When it came to the premium sector of the car market, performance was always a key element in separating the ordinary from the elite. But now that electrification has entered the chat and a Hyundai can be just as quick as a Mercedes-Benz, the role of being premium now relies on style and packaging.  

In the world of Mercedes, the S-Class is usually the first to receive the latest trend in technology and when it came to electrification it was no different when they introduced their EV global platform with the EQS Sedan and SUV. Trickling down into what would be more like the GLE sized crossover, we now have the latest addition to their EV line, the EQE and EQE SUV.  

There are two ways these automotive companies are approaching the whole electrification era; standing out or standing in. Electric crossovers like the Genesis GV70 or Audi e-Tron try to maintain a dignified, under-the-radar design. On the other hand, we have the Cadillac Lyriq & BMW iX that go out of their way to ensure that it is a self-advertisement of electrification. The Mercedes EQE fits somewhere in the middle. It is not trying to be aggressively different but at the same time, its fishbowl like design is distinguishing enough to show, there is no gas-powered engine under the hood.  

Our thoughts on the EQE SUV design language are similar to the EQS SUV, after all, the EQE is pretty much a scaled down version of it. It carries better proportions than the EQE Sedan and does not look out of place amongst its competitive piers. The design is simple and streamlined – it is starting to follow the trend of wrap around LED taillights and in lieu of a front grille, we find a black polished panel with more star-studded emblems than the red carpet at the Oscars.  

Despite not being demonstrated in the photos, since those are provided by Mercedes-Benz, our example of the EQE was in fact closer to the bottom of the range, being an entry-level EQE 350+ with a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive starting out at $77,900. As expected, the SUV version of the sedan gets the same performance with power stemming from a 288-horsepower, 417 lb-ft of torque electric motor. Oddly enough, opting for the 4MATIC all-wheel drive doesn’t cost extra or add more horsepower, but does provide a significant boost in torque, increasing to 564 lb-ft. 

Sticking with the single electric motor, the EQE SUV has no problem being quick on its rubber toes with 60-mph being achieved in under 6.5-seconds. The all-wheel drive will shave about .3-seconds from that time. In retrospect, this is all the performance the EQE SUV really needs, it is enough to hold its own and get going when the going needs to get gone. But if more power and quicker acceleration is what you favor, there is a spicier EQE 500 SUV with 402-horsepower, 633 lb-ft of torque and able to get out of its own way in 4.5-seconds. And if that still is not enough to get your blood pressure boiling, the 677-horsepower AMG version might just be enough to send you to the emergency room from an adrenaline overdose.  

But we here are observing the more rationalized way of modern life, the EQE 350+ SUV and sitting behind the wheel, it is all copasetic. Around town, the EV is lively and confident; but like most EV’s the faster you are going the less the torque plays its roll. At speeds of 70+ mph, we can see the EQE picking up pace, but not like a punch to your throat kind-of-quick. The 4MATIC all-wheel drive may provide that extra oomph should you highway travel a lot.  

On the road, the EQE SUV gave us mixed feelings. At low speeds, the suspension felt harsh and unresponsive to even the smallest of potholes or cracks in the road. Every road imperfection was noticeable as we felt the crash of the wheels shutter through the cabin. At high speeds however, the suspension was far more responsive and comfortable – so really, to obtain a comfortable ride, we must drive faster; well, don’t mind if I do. Unfortunately, going faster does not help the steering any. The steering is so numb, it is like talking to a therapist, there is just no emotions – no feedback – no feeling. And even though the light steering made for incredible parking maneuverability, we found ourselves parking crooked with no sense of direction or where our wheels were at.   

Inside, we find familiarity from other Mercedes products. The entire front cabin is similarly configured to the gas-powered alternatives with a tall center console unlike other EV’s that use their flat floors to create an ambience of open space. Instead, we find a good chunk of storage space and a large bay underneath the console. For now, the EQE SUV only comes equipped with a split screen system that has a 12.8-inch OLED infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital cluster. Sometime within the next year, it is claimed the EQE will offer the option to upgrade the massive Hyperscreen that houses 3-displays and spans the entire length of the dash. Like, the EQS & EQS SUV.  

Now, let’s talk range anxiety. Let’s face it, since the dawn of the electric car, range anxiety has always been a thing, whether it got 100-miles of range or 250-miles of range, our eyes were always watching the gauge. This EQE SUV is a bit different; this is the first electric vehicle that didn’t give us range anxiety. Mercedes-Benz estimates 300-miles of range; however, depending on driving style and weather conditions, some are seeing greater range than that. And that was our very case. Even in the dogdays of our Arizona summers, we managed to see 350-miles of range. Other journalists we spoke to mentioned they were seeing roughly 400-miles of range. And when it comes to charging, sure, find a level 2 or level 3 station and it’s the general waiting times. But charging from a level 1 didn’t feel that much of an inconvenience. An overnight 12-hour charge got us roughly 50-miles and if we didn’t have too many errands to run over the weekend, we managed to see a full charge in under 32-hours from 60%.  

Experiencing an electric vehicle is like experiencing your first cup of bougie coffee, the first time you drive one, you become instantly hooked. But after a while, it does not matter how many different flavors of coffee you drive, they all start to look, and feel, and taste the same. The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is no different – if we were to be blindfolded and told to drive different electric vehicles, we wouldn’t be able to tell you one from the other. The EQE SUV is styled to blend in and features a typical Mercedes interior for familiarity, but when it comes to going the extra mile, it sure does have all the range. And for that alone, we’re sold.