Near a year after Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s Passenger Car Co-CEO, Mark Raine, announced the imminent arrival of a bolt of electrified Mercs, we finally laid our hands on Stuttgart’s (almost) flagship S-Class EV.
The Mercedes-Benz naming convention is not hard to understand when one understands that, in their universe, Merc’s different model lines (A, B, C, E, and S-Class) are relatable across the brand’s various passenger car sub-brands that include Mercedes-AMG (performance cars), and Mercedes-EQ (EVs).
Even the GL, or “Gelände” moniker, adheres to these clearly defined fault lines, delivering, among others, the GLA, GLE, and GLS. It follows that the Mercedes-EQ EQS450+ (to acknowledge its full title) is an electrified version of the S-Class, Stuttgart’s definitive luxury limousine.
ON THE PLUS SIDE
The EQS’ numbering convention doesn’t mean anything related to power output or capacity, other than the 450+ being the lesser of two EQS sedans currently produced by Mercedes-EQ. The other is the EQS 580, which is unavailable in South Africa. What is otherwise also available locally is an AMG Line version of the 450+ that, besides some cosmetic enhancements, is mechanically the same.
Although Driven has already tested almost all the growing list of available EVs in South Africa – including the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-Tron GT quattro – this was our first proper week-long test in one of the Merc EVs. It followed, incidentally, after testing the new, more traditional Mercedes-Benz S500.
While this is not intended to be a comparative test between the two (our S500 report will follow in a later edition), it was interesting to experience the inherently diverse approaches to S-Class luxury from a conventionally powered versus an EV point of view. Being more of a traditionalist, the ICE-S takes opulence to a new level, with the focus always on indulgent limousine-like comfort. The EV-S, on the other hand, is more spartan in its approach, less charismatic, but significantly more welcoming as an everyday driver’s car.
Albeit slightly smaller in stature (roof height is barely 1,512 mm) than the long-wheelbase limo, the EQS450+ is much heavier than its ICE counterpart. It’s not a small car, though, stretching its sheet metal lengthways to 5,216 mm, while its width minus the side mirrors is at 1,926 mm.
The 450+ uses only one electric motor to power its rear wheels, a 245 kW and 569 Nm unit also found in the 580 (where it’s joined by a second motor powering the front axle). EQS models share a 107.8-kWh battery embedded in the floor structure.
LOW AND (A LITTLE) SLOW
Although many high-performance, stopwatch-obliterating EVs have made their way into the Driven garage in the last year, the EQS450+ is not quite one of them. To be fair, a 6.2-second sprint from zero to 100 km/h isn’t slouchy, but in a world where rivals Audi, Porsche, and BMW regularly clock sub-five seconds in mid-range cars, the 450+ could do with a little more spring in its step.
That said, the 450+ weighs in at a hefty 2,480 kg, with much of its extra weight resulting from additional soundproofing to deliver – in an EV – the same hushed, super-serene experience that makes the S-Class drive also class-leading.
As for range, Mercedes officially says the EQS450+ should manage anywhere between 631 and 782 km on a single full charge (significantly more than most rivals). During five days of testing, we covered over 650 km in various conditions. We kept the prospect of suffering range anxiety at bay by occasionally topping up at the 40-kW fast charger at the mall down the road. At an average DC-type fast charger, expect to charge from around 20% to 80% in as little as an hour. It was never strictly necessary to charge, and we would likely have completed our test with range to spare, but keeping an electric car topped up whenever you can is part of the mindset adjustment we will all need to make in the future.
IT’S NOT A RACE
The Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ is slower than rivals the Taycan 4S and e-Tron GT quattro, although the leisurely performance suits the big Benz. The EQS is unnervingly quiet at speed, and with no white noise to drown out annoying tyre, road, and wind noise in an EV while cruising, this is quite a feat. The EQS shape contributes to its wind-cheating abilities, although Merc’s decades of experience building the class-leading, conventionally powered S-Class limousine also plays a massive role here.
The same mass that impedes the EQS’ performance ensures a pleasing heft, leaving an impression of solidity and substance. With its standard air springs and adaptive dampers, the 450+ delivers an old-school luxury ride, while handling remains secure thanks to the low placement of the car’s heavy battery.
LAST WORD
The EQS450+ is surprisingly well-equipped from a feature perspective, although you can load it up with additional bells and whistles, such as the triple-display Hyperscreen that spans the entire dashboard.
Even without the Hyperscreen (with its hefty price tag), the EQS450+ is a supremely comfortable and extremely eye-catching luxury EV that bucks the highly chiselled trend of its competitors. The EQS is a Mercedes-Benz that happens to be electric. As much as the shape is not trend-setting, it received tremendous attention wherever we wafted, especially about the interior, with its glass-roof airiness. It has the look, the range, and the comfort to make exploring the entire Mercedes-EQ model range a compelling proposition.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © HUNTLEYTOGRAPHY
