There are few bigger names in premium car than Mercedes-Benz and the growing range of electric cars in its EQ line-up underlines the importance of zero-emissions vehicles to its customers. The EQT is the next instalment in its all-electric line-up and uses the eCitan van as a starting point.

It is a five-seater family MPV on a van which means it’s a boxy alternative to the wealth of SUVs that everyone continues to buy. Competition in the all-electric MPV segment is slim, Stellantis is the only other company currently offering electrified versions of its vans as passenger-car people-movers where you can get the Citroen e-Berlingo or Peugeot e-Rifter, but with its more upmarket positioning the EQT feels better matched to the (currently diesel only) Volkswagen Caddy Life and Ford Tourneo Connect.

The key difference is that the EQT will be considerably more than its electric French rivals putting it in a class of its own where Mercedes hopes it lifestyle customers will pay for the more luxurious interior and of course the Mercedes badge.

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What’s it like inside?

The EQT gets an upmarket lift to its interior through the use of a faux-suede material across the dash and on the door trims. It’s part of the tactic of uplifting the areas that you see and touch the most – a key requirement if you are to believe that the EQT is not just a glammed-up version of the eCitan van and by extension not a Renault Kangoo E-Tech in disguise.

There’s synthetic leather on the seats, steering wheel and gearknob and a choice of silver or yellow plastic trims to compliment the areas of piano black that surround vents and the infotainment screen. All models get an integrated 7.0-inch touchscreen with the excellent MBUX infotainment system that supports voice support so you can ask it natural language questions or give commands prefixed with ‘Hey Mercedes’.

Automatic wipers and headlights are standard along with keyless start, and to improve efficiency on cold days there’s also a heat pump for the air conditioning. It’s not all good news, though, as ultimately the EQT still feels a lot like a van and once you look away from the Mercedes-designed elements like the cockpit dials and air vents you see plenty of borrowed Renault bits.

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Space in the rear also feels a bit compromised. In order to create 551 litres of bootspace but still retain legroom in the second row, the rear seats very high up making you feel uncomfortably close to the ceiling.

Range and charging

In our experience, the claimed range of 175 miles is a fairly realistic number. The 45kWh battery can be charged at up to a speed of 80kW using a DC charger which is enough to take the battery from 10-80% in just 38 minutes.

There’s also the option of a 22kW AC charger that can fully charge the lithium ion batteries from 0-100% in just 2.5 hours. Using a conventional 7kW single-phase charger will take slightly longer at around eight hours.

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What it’s like to drive?

Unlike most electric cars, you’re not going to be wowed by the performance of the EQT. It gets the
same 90kW electric motor, the equivalent of 122hp, as the eCitan van, which is about average for a vehicle of this size and class. Compared to other electric cars, and particularly those in the EQ range, however, it’s a rather underwhelming amount.

The handling and road manners of the EQT are less of a disappointment. Although the EQT is based on a van, it doesn’t handle like one thanks to its precise steering and the relatively soft ride. Its commercial vehicle origins are noticeable in some instances, though, as the front feels a lot softer than the rear, which caters for the heavier loads you’d find in a van – and results in a comfortable ride at the front end and a much firmer rear.

There are two driving modes, Comfort and Eco, with the EQT defaulting to Comfort at start-up. A button on the dash allows you to select Eco, which dulls the throttle response and limits power by 30% to ensure that you maximise the range. Unsurprisingly it makes the car feel incredibly sluggish, and unless you’re getting particularly nervous about range is best avoided.

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If you really want to maximise your potential milage, altering the regenerative braking levels is a preferable way of doing so. There are three levels, D, D and D+, which go from the strongest to the least amount of regeneration. D provides a high level of regen without feeling too harsh, while D+ is a coasting mode.

However, as with the driving modes, that standard D level of regen is perfectly acceptable. It’s not a particularly engaging setup for those that like to tweak and alter settings, but it does allow a degree of flexibility and on the whole the EQT can be an entertaining drive.

What models and trims are available?

Although you can get the EQT in just one power output there are three trim levels to choose from with entry-level, Advanced Plus, mid-range Premium and top-spec Premium Plus. Advanced Plus trims is
fairly basic, although does include reversing camera and rear parking sensors, while Premium comes more safety and driver assistance systems like Active Parking Assist.

Premium Plus trim adds satellite navigation, as well as keyless go and larger 17-inch alloys. Initially the EQT is only available as a five-seater MPV, but there are plans for a seven-seat variant based on the long-wheelbase chassis – although it’s not yet decided if that will come to the UK.

What else should I know?

Mercedes-Benz’s EQ range comes at a hefty premium and in the case of the EQT that’s not likely to change. UK pricing has yet to be confirmed, but if the entry-level German pricing is anything to go by it will be expensive.

The main positive in its favour is that it is a well-equipped car as standard. The MBUX infotainment screen is comes with all models, and it is also a practical family car – even down to the inclusion of three Isofix child seat mounts in the front passenger seat and two outer rear seats.

Should you wait and buy one when it arrives in the UK? Our verdict on the Mercedes-Benz EQT is on the next page.