Mercedes is launching the all-new seven-seat EQS SUV that aims for the top of its segment. Underneath that bubbly silhouette is what many will see as a larger and more spacious EQS and that makes sense as they do share the name. Here’s a deeper dive into the new all-electric luxury SUV that might just be the new king of the class.

Mercedes is kicking off the new EQS SUV lineup with two trims in North America that will sound familiar if you know much about the EQS Sedan. The base EQS SUV is the 450+ and it uses a single Permanently Excited Synchronous Motor (PSM) on the rear axle to produce 355 hp and 568 Nm of torque. Above it, Mercedes has positioned the EQS 580 4MATIC SUV which uses a single PSM motor on each axle for a combined 536 hp and 858 Nm of torque. It’s notable that on both trim levels, the power on offer is slightly above that of the corresponding sedan. According to the automaker, in the 4MATIC model, the Torque Shift function “ensures intelligent, continuously variable distribution of torque” between the front and rear electric motors.

 

According to the brand, both SUV trims can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 31 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger. They both have the ability to charge at a maximum rate of 200 kW so they’re neither the fastest nor slowest in the segment. On AC charging, both will fill their batteries up in 11.25 hours. Mercedes says that the EQS SUV is capable of more than 373 miles or 600 kilometers of range according to WLTP testing. They don’t say which trim can accomplish that number though and it should be noted that EPA ratings typically end up being less than WLTP scores. That total range is also considerably less than in the super slippery EQS Sedan that can go up to 770 Km WLTP. Still, the EQS SUV should be capable of adding 300 km or so of range in just 15 minutes so long stops won’t always be necessary to get back on the road.

Just like in the EQS Sedan, the technology in the EQS SUV pretty much smokes every other brand on the planet bar none. The 450+ will come standard with a 12.8-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch driver information display. It’ll also come with a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, and the option to add a third row for a total passenger capacity of seven. Spend a little more on the 580 4MATIC and you’ll automatically get the gigantic MBUX Hyperscreen with its trio of screens under a single 56-inch panel of curved glass. As Mercedes rightly points out, it pretty much makes anything else look old. Buyers who opt for the rear-seat entertainment system get even more impressive features though. It adds a pair of 11.6-inch displays and opens up the option to add a centrally placed tablet that essentially acts as an extra controller but unlike the two rear displays, this one can be used without having to lean forward. Oh, and you can even remove it from the car and continue to use it within a reasonable range of the vehicle.

 

The EQS SUV also comes as standard with the AIRMATIC Air Suspension with Adaptive Damping System, the DYNAMIC SELECT system that includes Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual driving modes, and 10-degree rear axle steering. In terms of driver assistance systems, it gets the Driver Assistance Package with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control, Active Lane Keeping and Blind Spot Assist, Active Stop-and-Go Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, and PRE-SAFE PLUS including PRE-SAFE Impulse Side.

Up to seven different user profiles can be saved with a fingerprint scanner in the middle console. Then, they can be assigned to specific seats in the vehicle where individual users can enjoy the content and comfort settings that they personally prefer. There are so many different technological advancements in the EQS SUV that we don’t have room to note them all but we’ll leave you with this one: it will learn your preferences and remind you about things without you telling it to. For instance, if you tend to get a phone call from the same person every Tuesday on the way home from work, it will learn that and then remind you about it before it happens. It will also know if you’re not the one driving and in that case, it won’t say anything. Amazing, and a little creepy.

 

It’s no secret that Mercedes was somewhat late to the party compared to the Tesla Model X and the BMW iX xDrive50i. Judging by the finished EQS SUV on paper, maybe that was on purpose. Perhaps the tri-star brand was sandbagging a bit. The Mercedes is marginally taller and longer than those rival SUVs, measuring 5130 mm long, 1955 mm wide and 1727 mm tall, so it should offer more interior space than both. The optional third row is another feature that we expect many buyers to want. Moreover, the EQS SUV shares its wheelbase (3200 mm) with the EQS Sedan, but is over 198 mm taller. The second row of seats can be electrically adjusted forward and backwards by up to 127 mm and, as a result, the knee room in the second row is between 838 and 965 mm.

While there’s no official pricing for the EQS SUV that will go on sale in late 2022 just yet, we suspect it’ll be close to the sedan which starts at US$ 102,310. Sure, that’s considerably more than the BMW which can be had for US$ 83,200 but at a first glance, the iX seems to be behind on the technology offerings compared to the EQS SUV. Then there’s the Tesla Model X which will continue to reign as the drag race king among SUVs for some time. That’s pretty much the only thing we can see it winning shy of a cool door contest now that the EQS SUV is here though.