Autozine – Auto Test: Mercedes-Benz EQE

Looking for the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 Luxury Line?
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Mercedes-Benz’s capabilities have been demonstrated with the EQS. Since the EQS is the top model of Mercedes-Benz, it also has the maximum price and maximum dimensions. All the goodness of that top model is now also available in a slightly more civilized packaging in the form of EQE.

design

Pay attention to the term “a little more civilized”, because at 5 meters the 5 EQE is by no means a small car. Yet EQE manages to win over friend and foe with harmonious line interactions. Since the electric drive takes up little space, the hood is short and the designers were able to provide excellent aerodynamic EQE (lower energy consumption, less driving noise). The designers then accentuated this by visually extending the roof curve to the front wheels and past the rear wheels.

When following the line, a few things stand out. This prevents the hood from being opened! Electric cars require no maintenance and, according to Mercedes-Benz, this construction provides better aerodynamics. You can fill the liquid through the small cover on the side, just below the left rearview mirror. The EQE is a real sedan, because when the tailgate is opened, only the tailgate is open and the rear window is not hinged (as is the case with the EQS).

Since electric motors generate almost no heat, no grille is required. However, to prevent the EQE from looking unnatural, a black plastic panel has been installed between the headlights. It looks good on the car and gives the desired familiar look. However, keep in mind that the dirt stuck to the shiny black plastic will be visible, which will quickly spoil the beautiful face.

The door handle automatically disappears on the door while driving to reduce air resistance. However, the exterior mirrors are made of conventional glass and that is a missed opportunity for Autozine. A camera mirror will greatly improve aerodynamics and be more pleasant to use (not dazzling, showing guide lines, etc.). Also a pity: the EQE mirrors are too small (for aerodynamics) and not adjustable enough, so the driver sees more bodywork in the rearview mirror than necessary.

Space and equipment

Due to its convex shape it is barely noticeable, but the EQE has a magnificent 3m12 wheelbase and that provides plenty of interior space. Not only up front, but also behind, excellent head and legroom. However, there is a point of criticism: the backs of the front seats are made of hard plastic, which is unpleasant for rear passengers. Very practical: the driver’s height can be entered via the center screen, after which the ideal seat position is determined automatically. This has been tried during testing with people of different statures and has always worked flawlessly (even better than manual settings).

Luxurious interior layout, enclosing the driver and co-driver as if in a cocoon. The dashboard is dominated by two screens: one behind the wheel and a larger screen in the center of the dashboard. Most functions can be controlled via the center screen, by buttons on the steering wheel or via voice commands. As long as an internet connection is available, EQE understands the freely formulated demands and is one of the better understandings in the market.

“At the time of writing, the Mercedes-Benz EQE is the best electric car that Autozine has tested”

Special mention for the optional audio system from specialist Burmester. This is almost a textbook example of good sound in a car. The sound is clear, powerful, and perfectly distributed throughout the room. It’s never contrived or exhausting, making it a pleasure to listen to even after hours of driving. Note that high-quality audio systems also require high-quality sources. Average MP3 or average streaming service makes this system unfair.

Security

A leap forward came from the smart headlights (“digital lights”). Since light is made up of pixels, certain pixels can be turned off to avoid dazzling other drivers. Mercedes-Benz now goes a step further by using the same pixels to project information for the driver onto the landscape. For example, a warning triangle is displayed in front of the car if the distance to the vehicle in front is too small. Based on the destination defined in the navigation system, light paths can be displayed on the road surface when, for example, it is necessary to change lanes.

Note that the light from a street lamp or other car is often stronger than the subtle EQE hints. Therefore, “digital light” appears by itself especially in remote areas. Always fun is the “light show” that EQE gives when locking and unlocking the car.

With EQE, the software for the self-driving function has been improved over the previous model. During testing, the EQE managed to drive the berms with gentle bends and single speed bumps completely independently. It is enough to put your hands on the steering wheel; applying force is not required.

Electric driving

The EQE was developed from the ground up as an electric car, so no combustion engine version was available. In this way, the benefits offered by electric propulsion can be maximized. For example, the EQE offers room for a very large battery (90 kWh), which could theoretically cover a distance of 646 km. During this test under favorable weather conditions, the mileage was 560 km (test consumption 17.5 kWh / 100 km).

Who is driving here “350+” has a power of 292 hp/565 Nm which is channeled only to the rear wheels. While the 350+ is blazing fast, it’s not always noticeable. For convenience’s sake, the 350+ reacts less violently to the power pedal than other electric cars. That’s why EQE: convenience. This is partly why the EQE is even quieter than other electric cars if possible. Not only the engine, but also the tires and the air are not heard.

When you release the power pedal, you can determine how much EQE holds (and recovers energy) in three steps. Here too, Mercedes-Benz has eliminated sharp edges for extra comfort, but also reduces driving involvement. If desired, you can drive with one pedal and that is the advantage of electric driving as far as Autozine is concerned.

Charging can be done at home sockets, at common charging points, and in fast chargers. With the latter, the promised top speed of 170 kW is rarely tapped. However, 100 kW is achieved immediately and then maintained for a long time. Therefore, during testing, it was easy to load from 20% to 80% in about 15 minutes.

Handling

Some manufacturers use electric drive to make cars attractive and therefore attractive. Mercedes-Benz has traditionally opted for comfort. Besides, the test car is on “airmatic” Air suspension for more comfort in comfortable mode. In this way, Mercedes-Benz also managed to disguise the high weight of the car well. Thanks to the controllable rear wheels, the EQE is also more maneuverable than usual for a car of this size.

Even in sports mode, the EQE is a stately car that responds calmly to commands from the driver and isn’t treated to wild antics. It’s all about peace of mind, especially the symbiosis between driver and technology. If you want, you can ignore all technology and drive the EQE like a conventional car. Those looking to take advantage of all the new features will take some getting used to, but in the end drivers and technology complement each other perfectly. Then the Mercedes-Benz EQE presented itself and the car was “very good”.

Conclusion

At the time of writing, the Mercedes-Benz EQE is the best electric car that Autozine has testedIt’s because of the balance that works. The larger EQS offers advantages and that is sometimes too good. Many other brands bet on spectacle, which, however, rarely presents itself in busy daily traffic. EQE offers the best balance between convenience, usability and innovation.

EQE has a large radius of action for long distances with ease. At the same time, the range is not so great that only a theoretical value will never be put to use in practice. The same goes for performance: the EQE 350+ is blazing fast, but not so fast that it’s just for prestige.

Those who still want to make fun of electric cars are making themselves ridiculous. The EQE is not only quieter, faster, more comfortable and cleaner than a comparable combustion engine car. EQE is also cheaper to buy and use. So it’s time for the final step: accepting the new technology as the new standard.