Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, big brother to the recently released EQE sedan.
Due in Australia in 2023, the new high-riding SUV will launch with the option of three variants, along with two AMG models.
Australia’s supply of the EQE SUV and larger EQS SUV will be from the brand’s US factory located in Alabama. It’s in close proximity to Mercedes-Benz’s battery factory, also in Alabama, where they produce the modules for both EQS and EQE SUVs.
The EQE SUV range will kick off with the rear-wheel drive (RWD) EQE 350+ SUV, which is then followed by two all-wheel drive (AWD) variants, the EQE 350 4MATIC SUV and EQE 500 4MATIC SUV.
The Mercedes-AMG range will consist of the AMG EQE 43 4MATIC SUV and the EQE 53 4MATIC+ SUV.
Both AMG and non-AMG models will get a 10-cell 90.6kWh battery pack on a 400V system, with the entry-level RWD EQE 350+ SUV variant offering the greatest driving range.
The EQE 350+ SUV will come with a single motor on the rear axle that produces 215kW of power and 565Nm of torque, offering 590km of range and a best energy consumption of 17.7kWh/100km.
Stepping up to the EQE 350 4MATIC SUV offers an AWD arrangement with a combined 215kW power output and 765Nm of torque. The added weight sees driving range drop to 558km on the WLTP cycle with a best energy consumption of 18.5kWh/100km.
Finally, the most powerful non-AMG variant is the EQE 500 4MATIC SUV, which produces a combined 300kW of power and 858Nm of torque, offering a driving range of up to 547km on the WLTP cycle and a best energy consumption of 19.0kWh/100km.
Charging comes in the form of up to 22kW on an optional three phase AC charger, or up to 170kW using an ultra fast DC charger.
Mercedes-Benz says cobalt content is less than 10 per cent, with the rest of the optimised active material consisting of nickel and manganese.
Bi-directional charging will be possible in Japan and all models come standard with a heat pump.
In terms of dimensions, the EQE SUV is actually shorter than the EQE sedan, measuring 4863mm in length (compared to 4946mm in the EQE sedan), 1940mm in width and 1686mm in height. The wheelbase is also slightly shorter than the sedan, coming in at 3030mm compared to 3120mm in the sedan.
Depending on the configuration, cargo capacity comes in at 520 litres and can expand up to 1686L.
Four-link independent suspension at the front and multi-link rear suspension is standard, although non-AMG models can be optioned with air suspension with adaptive damping that’s capable of raising suspension by 30mm in the off-road setting.
Rear-axle steering can also be optioned, allowing up to 10 degrees of rotation (nine degrees on AMG models due to wider tyres) to increase dynamic handling and also reduce turning circle from 12.3m to 10.5m.
There are 19-, 20-, 21- and 22-inch alloy wheels available, with matrix LED headlights standard and Mercedes-Benz’s novel Digital Light optional.
The ‘Black Panel’ front end will be available with a three-dimensional star pattern, while the EQE will come with either Electric Art Line or AMG Line appearance packages.
While it doesn’t quite hit the record breaking coefficient of drag seen on the EQS sedan, the EQE SUV offers up a slick .25 CoD, making it one of the most aerodynamically efficient vehicles on the market.
There’s no front boot, with the bonnet opened only at the servicing department for maintenance like replacing the interior air filter.
Buyers can option the EQE SUV with the impressive Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen.
It features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 17.7-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger-side touchscreen all found under a shared glass cover with a metal-look perimeter and ambient lighting below for a floating look.
Models without the Hyperscreen feature a slightly different centre console and a dash design more reminiscent of the new S-Class.
There are four available ‘sound experiences’ to give the car an ‘engine’ sound, while the satellite navigation includes ‘Electric Intelligence’ to react dynamically to traffic jams and your remaining battery capacity.
Standard safety equipment on all EQE SUV models includes adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, evasive steering assist, and autonomous emergency braking with front cross-traffic assist.
Both EQE SUV and AMG EQE SUV come with a 10 year battery warranty that covers 250,000km of travel and guarantees 70 per cent capacity.
