We recently tested the all-new, Mercedes EQS 450 all electric SUV and loved the combination of luxury and EV goodness. So, what if you’re more of a sedan person? Enter the EQE sedan. While sharing much of the EQS technology, it ends up being quite a bit different. Tempted? Let’s take a look!
Low, wide and sleek
Transferring from a more conventional SUV to a sedan creates a much more evocative piece of rolling art.
The front is similar to the EQS, but the EQE loses the massive grille for a less tall unit. It still has the “black panel” design, and we love the three-dimensional star pattern that references the original star of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft company which was registered as a trademark in 1911 – futurism and history wrapped in one! The LED headlights have a simpler design, and the hood is less contoured with power bulges, but thanks to the massive Mercedes star and clean design, there’s no doubt what brand this is.
Our tester also had the Digital Light Package that has a symbol projection and animation function that puts on a little show when you start up. It’s one of those things that will wow your friends and neighbors, and we always got a kick out of it.
The profile of the EQE is most evocative, with a long wheelbase and very short overhangs, it looks tight and tough. Sharply angled A and C pillars a very coupe like, and the high shoulder line adds an athletic look. Really selling that look were our tester’s 20-inch AMG five spoke wheels with aero elements – aggressive with a cool mesh pattern, there’s simply no other wheel that looks like it anywhere. Excellent. Like our EQS, the power door handles glide out automatically for you to grab on entry and pull in flush when you drive off or lock up. A bit of theater, but we love it.
Also, like the EQS, the rear is conservative with a full-width LED taillight band. Adding some sport is a small lip spoiler on the edge of the trunk, while the sharply raked C pillar creates a small rear window that gives the EQE a hunkered-down look from the rear that’s quite striking.
The finishing touch was our tester’s Selenite Grey metallic paint. Rich, radiant and striking it’s the poster child for Mercedes hues!
Stylish and Stunning
Inside, the EQE is pure Mercedes, with all the richness and style you’d expect.
Open the door, and the initial impression is high-end materials, and a spacious cabin. While it doesn’t have the EQS headroom, you feel like you have limousine-like room, and the flat floor lets the sedan have a floating center console with extra storage easily reached below.
Our sedan had a lovely two-interior. With Sable Brown and Neva Grey Nappa Leather striking a tone of pure elegance. The rear seats are adult-friendly and thanks to the long wheelbase the legroom is limo luxurious. The rear trunk is spacious, and a surprise in such a luxurious sedan are split-folding rear seats. Bring your mountain bike! Just don’t scratch those nice interior finishes.
Up front, you get the full digital treatment with a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and 12.8-inch OLED portrait display tablet handling the info-tainment duties. The gauge display gives you a variety of choices, including pulling the map display in all its glory. There’s also a large Head Up Display to keep you in the loop.
The info-tainment display is gorgeous and your choice of maps looks brilliant. As noted on the EQS, we’d like a volume knob, but everything works seamlessly and easily. Short cuts for key items like climate control, driver modes, keep you from spending time fishing through menus and screens. The voice control “Hey Mercedes” makes your life even easier, and many of the key features – even things like turning on the seat heaters, calling up media, etc. are done without having to lift a finger.
We love being spoiled and the EQE is happy to deliver, with the incredible sounding Burmester Surround system – the speaker covers themselves are a work of art and the panorama moonroof. Adding to the 1stClass treatment were optional heated and ventilated front seats, MBUX augmented reality for Navigation and 64-color Ambient Lighting.
A More Sporting Experience
Driving the EQE is treat, and it is a noticeably different experience than its SUV sibling.
Our 4Matic tester put out 288 horsepower, a bit down from the EQS’ 355, but the big number here is torque, with the EQE serving up a mountainous 564 lb.-ft of torque. And since it’s an EV, that is available right off the line. And since the EQE is a smaller vehicle, it really is very quick, serving up 0-60 in right around 5 seconds. And since it does it in complete silence it feels even quicker than that. A silky rocket, this EQE!
Of course, in an EV, you’ll want to know about charging. Like our EQS, most of the info says we should have a range between 285-305 miles. But our tester showed over 330 when fully charged. Not sure if it was an over-achiever or there was some spec anomaly – we’ll just say that you get plenty of range. Again, like the EQS, Charging is excellent, with speeds up to 200 kW, you can get from 10 to 80 percent in just 31 minutes when hooked up to a compatible DC fast charger. This is about as painless an EV driving experience gets to this point.
The ride is Mercedes smooth, but we liked that you could call up a sporty setting on the adaptive damping, and it firms things up nicely. This willingness to zip around and have some fun is what really sets it apart from the EQS SUV. Sports car? No. But you can hustle the EQE around and it’s a willing partner. Helping our tester do the hustle was the optional rear wheel steering – you really notice it at tight parking speeds where it helps you get into those tight spaces, despite the long wheelbase. Teamed with steering that’s light and feelsome and you have an easy car to drive no matter what.
We also loved the EQE’s optional Driver Assistance Package, that gives you lots of warnings, nudges, etc. to keep you out of harm’s way, and the adaptive cruise control works beautifully making this an excellent long-distance tourer or daily commuter.
Super Sedan, Super Price?
Like most European premium vehicles, it’s the options that you have to watch. Our EQE 350 4MATIC started at $77,900, which we think is good value in this segment. Our tester was nicely equipped with optional grey Nappa leather ($2,990), Pinnacle Trim ($3,050), Driver Assistance Package ($1,250), Digital Light Package ($1,100) Winter Package ($1,500), Energizing Air Control ($450), Acoustic Comfort Package ($1,100), 20” AMG wheels ($850), Rear Axle Steering ($1,300) and Front Ventilated Seats ($450). Whew! Add in $1,150 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $92,900.
Those looking for a more sporting, less lux experience could look at BMW. Similarly sized, the i7 comparably equipped is around $114,000. Gulp. If you want an Bimmer EV we’d probably recco the smaller BMW i4 at $65,000 and pocket the change! And for pure lust factor, it’s hard not to consider the Porsche Taycan around $96,830 comparably equipped.
Elegant, smooth, quick, with excellent range, the 2023 Mercedes Benz EQE 350 4MATIC is the epitome of European luxury EV sedans!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.