TEST business EVs: Mercedes EQE does nothing wrong, but requires one big sacrifice from you - AutoReview.nl

Anyone looking for a representative, luxury business car cannot go wrong Mercedes to. The Mercedes E-class has been an absolute winner in its class for decades. But it is not completely electric, so you have to go to the Mercedes EQE. Is he just as convincing?

Don't be misled by the futuristic design of the Mercedes EQE, because underneath the sheet metal there is still a real Mercedes. With its length of 5.05 meters and width of 1.96 m, it is by far the largest car in this test. And that translates into a spacious interior. Despite the streamlined body and smoothly sloping roofline, you have enough headroom in both the front and the back. Pay particular attention to the knee space in the middle photo: gigantic!

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Excellent suspension comfort

Once you are seated, the real enjoyment begins. The chassis of the Mercedes EQE, with a beautiful multi-link suspension at both the front and the rear, guarantees excellent wheel guidance and excellent suspension comfort. Short irregularities in the road surface, but also deeper potholes, are perfectly absorbed and processed by the chassis. And even at high speeds, hardly any rolling noise or wind noise come into the foreground.

Turning circle of a VW Polo

Rear-wheel steering is standard on the EQE 350+ Long Range in this test, with a maximum steering angle of 4.5 degrees. This results in a turning circle of only 10.6 meters. That is as small as the turning circle of a Volkswagen Polo. This is a solution when maneuvering in tight streets or in crowded parking garages. If you have more space around you, the Mercedes EQE can change direction accurately and with sufficient feedback.

Impress your friends

The Mercedes EQE from this test cannot be ordered with the MBUX Hyperscreen, but you can also impress your friends with the standard dashboard. The central touchscreen seems to form a unit with the center tunnel, via the voice control of the MBUX you can activate most functions without leaving a fingerprint on the large screen. Relaxing for those who have a cleaning mania.

Mercedes EQE range

Thanks to the gigantic 90.6 kWh battery, the EQE 350+ Long Range lives up to its name with the largest theoretical range of all test cars: you can travel 671 kilometers on a full battery (WLTP). We achieved a range of 444 kilometers, still the second best result of the test. The synchronous motor with permanent magnet produces 292 hp, which allows the rear-wheel drive EQE to reach 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.

And now the bad news...

After so many good news reports, a bad news is almost inevitable. And that message is about the price. Although the Mercedes EQE 350+ Long Range has the largest battery and has four-wheel steering as standard, it is very expensive with a purchase price of 82,028 euros.

The price difference with the Tesla Model 3 is even more than 31,000 euros! This is offset by a nicer interior and higher comfort, but you now have the answer to the question of why the Mercedes does not win this test.

Want to know which EV wins the test? You read the complete test Auto Review 10/2023.