Mercedes EQE saloon review
“The Mercedes EQE is a luxurious electric saloon car with plenty of driving range and lots of in-car tech”
Pros
- Fantastic interior
- Quick and comfortable
- Makes EQS saloon feel unnecessary
Cons
- Practicality not impressive
- Much more expensive than an E-Class
- Other EVs can charge faster
Verdict - Is the Mercedes EQE a good car?
As with many of Mercedes’ more recent cars, the EQE offers a beautifully designed, high-quality interior that screams luxury. The EQE is very quick, too, and yet still offers a comfortable ride in-keeping with the brand’s ethos. It’s good enough that it threatens to make the slightly larger and more expensive EQS redundant, but might itself be just too expensive to make its case as an electric alternative to the E-Class.
Mercedes EQE models, specs and alternatives
The Mercedes EQE is an all-electric saloon car that’s about the same size as the Mercedes E-Class. It’s significantly more expensive than the petrol, diesel and hybrid-powered model, but otherwise fills the same slot in the maker’s line-up as a large family saloon with a focus on technology and comfort.
Aside from the name, you might not have guessed that the EQE is similar in scope to an E-Class. After all, the aerodynamic bodywork – designed to boost range as much as possible – is very futuristic and unusual in contrast to the E-Class’ very conventional styling. Love it or hate it, there’s very little else (aside from the larger EQS, which is closely related in many ways) that looks as bold as the EQE. The EQE’s key rival is the Tesla Model S, although you might also consider the impressive Genesis Electrified G80 as well.
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There are also new models coming that will join the EQE in the large executive electric saloon car class: the Audi A6 e-tron and BMW i5. You might also consider the Polestar 2 and BMW i4, which are cheaper and smaller than the EQE, yet offer similar or better practicality. The Mercedes’ boot is significantly smaller than that of a petrol or diesel E-Class, and there isn’t enough rear head or legroom either – it’s rather cramped in the back seats. All models come with a panoramic sunroof, so that problem affects every EQE.
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That said, even the entry-level EQE 300 has a range figure of between 336 and 376 miles on a single charge according to official figures. The EQE 350 model is more powerful but has pretty much the same range, while there’s also a top-spec AMG EQE 53 version with about 280 miles of range. This version is focused on performance, and has a crazy 616bhp for a 0-62mph time of just 3.5 seconds.
All versions of the EQE come with tinted windows, heated front seats, parking assist and two large screens upfront, plus 19-inch alloy wheels. The wheel size is the main differentiator between the three AMG Line trim levels, with Premium and Premium Plus versions getting 20 and 21-inch wheels respectively.
AMG Line Premium gets keyless start, four-zone climate control and extended ambient lighting, while Premium Plus also adds air suspension, upgraded headlights, a heated windscreen and a Burmester sound system. Buyers who don’t want the sporty body kit will be drawn to the Exclusive Luxury model, which gets comfort seats, wood trim and heated rear seats.
The high-performance AMG EQE 53 is available in two versions: Night Edition and Touring. The former gets gloss black styling accents and black wood panelling on the dashboard, whereas the Touring model is trimmed in chrome and gets a walnut dash.
Another benefit of the AMG models is the ability to specify Mercedes’ expansive Hyperscreen infotainment system. Measuring 56 inches in diameter, this is perhaps the most futuristic setup in the entire car industry and comes at a significant premium. Yet, that’s not to say that the standard offering is anything to scoff at; this comprises a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, alongside a 12.8-inch portrait touchscreen.
TrustpilotThe interior is definitely one of the main selling points of the EQE. Comfortable seats, high-quality materials and a reassuring build quality leave nothing to be desired. The tech is quick to load and feels state-of-the-art; our only real bugbear is that the E-Class’ physical climate controls are easier to use than having to adjust it through the EQE’s screen.
There’s one other point of contention, and that’s the EQE’s steep price. It costs over £30,000 more than an E-Class. You won’t be choosing the EQE if you’re thinking about the total cost of ownership, because its lower running costs won’t offset the high initial price. However, look at the EQE compared to the larger Mercedes EQS and it seems a bit easier to swallow. While the EQE may be smaller and slightly less luxurious than the EQS, it looks very similar and shares most of the technology and materials, for £25,000 less.
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Mercedes EQE alternatives
Large electric saloons
Hybrid executive saloons
Large executive saloons
