Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic 2021 review

Powerful, roomy, luxurious, comfortable and with peerless refinement – the EQS is a true Mercedes-Benz When Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius unveiled the EQS back in April, he described it as a “defining moment” for the world’s oldest car maker. Such statements are often heard in the car industry nowadays. In this case, though, it’s hard to argue against.Unlike the EQC, EQV, EQA and EQB that arrived before it, the EQS isn’t derived from an existing ICE-powered model, instead having Mercedes’ first dedicated EV platform to host a new high-density battery pack that promises a range of up to 485 miles and one of the most advanced interiors you will find in any car.The luxury liftback-style saloon has been conceived to provide buyers with an electric alternative to the traditionally powered S-Class. Positioned at the top of a growing list of electric Mercedes, it acts as a technological showcase for the brand, featuring a number of innovations that we can also expect to see on the EQE saloon, EQS SUV and EQE SUV, which are all due by the end of 2023.Tellingly, Mercedes doesn’t see the EQS as a rival to the Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S and Nio ET7. Instead, it points to the forthcoming Audi ‘Landjet’, BMW i7 and Lucid Air.For the time being, though, the EQS’s stiffest competition will come from plug-in hybrid versions of traditional luxury limousines, such as the Audi A8 60 TFSIe, the BMW 745e and Mercedes’ own S580e.Aesthetically, the EQS departs quite radically from traditional Mercedes models, with a design theme and cab-forward profile similar to that previewed by the EQS Vision concept back in 2019.Distinguishing exterior elements include a black panel in place of a front grille and angular headlights that are linked by a slim light bar. Further back is a heavily raked windscreen and what Mercedes calls a ‘one-bow’ roof line, which stretches back into a steeply angled tailgate.The doors are frameless and feature the same flush external handles as those available as an option on the S-Class, while the generously dimensioned wheel arches can accommodate a range of alloy wheels from 19in to 21in.At 5216mm long, 1926mm wide and 1512mm tall, the EQS is 37mm longer, 28mm narrower and 9mm higher than the S-Class. It rides on a 3210mm wheelbase, which is 106mm longer than that of its ICE-powered equivalent, giving it relatively short overhangs and a very roomy interior. Mercedes claims that, despite its generous dimensions, the EQS betters the Model S for aerodynamic efficiency, with a record-breaking drag coefficient of just 0.20Cd.The aluminium-intensive Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) of the EQS supports two different layouts: a single motor giving rear-wheel drive or two giving four-wheel drive. The motors are mounted low down within a subframe at the front and within the axle assembly at the rear.Mercedes has put a lot of effort into the interior of the EQS, which combines bespoke elements with those already used in other models. As standard, it has a layout similar to that of the S-Class up front, with 12.3in and 12.8in digital displays for the instruments and infotainment system, in combination with a steering wheel that features touch-sensitive controls on its upper spokes.Buyers can also specify the EQS with the new Hyperscreen: a one-piece curved display that stretches across the width of the dashboard, housing three digital screens: one for the dials, one for the infotainment and one for the front passenger.It’s impressive, no doubt, but the 1410mm-wide display is prone to reflections in sunny conditions, despite the inclusion of a sensor that alters automatically its brightness. It does work with impressive speed, mind you, thanks to an eight-core processor and 24GB of memory.It’s all controlled by the latest generation of Mercedes’ MBUX operating system, which has both touch controls and ‘Hey, Mercedes’ conversational speech input as standard. It also supports over-the-air software downloads, so owners can update various features and tap into a new subscription-based service available via the Mercedes Me app. What’s more, there’s a head-up display with augmented-reality functions for the sat-nav directions.A high-set centre console divides the front seats, providing various oddment storage possibilities. The seats themselves are broad and magnificently comfortable, if a little short on lateral support. They can be ordered with up to 19 adjustment motors and 10 massage programs.The rear can be configured with either a three-person bench or two chairs. Accommodation is excellent, especially for legs and shoulders. While the EQS does without a ‘frunk’, unlike some EVs, its 610 litres of boot space is 60 litres more than that offered by the S-Class, and the space extends to 1770 litres when the split-folding rear seats are collapsed.Two EQS variants are available initially. Opening proceedings is the 2480kg EQS 450+, which has one motor that develops 329bhp and 419lb ft, affording a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.2sec. It gets a range of 485 miles from the 107.8kWh battery pack used by all models at launch, equating to efficiency of between 3.1 and 3.9 miles per kWh.Then there’s the 2510kg, all-wheel drive EQS 580 4Matic, as tested here. Its two motors give it combined outputs of 516bhp and 630lb ft for a 0-62mph time of 4.3sec, while its efficiency is rated at between 2.9 and 3.4 miles per kWh for a 420-mile range.