Tesla can’t be the best at everything. The world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer arguably has the best technology integration, an impressive global charging network, and some of the best range out there. However, Tesla’s luxury competitors seem to have found its weaknesses.

It’s hard not to compare every electric vehicle to Tesla. Considering their lead in the EV segment, it would be irresponsible not to. The 2022 Mercedes EQS is an example of what’s possible when legacy automakers take EVs seriously. Is it a real contender that big wallets should consider? If the EQS is a sign of things to come from Mercedes, luxury aficionados have a lot to look forward to.

Mercedes-Benz EQS Exterior: It Looks Like a Marine Mammal FOR A REASON

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is not the prettiest luxury sedan. In fact, many think it’s outright ugly. CarEdge’s Zach Sheska says the EQS looks like a dolphin, and nothing will change his mind. Here’s the thing: it looks like a dolphin for a reason!

What are dolphins good at? Maneuvering through the water effortlessly. The Mercedes EQS’ blunt-nosed looks are the product of German engineers’ efforts to streamline the shape of the vehicle. No matter what you think about the looks, it worked. The EQS has the lowest drag coefficient of any production vehicle in history at just 0.20. The EQS slices through the air with less resistance than any other car you can buy. The results? A silent ride and excellent range. 

The question remains, will luxury buyers fork over $100,000 for a Mercedes that looks like this?

Other than the overall shape, nothing about the EQS’ exterior is particularly eye-catching. It’s a long car, at just over 207 inches. The length adds to the teardrop look of the car (it’s all about efficiency!) Yet, it doesn’t quite look like any other Mercedes-Benz. Subtle light bars in both the front and rear accent the EQS with a touch of modernity that most Mercedes models dare not approach. 

Just about the only thing the EQS has in common with the revered S-class is the general price range over $100,000. Buyers who tend to go for tradition rather than innovation will likely choose the latter. The differences don’t end on the exterior.

Mercedes-Benz EQS Interior: A New Approach to Mercedes Luxury

Mercedes-Benz says it tasked their engineers and interior designers with the mission of rethinking what’s possible in a luxury interior. They wanted a completely new approach, unlike anything that had been seen before. Today, Mercedes considers the result a unique pairing of avant-garde and tradition. It’s where tranquility and interactivity come together. Is it enough to make up for how it looks on the outside? 

Plenty of Passenger Room

Mercedes has not announced the official cabin volume, but we can see from the generous headroom (40.4 inches) and legroom (41.7 inches) that the EQS is a large sedan. 

Cargo Capacity

The EQS has 22 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, accessible via a hatchback-like trunk. With the seats folded down, this sedan-turned-hatchback opens up to 63 cubic feet of cargo space. 

EQS Hyperscreen

Stepping into the EQS, eyes are immediately drawn to the 56 inch Hyperscreen that wraps from the gauge cluster all the way to the passenger door. The EQS Hyperscreen is essentially three screens built into one seamless panel. There’s a digital gauge cluster, a vertical center screen for navigation, comfort controls, and entertainment and something Tesla certainly doesn’t have: a passenger screen. The EQS passenger screen is such a game-changer that I suspect Tesla will bring a passenger screen to the Model S and Model X in response.

Passengers in the EQS have the freedom to do almost everything that the driver can do. Using the EQS passenger screen, you can make phone calls, adjust seating comfort, climate control settings, access endless entertainment and even vehicle navigation. In the EQS, the front passenger can be a real co-pilot! 

Speaking of aviation, the EQS has an excellent heads up display. It’s more functional than the ones you’ll find in most vehicles. In the EQS, the heads-up display does not only indicate speed and highway signage. Arrows guide the driver through navigation in real time, and Level 2 driver assistance visualizes following distance with radar-like precision.

Personalized Tech

Ambient lighting accents are well placed throughout the front and rear cabin. Mercedes has given the EQS customizable ‘sound experiences’ to replace the traditional rumble of combustion. In the center console is a fingerprint reader. This device recognizes who is in the car and adjusts seating position and other features accordingly. 

If you’re a fan of Tesla’s ‘Easter eggs’, you’ll be happy to learn that Mercedes includes what they call ‘graphical goodies’ in the EQS. Holiday and seasonal themes adorn the infotainment with quirky little nuances that add character to the silence of the EV. 

The MBUX infotainment technology shines as a responsive and user-friendly navigation system and access point for vehicle controls and entertainment. A 360-degree camera system provides assistance with parking, and doubles as your security monitor. Yup, just like Tesla Sentry Mode.

