm tall and has a 3030mm wheelbase, which is actually 90mm shorter than the EQE Sedan.
However, for many the more exciting arrival in the line-up will be the third member of the EQE SUV family, the AMG EQE 53. The company has confirmed it will be available in two variants - 53 4Matic and 53 4Matic+ - with both powered by the same dual-motor powertrain but with the latter getting a more potent tune.
The 53 4Matic makes 350kW/858Nm drawing energy from a 90.6kWh lithium-ion battery for a driving range of between 431-488km (WLTP cycle). Ensuring it lives up to AMG’s performance reputation the brand claims this five-seat electric SUV runs 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds.
Meanwhile, the 53 4Matic+ bumps up to 460kW/950Nm with 505kW on overboost but also has the ability to raise those figures to 626kW/1000km with the AMG Dynamic Plus package. Adding the optional performance upgrade lowers the 0-100km/h time to 3.5 seconds and driving range is rated at 375-470km.
Stopping is handled by the standard steel brakes from the EQE but there are optional AMG high-performance brakes for those who want a more powerful braking feel. The AMG engineers explained that one of the main challenges for this new electric model was ensuring the steel brakes were always in the required temperature range when needed for a sudden stop, as the regenerative braking means they are rarely used and therefore would be too cold without a unique design for this new model.
There are several design changes to ensure the AMG version stands apart from the rest of the EQE SUV range. For starters the large black panel at the front of the car (which replaces the conventional grille) features 3D vertical bars that mirror the design of other AMG models.
There’s also a specific AMG badge on the bonnet, a feature that is being rolled out across the entire AMG line-up as it continues to become increasingly important to the German giant.
Other design changes include a unique lower grille, body coloured wheel arches and aero-designed 21- or 22-inch alloy wheels.
Inside it gets a smaller diameter ‘AMG Performance’ steering wheel and carbon-fibre inlays for the sporty style.
Perhaps controversially, the AMG EQE 53 gets what the brand calls its ‘Sound Experience’, an artificial system to generate sound both in and out of the cabin. The AMG Sound Experience uses exterior speakers, a bass actuator and sound generator to “generate the hallmark AMG drive sounds” when the SUV is in ‘Authentic’ mode. But that’s not all, there are also separate “soundscapes” for ‘Balanced’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Powerful’ driving experiences.
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