Photography: Kiran Prasad
Quick on the heels of launching the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV in India, Mercedes-Benz has also launched the EQS 580 SUV. In fact the two were launched barely weeks apart and interestingly, the launch of the latter was a well-kept secret! And good news is that just like the EQS 580 sedan that’s been on sale for two years now and is assembled locally in India, the EQS 580 SUV will be assembled here too. This makes the EQS 580 SUV a very interesting proposition, as local assembly has allowed Mercedes-Benz to price it aggressively. Then there’s the fact that while most luxury car makers are offering full-size electric SUVs, there aren’t too many options out there for someone wanting a three row one. What’s more with the ‘S’ in its name, the EQS also promises to be a cut above most luxury electric SUVs on sale. I spent a full day behind its wheel (some of it in its second row too!) to find out just how good Merc’s latest EV is.
The EQS SUV wears what is the family look for the EQ line-up of EVs, which means you get the same futuristic looking front end. Needless to mention, there’s a striking resemblance to the EQS 580 sedan – the grille, intricately designed headlamps and front bumper all remind of the sedan. For the Indian market Mercedes-Benz has only launched the AMG Line trim, so you get a gloss black finish all round, including on the air dams at the front, the wheel arches and also the front and rear bumpers. You also get the power bulges on the hood that we see on higher end Mercedes cars and add some muscle to the face.
But while it may not look as large from the front, the sides is from where the EQS SUV really conveys how big it is. Its wheelbase stands at 3,210mm, which for the record is slightly longer than the GLS – an SUV we all consider really big! The ES 580 SUV’s length stands at 5,136mm, besides which it is nearly two metres wide. And this being the AMG Line, you get an AMG inspired design for the wheels, which are 21 inches in diameter. The EQ family look continues at the rear in the form of the connected tail lamps, and the tail lamp design is the same as the EQS sedan. Overall, given its large size the EQS SUV has serious road presence, but more importantly, there’s an air of elegance to the SUV’s design, as you would expect.
That air of elegance continues inside too. Like the exterior, there’s a sense of familiarity to interiors as well which starts with the 56-inch ‘Hyperscreen’. This is a single glass panel housing three displays, including the massive, centrally positioned 17.7-inch infotainment screen (which is an OLED unit by the way), besides the 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the front passenger. Seats are typical of what you would expect in a top end Mercedes-Benz and are extremely plush. The sunroof is a split unit, with separate sun shades for the first and second rows and overall, there’s a sense of opulence to the cabin thanks to the choice of materials including soft touch plastic, leather, wood and brushed metal.
But this is an EQ model with the S in its name which means the second row is the one to be in, thanks to the space it offers, besides the excellent comfort. There’s a third row as well, which you can use to seat two persons but only in a pinch, for short drives. In fact on longer drives you’re better off folding down the third row to make space for luggage, which makes enough space to carry a family’s belonging for a week. No prizes for guessing that a mere press of a button folds the third row seats down – this is an EQS after all. Coming back to the second row, the beige-hued interiors exude a sense of luxury augmented further by the seat comfort and space. You can even adjust the front passenger seat to make more space, besides which the second row arm rest can be folded down for more comfort. But besides the space and comfort, the EQS SUV’s second row also pampers you with lots of features.
Part of standard equipment for India is what Mercedes calls the ‘Rear Comfort Package’ which includes pillows and cushions, but more importantly, 11.6-inch touchscreens for both rear passengers and a touchscreen tablet you can detach from the armrest to control the screens in front of you. There’s two noise cancelling headphones as well, making it easy for you to cut yourself away from the world and fall asleep – these are part of the Rear Seat Package too! The driver and front passenger get pampered in the EQS SUV too. Both front seats come with active cushioning and massage functions, including a hot stone massage effect, besides ventilation. The EQS SUV is also equipped with a 15-speaker, 710 Watt Burmester 3D surround sound system with Dolby Atmos sound experience.
The latest version of MBUX means the inbuilt navigation offers highly detailed views in its maps, besides precise, real-time traffic information. It’s pretty cool to use and if given enough time to acquaint myself with the maps, I would certainly not mind switching to these from Google Maps! There’s Level 2 ADAS as well, with a long list of functions. The headlamps on the EQS SUV are ‘digital’ lights that adapt to driving conditions including exterior lighting, traffic, road surface and even weather conditions like rain or fog. This is besides the adaptive high beam assist that switches to low beam or adjusts the lighting depending on conditions including oncoming traffic, in places where there are no street lights.
The EQS SUV is also equipped with rear wheel steering and the rear wheels turn up to 10 degrees, helping reduce its turning radius which is a big help when moving it around in tight spots. Mercedes-Benz has also configured Off-road mode as standard for India, besides driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual. Of course, the EQS isn’t a hardcore off-roader to say so, but off-road mode raises the adaptive air suspension to help you drive more confidently when treading off tarmac. The head up display also gets a dedicated display for Off-road mode, which shows a lot of relevant information.
There’s a 122kWh battery pack in the floorboard that provides juice to two electric motors, one on each axle. Peak power and torque outputs stand at 540PS and 858Nm, which is in the same league as a lot of internal combustion engine powered performance cars! And given that this is an EV and peak torque is available from the word go, claimed 0-100kmph time is just 4.7 seconds. This makes the EQS SUV quick enough to give a lot of fast cars a run for their money, and that is despite it being significantly heavier, being an electric vehicle. O yes, the EQS can surprise you with its acceleration, despite its size and heft. In fact when driving enthusiastically, it is easy to get carried away by its silence, the smoothness of the powertrain given that there is no internal combustion engine running under the hood and of course, the quietness that comes with it. But what I really like about its performance is that despite those dizzying outputs, throttle response in the EQS SUV is very progressive, which means it can make its way forward gently and in a soft manner when needed, like say, in bumper to bumper traffic or when your passengers are fast asleep and you don’t wish to wake them up. As for charging, EQS SUV supports fast charging at speeds up to 200kW, so you can charge it up to 80 percent in just about half an hour, which is really quick given the size of its battery pack. What’s more, the 122kW battery pack results in an ARAI certified range per charge of 809km, which among the highest for any EV in India and second only to its own sibling, the EQS 580 sedan.
Thanks to the adaptive air suspension, ride quality is as plush as it gets. Switching to Off-road mode raises ride height, though only up to speeds of 70kmph. But irrespective of the mode you’re driving in, the EQS SUV knows how to cushion occupants from undulations on the road, as it simply glides over tarmac. Then there’s the fact that cabin quietness is as good as it gets, which coupled with the SUV’s supreme comfort, especially for those seated in the second row, ensures the EQS SUV is a vehicle that you’ll be able to fall asleep in, in no time. At the same time, the EQS SUV also feels like an able mile muncher and handles well, offering a confident feel at all times, despite its large dimensions and heavy weight. It stays planted at highway speeds and has a sense of grace to it, as you would expect of a Mercedes-Benz offering with the letter S in its name.
Overall, the EQS 580 SUV has a lot going for it, be it in terms of comfort, luxury, features, performance or range. And while it may not be a Maybach, the EQS SUV certainly lives up to the S in its name. And then there’s the price tag of ₹ 1.41 crores ex-showroom, which should help in making it even more enticing for luxury car buyers also looking to make a statement with an EV.