The Mercedes EQS is data-heavy. Accessible via the center screen is real-time power distribution data that shows exactly how much electricity is being consumed by each part of the vehicle. Sure, it’s basically the same display we see in the $45,000 Hyundai IONIQ 5, but it’s still great to have.

Mercedes is pioneering Level 2 and Level 3 advanced driver assistance on a path to eventual autonomy. On select German roads, the EQS can maneuver in traffic at speeds up to 38 mph. Eventually, Mercedes’ Level 3 driver assistance may be available in North America.

2022 Mercedes EQS Trims and Pricing

The entry-level Mercedes EQS 450+ starts at $103,360. It’s properly-equipped for the price point, but lacks the Hyperscreen found in higher trims. The EQS 450+ tops out at $109,560 for the Pinnacle trim. The EQS 580 Premium picks up at $120,105, adding another motor, 187 more horsepower and a step up in luxury. A top-of-the-line EQS 580 Pinnacle costs $126,360, but a fully-loaded car goes even higher.

Here are the trim and pricing details for the 2022 Mercedes EQS:

Mercedes-Benz EQS Range, Charging and Performance

According to the United States EPA, the 2022 Mercedes EQS 450+ is rated for 350 miles of range. Edmunds found that the EQS can make it 422 miles on their test track, making it the new all time range l in their testing. Although the Tesla Model S Long Range is rated for just over four hundred miles, real world mileage tends to be a tad lower. Only the brand-new 2022 Lucid Air has a longer range.

Mercedes-Benz EQS Charging 

Powering the EQS is a 107.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack supplied by CATL. Mercedes advertises up to 200 kW charge rates at DC fast chargers. Early tests show that the charging curve is pretty good, making it possible to charge from 10 to 80% in just 28 minutes. A deep-dive analysis by InsideEVs found that the average charge rate during a session is 155 kW, which is exceptional.

Over 80% of charging is done at home, and the EQS is behind the competition in this regard. Add a level to 240-volt charger at home, the eqs can only accept up to 9.6 KW. That means it will take around 11 hours to fill the battery from an empty charge. Keep in mind that charging is typically done overnight while you sleep and the battery is rarely drained to 0%, so this is not likely to be a problem for most drivers. You always have the option of plugging in at a public DC fast charger if you’re in a hurry. 

Mercedes-Benz EQS Performance

The EQS 450+ features a rear-wheel drive electric motor that generates 329 horsepower and 406 lb-feet of torque. Stepping up to the EQS 580 4Matic, the car gets an electric motor on each axle, and a lot more power. The EQS 580 has a total output of 516 HP and 611 lb-feet of torque. The car weighs nearly 6,000 pounds, so the power isn’t as jaw-dropping as it sounds.

Mercedes estimates the rear-drive variant will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The dual-motor EQS 580 4Matic drops the zero-to-60-mph time to 4.1 seconds. A Tesla Model S is two seconds quicker, but do you really need that much power?

Handling is more forgiving with a softer ride than you’ll find in a Tesla. To most Mercedes buyers, that’s a good thing. The firm ride is not desirable to most Mercedes customers. The EQS is a car built for cruising, not for the track. An adaptive air suspension ensures that passengers are in for a silent and smooth ride.

How Do I Buy a Mercedes EQS?

The buying process is pretty simple for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS, if you can find one. Mercedes lets you build and configure the EQS on their website, but if you’re looking to buy, you will have to go through a Mercedes dealership. The automaker advises potential buyers that the ongoing chip shortage is limiting various supplies and impacting pricing. Make sure you are prepared with car buying know-how before you walk into a dealership. 

A few used Mercedes EQS’ are already available in some parts of the country. Don’t forget that you can check out new and used vehicle listings as well as auto industry insights at the CarEdge Car Search. It’s more than your average vehicle listing service. CarEdge Car Search was made to give the consumer the upper hand when buying a vehicle. 

CarEdge’s Take

Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you pay for. True value is hit-or-miss in today’s automotive market, whether you’re looking for a budget vehicle or a luxury sedan. Even Tesla’s are sometimes delivered with shocking quality control faults. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS does have a luxury price tag, but buyers of this spaceship-like electric vehicle are getting their money’s worth and then some. 

On the other hand, Mercedes and the other German luxury brands are late to the EV game. Tesla sold nearly 1 million Vehicles last year, and they’re opening two additional factories in 2022. Will the Mercedes EQS be a force to be reckoned with? Or will it sell in limited volume as Tesla continues to dominate? We’d love to hear from luxury vehicle customers. What’s your take on what Mercedes-Benz is offering with the 2022 EQS luxury electric vehicle?