Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will launch the EQE SUV in India on September 15, making it the third EV in Mercedes’ portfolio following the EQB SUV and the EQS sedan. It’s based on the brand’s EVA (electric vehicle architecture) platform and also has a sedan sibling globally – the EQE sedan. Mercedes had previously announced its plans of bringing four new EVs to India by March 2024. The EQE SUV is the first to launch here, and will likely be followed by the EQS SUV.
- Mercedes EQE has a WLTP range of up to 590km
- Gets a 90.6kWh lithium-ion battery
- Will rival the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron SUVs
Mercedes EQE SUV powertrain, battery and range
The EQE SUV is available in multiple configurations and trim lines globally, but all versions draw power from a 90.6kWh battery that supports up to 170kW of DC fast charging speeds.
The range starts with the entry-level EQE 350+ that gets a single-motor, rear-wheel drive setup producing 292hp and 565Nm of torque, with a WLTP-certified range of up to 590km. Sitting above this is the EQE 350 4Matic, which also produces 292hp, but has 765Nm of torque and a WLTP range of up to 538km. The EQE 500 4Matic, which is the top model in the non-AMG trim, gets 408hp, 858Nm and a range of up to 521km on the WLTP cycle. The EQE 350 4Matic and EQE 500 4Matic get a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system as standard.
The AMG version of the SUV has two trims – EQE 43 4Matic and EQE 53 4Matic+ – and both get dual-motor, all-wheel drive systems. The EQE 43 produces 476hp and 858Nm, with a range of up to 488km on the WLTP cycle. It can accelerate from 0-100kph in a claimed 4.3 seconds and reach a claimed top speed of 210kph. The top-of-the-range AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ produces 617hp, 950Nm with a claimed range of 490km. It can accelerate from 0-100kph in a claimed 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 240kp.
Mercedes, however, hasn’t announced which versions will make it to India so that’s something we’ll find out at launch.
Mercedes EQE SUV exterior and interior
Stylistically, it adheres closely to the look established by other EQ models we have seen so far with swooping surfaces, clean lines and EV-specific styling cues such as aero-optimised wheels and a sealed-off grille. AMG models receive their own individual styling cues, including a new Panamerica-style grille, restyled bumpers and unique wheel designs.
The five-seat SUV gets a choice of two different dashboard layouts; the ‘Hyperscreen’ layout, which supports up to three individual displays in a single 1,410mm-wide fascia panel, is available as an optional extra. Regular versions get an S-Class-like layout with a vertical touchscreen flowing down the centre of the dashboard, while the digital instrument cluster is a floating standalone unit.
The displays operate in combination with Mercedes-Benz’s in-house MBUX operating system, which offers conversational speech commands via a “Hey Mercedes” prompt as well as over-the-air software update functionality via an embedded SIM card.
Mercedes EQE SUV price and rivals
Upon launch, the Mercedes EQE will rival the likes of the Audi Q8 e-tron SUV (Rs 1.14 crore-1.26 crore) and the BMW iX (Rs 1.21 crore) in India. It, however, remains to be seen if Mercedes imports the EQE SUV to India or assembles it locally. For reference, the EQS 580 is assembled locally, but the EQS 53 4Matic and EQB SUVs are CBU imports.
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