Mercedes-Benz Adds Well-Mannered EQE to Electric Roster

Mercedes-Benz isn’t waiting to launch new battery-electric production models.

Since its first, the EQC CUV, the German automaker has added another eight to its lineup – all within the past 4½ years.

The latest to arrive is the EQE CUV, which premiered last October and is planned to go on sale in North America by mid-2023 as a smaller alternative to the EQS CUV.

As with the EQS sedan, EQE sedan and EQS CUV, the new 5-seat model is based on Mercedes’ Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) platform. It comes with the choice of either a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor, all-wheel-drive drivetrain, and in standard and AMG performance versions boasting up to 677 hp in a rapid EQE53 4Matic+ range-topper.

Before we get to drive it for ourselves, though, we’ve been invited to sample the EQE CUV from the passenger seat on roads both inside and outside Mercedes’ Immendingen test facility in southern Germany.

M-B EQE SUV 500 4MATIC cockpit

First impressions?

The hushed propulsion and imbibing comfort of the standard EQE500 CUV and the strong acceleration properties and assured dynamic properties of the EQE53 CUV prototypes we rode in make the EQE CUV possibly Mercedes’ most convincing electric-powered model yet.  

With Mercedes engineers at the steering wheel, it comes across as a very polished and complete rival to the likes of the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX and Tesla Model X. 

The EVA platform is a dedicated skateboard-style structure that sites the EQE CUV’s electric motors at the front and rear. In the EQE500 4Matic CUV and EQE53 4Matic+ CUV models, it also houses a 90.6-kWh lithium-ion battery operating at 400V as an integral part of the floor structure.

There’s certainly no mistaking the EQE CUV for anything but one of Mercedes’ electric-powered models. Distinguished by a black panel grille, which comes with Mercedes-Benz’s three-pointed star logo pattern as optional, it also gets smooth-surfaced styling and a 10-window glasshouse similar to that of the EQS CUV.

At 180.0 ins. (4,572 mm) long, 76.4 ins. (1,941 mm) wide and 66.4 ins. (1,687 mm) tall, the EQE CUV is 10.3 ins. (262 mm) shorter, 0.7 in. (18 mm) narrower and 1.3 ins. (33 mm) lower than the EQS CUV.

This makes the luxurious CUV 2.4 ins. (61 mm) shorter, 0.3 in. (8 mm) narrower and 4.4 ins. (112 mm) lower than Mercedes’ traditional internal-combustion-engine-powered GLE CUV.

M-B EQE SUV 500 4MATIC 2nd row

In line with its upmarket positioning, the latest pure-electric EQ model is suitably opulent inside with high-quality materials throughout. With a flat floor and long cabin, it’s also very roomy, with excellent accommodation front and rear as well as 18.3 cu.-ft. (518 L) of cargo space at the rear. As with all of Mercedes-Benz’s existing electric models, though, there’s no provision for storage underneath the hood in a so-called frunk.

Buyers can choose between two dashboard layouts: a standard affair with separate instrument and portrait-style infotainment displays or Mercedes-Benz’s Hyperscreen, which supports three individual displays in a single fascia, as a high-cost option.

An optional panoramic glass roof floods the cabin with natural light, providing a pleasant ambiance. The early production examples we rode in also displayed exceptional build quality and top-notch fit and finish.

Mercedes plans three standard and two AMG-badged EQE CUV models from the start of sales.

The lineup starts with the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive EQE350+ CUV with 288 hp and 416 lb.-ft. (564 Nm) of torque. It is joined by the more-powerful dual-motor, all-wheel-drive EQE350 CUV 4Matic with 288 hp and 564 lb.-ft. (765 Nm) as well as the EQE500 CUV 4Matic with 402 hp and 632 lb.-ft. (857 Nm).

M-B EQE SUV 53 front 1.4

Both AMG models have a dual-motor AWD drivetrain. The EQE43 CUV 4Matic offers 469 hp and 623 lb.-ft. (845 Nm) of torque and the EQE53 CUV 4Matic+ delivers up to 677 hp and 737 lb.-ft. (999 Nm) in combination with an optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package.

On separate runs in and around Mercedes-Benz’s test facility, the EQE500 4Matic CUV and EQE53 4Matic+ CUV displayed differing characters.

The EQE500 4Matic CUV delivers strong yet hushed performance in combination with an outstandingly well-controlled ride and impressive mile-eating properties. With low levels of road noise and wind buffeting, it is always blissfully quiet, even by electric-vehicle standards.

Five driving modes provide a broad spread of on-road qualities and more than token ability away from the bitumen, where an off-road program with various digital displays, including the transparent hood function unveiled on the EQS CUV helping the driver identify major obstacles.  

M-B EQE SUV 53 infoscreen

The EQE53 4Matic+ ups the ante with genuinely potent acceleration befitting its performance-car billing. Its dual electric motors, boasting unique windings among other detailed changes, allow it to rev higher than the EQE500 4Matic, providing it with an added 275 hp and 105 lb.-ft. (142 Nm) of torque over the EQE500 4Matic. Altogether, there are four driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.5 seconds in Sport Plus along with a 149 mph (240 km/h) top speed.

With the air suspension providing self-leveling and constantly variable damping properties, there’s exceptional control to the EQE53 4Matic+’s ride. The suppression of pitch and dive is very impressive, as is the isolation of road shock over larger potholes.

The best part, however, is the outright agility. With a low center of gravity and an electronically controlled anti-roll system working to counter lean, the EQE53 4Matic+ CUV corners with great purpose. The uniquely tuned rear-wheel steering sees it turn in with great enthusiasm on the entry.

M-B EQE SUV 53 front-rear

It will be a while before we can independently verify Mercedes-Benz’s range claims, though it says the EQE CUV appears competitive on this front, with the single-motor, RWD EQE350+ delivering between 302 and 370 miles (483 and 596 km) on the WLTP cycle.

With a newly developed Drivetrain Connector Unit (DCU) that disconnects the front electric motor on light throttle loads for added energy saving, the dual-motor, AWD EQE500 4Matic CUV and EQ E53 4Matic+ CUV boast respective WLTP ranges of between 289 and 343 miles (465 and 552 km) and 233 and 292 miles (375 and 470 km).

The charging capacity is limited to 11kW on an AC system and 170kW on a DC system, with 22-kW AC charging available as an option.

Production of the EQE CUV for the U.S. market will take place at Mercedes-Benz’s Tuscaloosa factory in Alabama – the same site that presently produces the GLE, GLS and EQS CUVs. North American pricing is yet to be confirmed.