Mercedes-Benz was among the first to bring an electric luxury SUV to India, and while the EQC is no longer on sale here, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has been launched, with prices starting from Rs 1.39 crore. The EQE SUV will be available in a sole EQE 500 trim, and it will be brought in as a CBU. It also joins the EQB, the EQS, and the AMG EQS in Mercedes-Benz India’s electric lineup.
Let’s begin with the big question regarding EVs in general. The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV claims it can cover between 465 km to 550 km on a single charge. It gets a 90.5 kWh battery pack which can be charged from 10 to 100 per cent in a claimed time of 9.5 hours via a 11 kW AC wallbox charger, which will be installed by technicians from Mercedes-Benz at your home or office. A 100 kW DC fast charger will reduce these times to a claimed thirty-two minutes for up to eighty per cent charge.
In the 500 trim, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is powered by two electric motors — one placed on each axle. This setup produces 473 bhp and 87.4 kgm of torque, propelling the EQE SUV to a claimed top speed of 210 kmph, while reaching triple digits in just 4.9 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 has a silhouette similar to that of the GLC, albeit a bit more rounded and featuring elements to signify its electric powertrain. The front is dominated by the large closed-off panel with the big three-pointed star logo in the centre, while a light bar runs across the length of the panel, connecting the headlights. The side profile is unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz, and the EQE SUV receives flush-fitting door handles. At the rear, the EQE SUV gets an LED light bar running across the length of the tailgate, connecting the tail lamps. The overall design is rather clean and minimalistic, without the usage of strong or aggressive creases.
The interiors will remind you of the EQS sedan, as the EQE SUV also gets the MBUX Hyperscreen that extends all the way to the front passenger’s line of vision, just above the glovebox. It also gets air suspension, four-zone climate control, air purifier, mood-based fragrance, five driving modes, a head-up display, on-board navigation, voice commands, and more. In terms of safety, the EQE SUV packs a suite of driver assistance features, including a transparent bonnet view which helps with accurate judgment in tight spots, along with a 360-degree camera, lane keep assist, and steering assist among others.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 competes mainly against the Audi Q8 e-tron and the BMW iX. Stay tuned for our first drive review!
