2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE: a premium, all-electric, roomy SUV

ERICEIRA, PORTUGAL—In tight Lisbon traffic, drivers regularly display a terrifying mix of apathy and aggression. I’m grateful for the rear axle steering system on my car, the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

It has a maximum steering angle of 10 degrees and is standard on the two models, both with all-wheel drive, coming to Canada soon: the EQE 500 4Matic SUV, and the 350 EQE 350 4Matic SUV.

Our drive routes take us out of a snarled Lisbon, up through a series of Autobahn-style highways, and onto the rural roads of Portugal. The stronger EQE 500 is very agreeable, unleashing all its torque with a simple touch, which makes it a great tool for finding a gap in traffic or zipping up to felonious speeds on the open autoroutes.

Wind noise is perceptible around the oddly huge A-pillars, a consequence of silent electric motoring. Road noise is never pronounced, regardless of the surface.

Depending on the driving circumstances and the power required, the EQE 4Matic’s powertrain (the components that push your vehicle forward) will automatically decouple the front-axle electric motor to reduce rolling resistance and increase range. All-wheel drive kicks back in when the system senses extra traction is required, such as in slick weather or when the driver summons more power during passing. This transition is invisible, which means it’s working just as designed.

The EQE 350 4Matic SUV ($94,900) can muster 288 horsepower and 564 lbs.-ft. of torque from its dual motor setup, while the EQE 500 4Matic SUV ($104,900) harnesses a healthy 402 all-electric horses and 633 lbs.-ft. of right-now torque. Battery capacity is equal across both, at 90.6 kWh (kilowatt hours), but the more powerful twin ekes out a win with a stated driving range of 433 kilometres, versus 407 km.

This is the opposite of what’s expected; typically a car trades range for power in an electric vehicle. Mercedes attributes the discrepancy to the choice of tires and wheels. Call it 400 kilometres of range for each trim, a number that seemed realistic according to vehicle readouts during our first drive. This Merc. can hoover up electrons from an appropriately stout Level 3 public charger to the tune of 170kW (kilowatts), which means it can juice itself from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in about half an hour. A Level 2 charger at home can do the deed overnight.

The EQE SUV is immediately recognizable as a Mercedes; it bears an enormous tri-star logo the size of a dinner plate on its non-grille, sure to advertise your new purchase to onlookers. But there is no frunk (forward storage) underneath that hood. Mercedes insists the space is better used for tech-laden cabin air filters and the like.

One benefit of such an arrangement: A cavernous interior. Head- and legroom was ample in the front and rear, even for someone tall, even with a retractable panoramic glass roof. I had to move the driver’s seat forward on its tracks to find a comfortable driving position, which, for me, at six feet six inches, is great news, and helps second-row passengers who will have abundant space in which to enjoy their own climate controls and adjustable chairs.

The interior is loaded with sumptuous materials and bleeding-edge technology, as one would expect in an all-electric Mercedes. The brand’s expansive MBUX Hyperscreen is a treat visually; a pane of gently curved glass spans the entire dashboard and houses a trio of crystal-clear screens. Ahead of the driver, a 12.3-inch display serves up vehicle vitals and can be reconfigured a few different ways. The passenger gets their own 12.3-inch OLED display (OLED provides a wider, better viewing angle), with a separate user interface with which they can call up driving info, maps, or even watch their own movie through a streaming service. This screen uses camera-based blocking logic to dim the display if it catches the driver taking their eyes off the road for a peek. In between these displays is an Imax-sized infotainment screen, handling all manner of features and climate controls and doing duty as deejay and navigator. The former can tag team with an optional Burmester 3D sound system and Dolby Atmos to create the type of elite systems you can get in the home. I made sure to sample the standard infotainment. It consists of a 17.7-inch tablet that integrates well into EQE’s dashboard.

The EQE SUV is sized right for Canadian shoppers seeking a premium, all-electric, mid-size SUV. It packs more real-world passenger space than its footprint might suggest, and offers two flavours of powertrain. A driving range of 400-ish kilometres doesn’t top the charts, but should be enough to satisfy the needs of most families and its 170kW charging speed is as much as most Canadian public chargers are able to supply right now. Add acres of typical Mercedes luxury, plus optional AMG-line exterior styling for those of us who don’t live life on the grey-scale, and you’ve a strong competitor in what’s becoming a crowded segment.

Editor’s note: Please be aware that availability of vehicles depends on supply.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

Type: Five-door SUV, synchronous electric motors, all-wheel drive

Power: 288 horsepower, 564 lb.-ft. (EQE 350); 402 hp, 663 lb.-ft. (EQE 500)

Range (government rating): 403 km (EQE 350); 433 km (EQE 500)

Cargo: 520 litres (18.36 cubic feet), rear seats up; 1,675 l (59.15 cu. ft.), rear seats down

Price: EQE 350 4MATIC, $86,600; EQE 500 4MATIC, $96,000