Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV long-term review, 31,000km report

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is back in the Autocar India long-term fleet, and after spending the last month with it, I can understand why I was happy to see it return. I have used it for everything from Mumbai office commutes and daily errands to highway runs and even as a cargo hauler, and it has quickly slipped back into the role of a comfortable and effortless family companion. In fact, the more I use it, the more I find myself appreciating just how easy this enormous luxury SUV is to live with.

The EQS SUV is a large SUV, and it feels every bit as luxurious as you would expect from a Mercedes. The cabin is beautifully appointed, the materials feel expensive, and the seats are extremely welcoming and comfortable. My family particularly loves the space and comfort it offers. There is plenty of room inside, and the overall ambience is one of calm and refinement. Being an EV, it is also extremely refined, with the near-silence of the electric powertrain adding to the sense of luxury.

Despite its size, the EQS SUV doesn’t feel too big to drive. At more than 5.1 metres long, you would expect it to feel cumbersome, particularly in tight spaces, but that hasn’t been my experience. All-round visibility is very good, which makes it relatively easy to place on the road. The real party trick, however, is the rear-wheel steering. It makes turning around in tight spots remarkably easy, and you quickly stop worrying about the car’s size.

For some perspective, the EQS SUV has a turning circle of just 10.1 metres. That’s actually shorter than my wife’s much smaller Kia Sonet. It is a remarkable statistic and, more importantly, something you can genuinely appreciate when manoeuvring the car in the real world.

The EQS SUV’s 122kWh battery has also thrown range anxiety right out of the picture for me. I experienced this recently when I shifted from Pune to Mumbai. I had to carry a few important and expensive items, but one trip wasn’t enough to move everything, so I had to make the journey twice.

That meant doing roughly two trips of around 500km in the same day, and the EQS SUV managed it with battery to spare. It was an excellent demonstration of the advantage of having such a large battery. Instead of worrying about where I would have to stop and charge, I could simply concentrate on getting the job done. For an EV that is also expected to undertake long journeys, that kind of range is extremely reassuring.

On the highway, the EQS SUV just glides. It is an extremely relaxed long-distance tourer, and I found myself feeling surprisingly fresh even after longer drives. The combination of its refinement, comfort and electric powertrain makes covering distance very easy. There is no engine noise or vibration, and the car simply settles into a comfortable rhythm on the highway. The Burmester 3D Surround Sound System also kept me good company on these longer drives.

There are, however, a couple of things that I don’t particularly like. The first thing I do in any Mercedes is switch off the emergency brake assist. It is a system designed for situations where traffic moves in a relatively organised manner, but I find it extremely sensitive in our chaotic traffic conditions.

I was reminded of this when I once forgot to switch it off. I was driving onto a crowded road when the system suddenly slammed on the brakes. It startled everyone inside the car, but I was also worried about the possibility of someone behind me rear-ending the car. In India, where traffic can be unpredictable and vehicles often follow each other very closely, an unexpected intervention like this can be unsettling. Ideally, there should be an option that allows the driver to switch the system off and keep it off even after the car is restarted.

The other issue is with the ride over bad roads. At low speeds, the ride is cushy and plush, but the EQS SUV’s weight does occasionally make itself felt. If one side of the wheels goes into a pothole at really slow speeds, you can feel the side-to-side movement of the car. It isn’t a major issue, but it is a reminder of just how much car you are driving.

There is also a mild thud if you take a pothole a little faster than you should. The air springs don’t seem to have much negative travel, and you can feel the suspension hit the bump stops.

Other than these two niggles, the EQS SUV has been a comfortable and luxurious companion for me and the family. It has handled my office commutes, daily errands, highway runs and even the demanding Pune-Mumbai move without fuss. Its huge battery has made range anxiety almost irrelevant, while its excellent comfort and refinement make long journeys particularly enjoyable.

Despite its size, the rear-wheel steering makes it surprisingly easy to manoeuvre, and the cabin is exactly the sort of place you want to spend time in. After a month, I am still very fond of the EQS SUV, and I am looking forward to seeing how the experience develops as our long-term stint continues.