Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV Review: The Electric S-Class Nobody Talks About
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV delivers S-Class luxury in a practical package. But does its blend of comfort and technology justify its six-figure price?
Mercedes-Benz has a marketing problem with the EQE SUV. It arrives in showrooms without the fanfare that greeted the EQS SUV, overshadowed by its bigger brother and ignored by comparison test editors who prefer flashier metal. But spend time with the EQE SUV, and you find one of the most complete luxury EVs on the market—a car that makes a compelling case for itself through sheer competence rather than spectacle.
The EQE SUV is the second vehicle built on Mercedes’ EVA2 platform, following the EQE sedan. It slots below the EQS SUV in both size and price, competing directly with the BMW iX, Rivian R1S, and—in terms of size and price—the Volvo EX90. At $86,900 to start for the EQE 350+ SUV, it undercuts the EQS SUV by roughly $20,000 while offering 90% of the experience.
The Experience
Mercedes describes the EQE SUV’s interior philosophy as “touching the future,” and the execution largely delivers on that promise. The cabin borrows the Hyperscreen from the EQS—a sweeping 56-inch arc of glass housing three displays: a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED, and a 12.3-inch passenger screen. It’s stunning the first time you see it, though the fingerprint-attracting glossy surface becomes tiresome on longer drives.
Build quality is impeccable. Every switch, knob, and surface feels machined to a tolerance that justifies the price. The seats—heated, ventilated, and with massage function in the Premium trim—are among the most comfortable in any vehicle at any price. The Burmester 3D surround sound system remains exceptional, and Mercedes’Energizing Comfort modes can adjust the seat climate, music, and ambient lighting to predefined moods.
The EQE 350+ SUV uses a single rear-mounted motor producing 288 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. It’s quick enough—the 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds feels faster due to the instant torque delivery—but the dual-motor EQE 500 4Matic, at 536 hp and 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, is the powertrain this chassis deserves. The air suspension, standard on the EQE 500, delivers a ride quality that makes broken pavement feel like silk.
Range and Charging
The 91 kWh battery pack (useable) in the EQE 350+ provides an EPA-estimated 307 miles of range. The EQE 500, with its dual motors, is rated at 280 miles. Both support 170 kW DC fast charging, allowing a 10-80% charge in approximately 32 minutes. The EQE can also precondition the battery automatically when navigation routing to a DC fast charger, a feature that significantly improves real-world charging performance in cold weather.
What’s Missing
Mercedes’ MBUX software, while improved, still has rough edges. The voice assistant sometimes struggles with natural commands, and the over-the-air update cadence has been slower than Tesla’s or Rivian’s. The rear seat space is adequate but not generous—rear passengers get good legroom but the roofline cuts into headroom for taller occupants.
The EQE SUV also lacks the third-row seat that the EQS SUV and many competitors offer, limiting its appeal to families who need genuine seven-passenger transport.
The Verdict
At $86,900 to $104,500 depending on trim, the Mercedes EQE SUV is expensive. But it’s expensive in the way a well-made suit is expensive—it does everything it promises, does it with precision, and will still look good in five years. For buyers who want the Tesla Model X’s technology cred without Tesla’s minimalist austerity, the BMW iX’s driving dynamics without BMW’s firm ride, or the Rivian R1S’s range without Rivian’s growing pains, the EQE SUV deserves a closer look.
Score: 8/10
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