Best 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQ Models
Rich Taber has nearly three decades of professional writing experience, including eight years as an automotive columnist for The Standard-Times newspaper, seven years on staff at WheelsTV as a scriptwriter, production manager, and editorial vice-president, and five years as CEO of RPM News Weekly. He has written extensively for numerous regional and local publications and developed public relations products for many non-profit organizations. Having studied both engineering and liberal arts at the University of Notre Dame and worked in audio/visual services, electronic sales, graphic design, and event and entertainment production, he brings a well-balanced skill set to his automotive writing.
Mercedes-Benz has come on strong in its progress toward an electrified vehicle lineup with the recent introduction of fully electric versions of the S, E, and B-Class models via the brand’s EQ division. Dubbed EQS, EQE, and EQB, these models collectively offer a slew of premium choices for buyers scouring the marketplace for an all-electric luxury sedan or SUV.
Whether it’s performance, elegance, or technology, Mercedes-Benz has never been one to be left on the sidelines. Consequently, each of these three designated vehicle classes have been developed to satisfy multiple performance needs while providing trim options that elevate comfort and enjoyment as well.
From this extensive catalog of choices, we have culled four models of particular interest. Whether it’s the focus on performance or practicality, convenience, or crashworthiness, these are four battery electric vehicles for 2023 that have gotten our attention in a big way.
Table of Contents
Mercedes-Benz EQ Models Comparison
| Model | EQS AMG Sedan | EQS 450 4MATIC SUV | EQE 500 4MATIC Sedan | EQB 300 4MATIC SUV |
| Performance | (up to 751 hp in Race Start Mode) | |||
| Battery Capacity | ||||
| Driving Range | ||||
| Charging Time 240V | ||||
| Charging Time DC Fast | 10% to 80% | 10% to 80% | 10% to 80% | 10% to 80% |
| Fuel Economy city/hwy/comb. MPGe | ||||
| Curb Weight | ||||
| Drive Configuration | ||||
| Est. 0-60 mph | (Race Start Mode) | |||
| Apprx. Price w/o options |
1. EQS AMG Sedan
If all-out performance is what one is seeking, the EQS AMG sedan will not disappoint. The first EQ model from Mercedes-AMG to arrive in the United States, this sedan utilizes the immense potential of its electrified powertrain to produce up to 751 horsepower when Race Start Mode is activated while simultaneously cranking out 752 pound-feet of torque to launch the nearly 6000-pound vehicle from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 3.4 seconds.
When one steps inside, the first feature one cannot help, but notice is the magnificent 56-inch curved glass hyper-screen display that stretches across the entire dashboard, incorporating a 12.3-inch cluster display for the driver, a 17.7-inch central infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch display for the front-row passenger.
That’s just the beginning of a premium-level experience that also includes standard front-row multi-contour seats with massage, heating, and ventilation, a Burmester audio system with 3D sound, high-performance brakes with paddle shift adjustable regenerative braking, and a ride control air suspension with adaptive damping. For added maneuverability, there’s intelligent rear-axle steering with up to 9 degrees of automatic low-speed adjustment.
More importantly, especially for those on the fence about going green, this all-electric, all-wheel drive, race-ready luxury machine, provides an estimated 277 miles of driving range and can be recharged from 10% to 80% in about 31 minutes. If you’re traveling long distances, what this means is that you can drive the first 250 miles, stop to recharge for about a half hour while having lunch, then drive another 200-plus miles without a bit of anxiety. As for speed-limit worries in such a powerful vehicle, well, that’s up to the driver.
The Takeaway: Notwithstanding the six-figure entry-point MSRP, what’s not to like about high-performance that’s zero emissions, especially in such a supremely luxurious package.
2. EQS 450 4MATIC SUV
No need to quell performance expectations if one opts for the EQS SUV instead of the EQS AMG sedan. Though this 3-row family hauler might not have acquired AMG status yet, it’s no slouch in the luxury performance category. Of three distinct performance levels available, we’ve selected the mid-level 450 4MATIC for its combination of elegance and price.
