Written by Keith Adams and Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 2 June 2025

Overview

Should you buy one?

It’s a difficult sell, this one. Yes, it’s superbly refined at speed and comfortable, but it’s also flawed in a number of key areas. First with the positives – there’s plenty of space inside for people, and the boot is large enough for most. Even base models get plenty of equipment, while the performance and range offered by the batteries and motors is good if not exceptional when compared to other electric SUVs.

The interior quality is a bit disappointing in a few areas, and the ride is just too uncontrolled considering its luxury car ambitions. But the major elephant in the room is how much it costs to buy, and the strength of the opposition.

In short, we’d much rather have the more luxurious and comfortable BMW iX, our favourite choice in this market sector, as it’s better to drive and more solidly screwed together from better materials. We’d also take the quality-built and well-sorted Audi Q8 E-Tron over the EQE SUV for that matter.

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What’s new?

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It’s been around since 2023, but the model range has been tweaked with some efficiency updates since launch. Overall, the EQE SUV still feels fresh, and despite being part of a bewildering number of electric cars and SUVs from Mercedes-Benz, it’s now quite easy to place on your shopping list. After all, it’s effectively a taller, more practical EQE saloon that sits below the luxurious EQS models and above the EQA and seven-seat EQB. The awkward overlap with the original EQC model range is no longer an issue, as that went off sale in 2024.

The EQE SUV model range has expanded since launch, so you have a choice of up to 11 power variants (if you include the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV), which is quite a change from the original line-up. Initially, you were able to pick from the 292hp 350 4Matic or the significantly punchier 500 4Matic with 408hp.

Now, you’re looking at the rear-wheel drive 320hp version as the entry level, through the 449hp EQE SUV 4Matic, topping out at the AMG EQE 53’s 625hp, which offers spleen-squeezing acceleration. Obvious rivals include the Audi Q8 E-Tron and BMW iX, although there are plenty of less expensive electric SUV that are similarly spacious if not quite as plush.

Find out more about how we test cars.

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What’s it like inside?

A bit of a mixed bag if we’re honest. We’ve only driven well-specified versions of the EQE SUV with plenty of supple leather, fancy looking trim pieces and sharp digital displays. It looks good and for the most part feels the part, at least in most of the areas you touch regularly. But while most of the materials are up to scratch, the interior door pulls are surprisingly flimsy, while some of the recycled plastic found inside cubbies feels beneath a car at this price point.

Infotainment is taken care of by a 12.8-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen that has sharp graphics and is responsive to commands. It’s easy enough to navigate with logical menus and reasonably sized icons, and there are a few shortcut buttons. The climate controls are adjusted using the screen, although these icons are at least always displayed at the bottom of the screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all models.

Alternatively, AMG Line Premium gets the option of Merc’s Hyperscreen (pictured above). Standard on Premium Plus and Business Class, it spins the central touchscreen to landscape, adds another 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger and puts them all under one piece of glass. Annoyingly, it puts the instruments at an awkward angle, moves what few shortcut buttons there are into a worse position and costs an eyewatering £8,000.

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Boot space and practicality

There’s plentiful head and legroom front and rear so four six-footers will be able to get comfy, and a third adult in the rear shouldn’t feel too squashed. Regardless of which version you go for, you can only have five seats in your EQE SUV.

Boot space is a reasonable if not outstanding 520 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,625 with them folded. That’s largely similar to the BMW iX (500 and 1,750 litres) and Audi Q8 E-Tron (625 and 1,725) but less than conventionally powered rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE (630 and 2,055) and BMW X5 (650 and 1,875). It’s usefully split 40:20:40, which gives you plenty of rear seating options.

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Comfort

We’ve no complaints with the seats on our high-spec test cars, with lots of electric adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functions. Although they certainly pamper, they don’t go low enough for even short drivers. Combined with instruments that are aimed upwards, a high dashboard and thick pillars, and you get a rather compromised driving position.

Safety

Euro NCAP crash tested the EQE SUV in 2023 and it gained a full five-star rating. Adult and child occupant protection is very impressive, and the driver assists score well, too, with all percentage ratings falling between 80 and 90% in testing.

All EQE SUVs get automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control as standard, with AMG Line Premium and up gaining a more advanced driver assistance package. These driver assistance systems work exceptionally well on the road, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist working particularly well on this car.

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What’s it like to drive?

Those stepping out of a regular petrol or diesel SUV are unlikely to have issue with the performance on offer, yet drivers accustomed to the rapid acceleration offered by the fastest electric SUV rivals may be slightly disappointed. The base 350 manages 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds in rear-wheel drive form, with the 500 dropping this to 4.7 seconds.

We’d argue the 350 is sufficiently quick for almost any situation on the road, although the significantly pricier 500 does make far lighter work of A-road overtakes. Those that want more will need the AMG 53 which performs the same sprint in 3.7 seconds. This version gives the current class champion BMW iX M60 a proper run for its money.

Power is easily metered out, but the brake pedal has a disconcertingly long travel, with an accompanying spongey feel at times. A range of regen modes help you keep away from the middle pedal should you wish, with the automatic mode said to boost range.

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It is quiet, with little wind and road noise on the motorway. Assuming the road is smooth enough – something we’ll come onto – it’s a decent long-distance cruiser. Despite standard air suspension with adaptive dampers, the EQS SUV’s ride is easily unsettled, though. While it’s comfortable on a smoothly surfaced motorway, it fidgets over surface imperfections and thumps clumsily over potholes and sharp bumps. Body control is also poor, with the car pitching and heaving over crests and compressions, causing motion sickness in passengers should they look down.

It’s a shame as the EQE SUV handles quite tidily. The four-wheel steer system that’s standard on the top two trims responds in a linear fashion and makes this hefty thing significantly more manoeuvrable than you’d expect. Grip levels are high and traction good, while body lean is kept in check well. It’s not masses of fun, but you can cover ground quickly in it.

Range and charging

Maximum quoted driving range for the EQE SUV is 377 miles in 350+ guise and 365 in 500, both if you stick to a lowly trim level. Even if you do opt for a posh trim with giant wheels, both will still top 300 miles according to official WLTP figures. In real-world testing, mixing A-roads with motorway driving, 300 miles was easily achieved.

Both can charge at up to 170kW to give a 10-to-80% charge time of just over 30 minutes. On a typical 7.4kW home wallbox a full charge takes an agonising 14 hours, although base AMG Line gets 11kW AC charging capability and all others 22kW. The 10-to-100% charge time then becomes 10 hours and five hours respectively.

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What models and trims are available?

There is a choice of four trims and a few options. The range kicks off with AMG Line, moving on to AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Premium Plus Night Edition. AMG Line gets 20-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, adaptive LED headlights, heated windscreen washers, electric leather seats with memory, three-zone climate control, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera.

AMG Line Premium upgrades the headlights, adds 21-inch wheels, an opening panoramic roof, a Burmester surround sound system, a dashcam, remote parking assist and the driving assistance pack plus we mentioned earlier. Premium Plus gives you 22-inch wheels, four-wheel steering, a head-up display, Hyperscreen and even fancier lights.

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Business Class costs the same as AMG Line Premium Plus but dials down the sport and ramps up the luxury. There’s smaller 21-inch wheels, more rugged styling with faux skidplates, comfort seats with luxury head restraints and Nappa leather coverings, a heated steering wheel and a TV tuner. Options are limited to a towing pack and the Hyperscreen on AMG Line Premium.

Click through to the next page to see our star ratings for every aspect of this car, and get a recap of what to do and don’t like about the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.