Mercedes-Benz revealed its first electric SUV for the US on Tuesday: the EQS SUV.- The EQS SUV offers up to 373 miles of range and up to 536 horsepower, Mercedes said.
Tesla, the world's dominant maker of
The German brand revealed the all-electric EQS SUV on Tuesday. When it goes on sale in late 2022, the luxurious family-hauler will become Mercedes's first battery-powered SUV for US customers.
Aimed at the nation's most popular vehicle segment, the new model could help Mercedes take a bite out of the growing market for
As one might assume, the EQS SUV is the taller, more spacious version of Mercedes's EQS sedan, its electric flagship that recently went on sale. It will come in two versions: the EQS 450+ and the more powerful, all-wheel-drive EQS 580 4Matic. Mercedes hasn't revealed pricing for either model, but expect it to start north of $100,000.
The single-motor 450+ promises 355 horsepower, while the dual-motor 580 4Matic claims 536 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. According to Mercedes-Benz, the EQS SUV can drive more than 373 miles on a single charge, placing it firmly among the top tier of electric cars sold in the US, if true.
Both models come with all the luxurious appointments you'd expect from a six-figure Mercedes and offer plenty of optional add-ons.
As standard equipment, the upper-trim model gets Mercedes-Benz's so-called "hyperscreen," three displays under a single, 56-inch piece of curved glass that stretches across the cabin. Other standard features include plush air suspension, heated and ventilated seats, 64-color ambient lighting, and rear-wheel steering for a reduced turning radius. The back seats are electronically adjustable.
Options include an augmented-reality display, third-row seating, extra noise insulation, and entertainment screens for rear-seat passengers. All of this luxury may help Mercedes battle Tesla's Model X, which benefits from first-mover advantage and a loyal following — but isn't known to be particularly well-built or plush inside.
Competition is growing in the electric-car space as automakers around the globe embrace battery power, partially due to the blockbuster success of Tesla. The battle is particularly fierce in the luxury segment, where most EVs slot in due to their relatively high costs compared with combustion vehicles.
Mercedes arrived at the EV party later than some of its rivals like BMW and Audi, but it has big plans to catch up. By the end of 2022 in the US, Mercedes-Benz plans to start selling the smaller EQB SUV, the high-performance AMG-EQS sedan, and the midsize EQE sedan.