2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV Review
The electric future comes at a (luxury) cost
BOSTON — Electric cars have finally moved past the novelty of being “electric” and are now competing on a similar footing to gas-powered vehicles. But that doesn’t mean carmakers aren’t leaning hard into “the future” — maybe even leaning a bit too hard.
Case in point: the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is so excited about its electric powertrain that it forgot to bring along some of the luxury touches we’ve come to expect from a $90,000 German SUV.
It’s a rolling contradiction. From the outside, the EQE SUV is inoffensive and slightly bloblike. Inside, you’re on the Enterprise, kind of. The centerpiece is a nearly 13-inch OLED touchscreen running the latest version of MBUX, Mercedes’ infotainment system, which is both beautiful and functional. The “Zero Layer” interface means everything is accessible with a single tap, no menu diving required.
But the more impressive part is the ambient lighting. A strip of LED lights wraps around the entire cabin at shoulder height. You can choose a pretty color like purple, blue or green, but, if you want, you can make it a bit more interactive.
The light strip ties into the throttle, so when you accelerate, a series of white dots fly out from the center of the dash like electrons out of a battery. Put your foot down hard, and it blinks red! When you’re recharging the battery while braking, blue lights flow towards the center of the dash. It’s utterly pointless and completely awesome.
But here’s where things get weird. Last week, I was cruising around in the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV — same size, same price tag, but with a gas engine under the hood. I expected the EQE to be its electrical doppelganger. Not quite.
Where the GLE offers sumptuous materials and ventilated, massaging seats, the EQE SUV’s cabin feels more restrained. The reduction in traditional luxury touches — less wood trim, fewer soft-touch materials, more black plastic — suggests that much of the EQE’s cost is tied up in its electric powertrain.
It’s like Mercedes decided to go all-in on the tech and forgot about the luxury. No massaging seats? In a $90,000 car? I suspect they spent so much on the powertrain that they had to raid the C-Class parts bin for the interior.
It’s still nice inside — it’s a Mercedes, after all — but it’s more “I just got my first big promotion” than “I’m a captain of industry.” It’s a reminder that we’re still in the awkward teenage years of electric vehicles, and you must make sacrifices somewhere.
The dual motor setup in the EQE SUV 350 makes 288 horsepower and 564 torque, good for 0 to 60 in about 6 seconds. Faster options are available if you spend even more money. It’ll run about 300 miles on a charge, which is pretty good.
But — and there’s always a but — finding a reliable public charger when you need one can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack ... if the haystack was actively trying to thwart you. Eventually, Mercedes’ electric cars will charge at Tesla Superchargers, but until then, it’s a significant weakness.
On the road, though? Pure magic. The air suspension makes potholes disappear like they’re government secrets, and the rear-wheel steering lets you pull U-turns that would get you around the Savoy in London. If you’re the type who values cutting-edge tech over traditional luxury and you’ve got a charger at home, you’ll probably love the EQE. The lack of a frunk is disappointing, and some might find the exterior design a bit too conservative.
Ultimately, the EQE SUV is like an incredibly enthusiastic dog who’s always ready to play fetch. It’s exciting, full of energy and packed with tricks that’ll impress your friends. But sometimes, you wish it would curl up on a ventilated leather seat (that it doesn’t have) and let you enjoy a quiet, truly luxurious ride.
The Mercedes EQE SUV offers a tantalizing glimpse into the electric future of luxury cars — brilliant in some ways, baffling in others, but at least it’s never tedious. It’s a compelling package for tech enthusiasts who value cutting-edge features over traditional luxury — as long as you don’t expect it to massage your back while you sit at that charger.