Mercedes-Benz SA has kicked off its 2023 product offensive with the introduction of the new all-electric EQE business sedan, which is due to go on sale in March 2023. Our long-standing journalist, Gero Lilleike, attended the launch event in Johannesburg where he also had the chance to sample the German firm’s latest electric wares…
Mercedes-Benz South Africa is broadening its Electric Vehicle (EV) offering on local soil with the arrival of the new svelte EQE business sedan which is scheduled to go on sale towards the end of the first quarter (March 2023).
The German firm’s local EQ range consists of the EQA, EQB, EQC and the pinnacle EQS. The incoming EQE will be offered with 2 derivatives for local buyers to consider including the EQE 350+ with 215 kW and 565 Nm, as well as the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4MATIC with 350 kW and 858 Nm. Range is claimed at 645 km and 535 km respectively.
You can read more about the Mercedes-Benz EQE here.
Mark Raine, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director of Passenger Cars unveiled the EQE with local media in attendance while also presenting the firm’s intention of further entrenching its customer-centric business approach while also enhancing its operation through investment and digitisation in an effort to drive its luxury strategy into 2023 and beyond.
What’s it like driving a Mercedes-Benz EQ electric car?
Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to sample the new EQE on the road but Mercedes-Benz, with the help of the AMG Driving Academy, provided us with a brief opportunity to sample the latest-generation EVs from the brand. This was a good opportunity to drive the EQA, EQB and EQS back-to-back. Here are some of the takeaways from the experience.
Mercedes-Benz EQA
I thought it best to start at the entry point into the EQ range with a short stint in the EQA.
The EQA arrived in South Africa back in July 2022 and is offered in 2 flavours, the EQA 250 Progressive (R 1 174 000) and the EQA AMG Line (R1 227 000).
Both are powered by an electric motor over the front axle with 140 kW and 385 Nm of torque on offer and it uses a fixed-ratio automatic transmission and is fitted with a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery range claimed at between 402 and 429 km.
With a 0-100 kph sprint time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 kph, the EQA is perhaps the more pedestrian EV offering from Merc but its performance in an urban environment is impressive. The EQA feels very nippy from robot to robot and its overtaking prowess on the highway is notable. Our quick drive in the EQA also highlighted its comfortable and resolved ride quality on Johannesburg’s generally poor and deteriorating road surfaces.
Mercedes-Benz EQB
After driving the EQA, I hopped into the larger EQB SUV which arrived locally in December 2022. The EQB will appeal to buyers looking for something more practical and more powerful than the EQA.
The EQB is offered with 3 trim variants to choose including the EQB Progressive (R1 379 000) , EQB AMG Line (R1 432 000) and EQB Edition 1 (R1 523 400).
Unlike the EQA, the EQB is powered by 2 electric motor, one for each axle, producing total outputs of 215 kW and 520 Nm of torque. Power is directed to all four wheels via an automatic transmission.
Its acceleration is notably quicker and Mercedes-Benz claims 6.2 seconds in the sprint to 100kph but note that the EQB’s top speed is also 160 kph. The EQB is fitted with a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery and Mercedes-Benz claims a range of between 395 km and 423 km.
Range can be “farmed” through adjustable regenerative braking and with more power at the driver’s disposal, overall performance for a vehicle of this size is more than sufficient and overall ride quality is equally impressive with a smooth and highly-refined driving experience.
It’s worth mentioning that Merc’s interior design and perceived interior build quality across its EQ range deserve praise and live up to the firm’s promise of delivering a luxurious and technologically advanced cabin and driving experience. This fact is personified in the pinnacle of the EQ range, the EQS…
Mercedes-Benz EQS
The EQS is a technological tour-de-force and my drive in the EQS 450+ (from R2 620 500) was both an overwhelming and exquisitely comfortable and luxurious driving experience.
The EQS 450+ makes use of a rear-mounted electric motor that develops 245 kW and 565 Nm. Merc claims a zero to 100 kph time of 6.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 210 kph. A high-voltage, 107.8 kWh battery pack is fitted and offers a claimed range of between 631 km and 782 km. That gives the EQS the longest claimed range of any electric vehicle (EV) currently on the market in South Africa!
Ride quality in the EQS is just superb, as it should be and just about every luxury and comfort feature you will ever need is present and at your service. While the acceleration of this electrified luxobarge is fast, smooth and stately, it’s not overtly brash.
That description can rather be attributed to the more potent Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic (R3 415 250) which was on hand for sampling too.
This brute of an EV produces a hefty 484 kW and 950 Nm from its 2 electric motors and is significantly faster with a claimed zero to 100 kph sprint time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 220 kph. You can, at additional cost, ramp power and torque up to 560 kW and 1 020 Nm respectively by opting for the Dynamic Plus Package. Insane! If you do that, you will rocket to the horizon from a standstill to 100kph in 3.4 seconds!
It uses the same 107.8 kWh battery pack as the EQS 450+ but range is claimed to be slightly less at between 529 km and 586 km.
The launch in the AMG EQS 53 is brutal and comically accompanied by gaming-themed sound effects that add some drama to an otherwise mute acceleration process. Artificial electric sounds are fed into the cabin to create a more entertaining soundtrack too.
Our brief driving experience in Mercedes-Benz’s latest EQ products was not only enjoyable but eye-opening too. The level of technology, luxury and comfort on offer across the EQ range is simply staggering and those buyers who are able to splash out and buy any one of these EQ products are in for a proper treat!
