Test: how the Mercedes EQS eliminates the fear of breakdown

With its record WLTP range of 784 km, the Mercedes EQS changes the perspective on electric cars.

Are you part of those who have nightmares at the very thought of running out of battery while driving an electric car? Well, when the size of said battery reaches a critical threshold, this almost primal fear vanishes as if by magic. It’s practically that simple.

The cliché that an electric car is only suitable for driving a few dozen kilometers in city conditions is a stubborn one. Who remembers, for example, that in 1995, the Peugeot 106 and other Renault Clio electric models officially sold in the market barely exceeded 50 kilometers of range and didn’t even reach 100 km/h as top speed?

Today, however, most modern city electric cars often surpass 200 kilometers of range during normal driving. The more family-oriented models typically cover over 300 kilometers on the highway, and the most heavily equipped electric vehicles can even approach 400 kilometers without any particular effort. Still, there remains this psychological barrier that continues to terrify long-distance drivers—those diesel enthusiasts capable of consuming more than a thousand kilometers in a single stretch.

Paris-Marseille on a single charge?

But when Mercedes-Benz announces up to 784 kilometers of range on their new high-end electric sedan, the “low battery” phobics perk up. The new “zero emissions” counterpart of the eternal S-Class, the EQS limousine, claims it can exceed the distance between Marseille and Paris (776.2 km according to Google Maps) without needing to recharge its batteries.

How? Thanks, in its 450+ version, to the largest batteries currently on the market (107.8 kWh of net capacity), combined with cutting-edge aerodynamics (C_x of just 0.20) and efficient mechanics. A luxurious 2.48-ton ship (including 690 kilos of batteries tucked under the floor) capable of crossing entire continents without any concern about autonomy—really?

To verify this, we take the wheel of an EQS 450+ in Reims on a cold winter morning. The onboard computer indicates a 100% charged battery and predicts a maximum range between 496 and 615 kilometers depending on driving style. The first few meters quickly give a sense of the comfort of this large car, as long as an authentic limousine (5.21 m), with interior finishing standards that rival those of a Class S.

Also read: How we went skiing in an electric car

High-tech on board

The incredible optional dashboard featuring the Hyperscreen—a giant screen extending across the entire dashboard and divided into three extraordinary-sized displays—gives you the sensation of driving a futuristic concept car. Capable of outshining your MacBook Pro with 24 GB of RAM, high-resolution OLED screens, and an eight-core processor, this Hyperscreen will surely impress your passengers.

But since it costs nearly the price of a new Dacia Sandero (option at €8,568!), you’ll gladly settle for the already superb interior of the basic version, which features the central console and dashboard taken from the latest Mercedes S-Class. Moreover, the augmented reality display (on the instrument cluster and head-up display) is enough to dazzle everyone.

Not to mention other gadgets such as the gesture recognition system, capable of closing the door or adjusting the mirrors with a simple hand movement without touching anything. The MBUX voice control software, quite effective, can even automatically activate a relaxing massage program and change ambient lighting if you ask it to take care of you. Similar to the scene in the film Don’t Look Up where the fake Steve Jobs showcases his new Bash phone, whose AI analyzes your mental health.

Maximum comfort

Unsurprisingly, electric energy suits the very high-end perfectly. Knowing that these limousines, packed with insulation and double glazing designed to render you impervious to outside disruptions, the absence of engine vibrations, noise, or jerks from an automatic transmission, greatly enhances the driving experience.

The large German electric liner also demonstrates impressive performance when asked, thanks to 333 horsepower from its rear motor, enough to move its hefty frame swiftly with a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.2 seconds (more powerful versions are also available). Its dynamic behavior surprisingly combines agility with stability, although the feel of the brake pedal (soft and highly assisted with the regeneration system) might discourage pushing it like a small sporty hatchback.

Electric without thinking about it

And what about range? Unsurprisingly, the promised 784 kilometers are out of reach unless you only drive in the city, a terrain traditionally favorable to electric cars. But the measured consumption, even as we drive without deliberately limiting highway speeds or optimizing our electricity use, doesn’t exceed 22 kWh/100 kilometers.

This means that even after several hundred kilometers, the range limit seems far enough away not to worry about. After 500 kilometers, you’ll still be looking for a fast charger nearby to arrive calmly. But even venturing into the depths of central France, you’ll never get that horrible feeling of risking a total breakdown.

With an outdoor temperature close to zero degrees, conditions that are not helpful for preserving a battery’s range, the Mercedes EQS can approach 600 kilometers in a single stretch without forcing. What a strange sensation to drive an electric car without having to deal with the usual precautions! You don’t even need to plan your trip rigorously, since with this driving range, you’re automatically near a fast charger regardless of your route.

The only problem (and not the least) is that this gigantic rolling battery is currently limited to a privileged clientele with a base price of €127,250. But Mercedes-Benz’s recent EQXX concept, equipped with a small electric motor and a battery using even better technology, hints at a future where you might never need to worry about running out of range in an electric car again. The German manufacturer promises that its technology will be used in less exclusive models too.

Also read: Vision EQXX: How Mercedes aims to democratize long-range electric cars

Verdict

Being able to go over 500 kilometers without consciously trying to set consumption or range records totally changes your relationship with driving an electric car. No longer needing to plan your route carefully—unless you plan to cross an entire continent (and even then…). Currently, such capabilities are unfortunately limited to ultra-high-end limousines. But even just at Mercedes, they are currently working on future models with more accessible pricing and similar autonomy qualities.