One could maximize performance with the more powerful 580 4MATIC or efficiency with the single motor-equipped 450+, but having 355 horsepower with the extra torque of 4MATIC all-wheel drive and still earning 78 MPGe in combined city/highway driving seems like a good trade-off. Besides, the quickness of its all-electric powertrain makes getting up to highway speed easy, clocking zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
Fortunately, there’s a lot more for the $107,400 asking price than speed. In fact, many of the luxuries found in the EQS AMG are similarly available in the EQS 450 4MATIC SUV, including heated and ventilated leather seats, Burmester audio, and an air suspension system. You would have to move up to the 580 4MATIC SUV, however, to get the 56-inch 3-display dashboard hyper-screen. Standard here are a 12.8-inch central portrait-oriented touchscreen and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display. Incidentally, the SUV having 10-degree rear-axle steering is a plus when challenged with a tight parking space.
Ultimately though, all EVs are being assessed by how fast they charge up. DC Fast charging is the way to go if you’re not planning your day around charging overnight at home. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Electrify America to provide an unlimited number of 30-minute DC Fast Charging sessions for the first two years of ownership. That’s right in line with the EQS SUV taking about a half-hour to charge from 10% to 80% when using fast charging. A full charge will get you to about 285 miles of range, so 80% is plenty to get you home.
The Takeaway: The EQS SUV likely will be the star of the Mercedes-Benz all-electric lineup. Its combination of elegance, utility, power, range and efficiency create the makings of not only a competitive entry in its class but a stalwart traveling companion, too.
3. EQE 500 4MATIC Sedan
If one wants the benefits of all-electric, all-wheel drive mobility with over 300 miles range in a luxury performance sedan priced under $90K then the Mercedes EQE 500 4MATIC looks to be a good way to go. With many of the niceties of the larger EQS and plenty of power, this sedan is more spacious inside than its E-Class counterpart and one more step toward the automaker’s stated goal of having electric alternatives in every market segment by 2030.
As of this writing, EPA efficiency and range ratings for the dual motor EQE 500 4MATIC haven’t been released, but what we do know is that this sedan will deliver 402 horsepower with a prodigious 633 pound-feet of torque. Lighter than the EQS sedan and fitted with a lithium-ion battery that has a 90.6 kWh capacity, the expected driving range will likely exceed 280 miles (the single-motor EQE 350+ delivers 305 miles, according to the manufacturer).
Equipped with the newest generation of the Mercedes-Benz multimedia user interface, as are the other EQ models in this comparison, the EQE models feature the identically sized central touchscreen and cluster display of the EQS 450 4MATIC. Plus, the EQE comes with high beam assist, a surround-view camera system, and a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication of the driver.
Mercedes EQ models offer two step-up trims from the Premium level entry point – the Exclusive and the Pinnacle. With the EQE, the Exclusive trim elevates the user interface experience with augmented reality for navigation and adds a Driver Assist Package that includes blind spot assist, and lane keeping assist. The Pinnacle embellishes that with four-zone climate control and a head-up display that projects key driver information through the windshield directly in front of the driver.
The Takeaway: Many a sports car enthusiast will find their way to the EQE 500 sedan, but they’ll be chasing a long line of sustainability conscious mid-level executives who’ve already figured out that they can have a blast driving this car without any shame.
4. EQB 300 4MATIC SUV
Going green in a Mercedes-EQ doesn’t get more economical than the EQB – at least for now. Currently priced as low as $54,500, the EQB 300 4MATIC delivers Mercedes-level quality in a practical all-wheel drive SUV with an optional 7-seat configuration.
We point to the EQB 300 4MATIC over the EQB 350 4MATIC simply based on driving range. Sure, there’s a sacrifice in power, dropping from 288 horsepower to 225 horsepower, but with an estimated 243-mile range, it puts the vehicle in a better comfort zone on the anxiety meter. Still, it’ll get going up to 60 miles per hour in just seven seconds which is competitive for its class.
Feature-wise, there’s much to behold, including the new generation Mercedes user interface. Here, though, the screens are a tad smaller than in the other EQ offerings, with both the cluster and media displays measuring 10.25 inches. Safety features include lane-keeping assist, blind spot assist, and active brake assist. One would need to move up to the Exclusive trim to get wireless phone charging and a step more to the Pinnacle trim to enjoy Burmester surround sound.
The Takeaway: Unlike the other EQ models featured here which are built on an EV specific platform, the EQB rises up on GLB underpinnings. More a reference point than a handicap, since the GLB is roomy for its class and has generally been well received, this likely accounts for the EQB’s affordable pricing.
