Special Look: The All-Electric 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQ Sedan and SUV

When the opportunity to check out the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS lineup arrived in my inbox recently,  it was one I couldn't pass up.  So off to Park Place Motorcars Arlington I went last Friday, to check out their Earth Day EQ Showcase.  Gorgeous all-electric models filled with incredible innovation, design and luxury filled the EQ showroom in every direction.

Not only did I get to see the EQ lineup, I also spent a little time behind the wheel of the EQS 580 4MATIC sedan and the EQS 450 4MATIC SUV. While my time with them was brief, and certainly didn't amount to a normal week-long evaluation for a typical review, it doesn't take much time to ascertain just how incredible these vehicles are and come up with some highlights. (CarPro Show radio host Jerry Reynolds' has reviewed both the Sedan and SUV and you'll find his review videos below.)

All-Electric Mercedes EQ 

First let's rundown the current EQ lineup, the EQB SUV, EQE Sedan, EQE SUV, EQS Sedan, EQS SUV. Here's a look at the models that were on display for last week's Earth Day EQ Showcase at Park Place Motorcars Arlington.

Charging

EQ models are all capable of DC Fast Charging. You can't do this at home yet but at public fast charging stations.  You'll also need to buy a Level 2 charger for your home as a typical home outlet is only Level 1 (110V) with a much longer charging time for any electric vehicle.

• Sedan:  Level 2 - 11.5 hours. DC fast charging (10-80%) - 31 minutes (times are estimates)
• SUV: Level 2 - 10.11 hours. DC fast charging (10-80%) - 33 minutes (times are estimates)

Every EQ includes 30-minute sessions at all Electrify America DC fast chargers. 

Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC Sedan

FAST FACTS:

• 516 horsepower
• 631 pound feet of torque
• 5,888 lbs curb weight
• 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds
• up to 350 mile electric range
• Official color:  Nautical Blue Metallic
• MSRP as equipped: $129,445

The 580 sedan is more powerful, but the 480 SUV has as you'd imagine, more room.

I think the 580's cabin is the most tech-advanced I've ever seen thanks to Mercedes' unbelievable MBUX Hyperscreen.  The graphics are incredible. The cabin exudes luxury of the highest craftsmanship from the leather upholstery to the optional natural grain yacht-design brown walnut with aluminum trim.  

The ride and drive are exactly what an all-electric vehicle is about at its finest form. It's an incredibly smooth ride, with amazing off-the-line acceleration thanks to its 516-horsepower and four-wheel drive makes handling exceptional. The ride is also super quiet. I was also impressed with the sedan's cargo space.

Here's a look at a few of the innovative features you'll find in the EQS 580 4MATIC Sedan.

FEATURE:  MBUX Hyperscreen

The MBUX Hyperscreen is incredible. We're talking a 56-inch span of high-tech glass  with the best graphics I think I've ever seen in a production vehicle.  Graphics will warn you not to let the MBUX distract you from traffic. Screen space includes a 12.3-inch Organic LED (OLED) touchscreen for the front passenger's entertainment and comfort settings.    

FEATURE: Regenerative Braking

You control the level of regenerative braking (the amount of energy recuperate during acceleration and braking) you want via the paddle shifters. "Strong" regenerative is gives you essentially one pedal braking which I enjoy.   

FEATURE: 10-Degree Rear Axle Steering

The rear-axle steering is pretty remarkable too. It gives you a impressively tight turning radius. At speed, the rear wheels turn with the fronts for swifter lane changes, or adapt to driving dynamics. Up to 10 degrees of low-speed steering gives the roomy EQS the turning circle of a compact car.

Mercedes-Benz EQS 480 SUV

FAST FACTS:

• 355 horsepower
• 590 pound feet of torque
• 6,228 lbs curb weight
• 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds
• Up to 305 mile electric range
• Official color: Twilight Blue Metallic
• MSRP as equipped: $117,900.

If you're looking for more room, you'll find it in the also luxurious EQS 450 SUV.  The cabin features Neva Gray and Sable Brown leather upholstery along with natural grain anthracite Linden wood.  This particular model is equipped with the AMG line exterior package which gives you AMG line front and rear bumpers with high gloss black accents along with chrome trim.

The 480 also gets Mercedes' Regenerative braking and rear axle steering, though it's a larger vehicle so the turning radius isn't quite the same. While heavier than the sedan, it only takes a second longer to hit 0-60 mph.

You'll note the differences in technology offerings between the models. The 480 lacks the MBUX Hyperscreen, but you still get plenty of screen space with a 12.8-inch OLED portrait multimedia display and a 12.3-inch digital infotainment cluster with all sorts of info including a rear seat reminder you'll see in the gallery below.

Here's a look at the side-by-side stats.