2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

The light show continues inside with 64-color ambient lighting that can be dialed to chill or shrill. A tall 12.8-inch touchscreen centers the dash, and AMG models can be had with the Hyperscreen, but we prefer the blend of classic wood and metallic trim and speaker grilles, or little aluminum Mercedes stars, to 55 inches of screens.

The EQE 500 4Matic SUV would earn an additional point to an 8 here because of its prodigious power. The dual motors add up to 300 kw, and generate 536 hp and 633 lb-ft. That slings the EQE 500 SUV from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. 

Steering wheel paddle shifters enable four levels of regenerative braking, and paddling all the way down leads to one-pedal braking. It can be a dramatic if not abrupt grab in one-pedal mode, and it simultaneously moves the brake pedal down as if to mimic what a foot would be doing. Mercedes says it has revamped this system for 2024 to be smoother and less…unnatural. Updates pending. 

EQE SUV ride and handling

The midsize electric SUV accelerates lighter than its weight would suggest, and handles more evenly than most crossover SUVs its size. The ground clearance ranges from 6.9 to 9.0 inches, depending on the availability of the air suspension, and the short wheelbase with short overhangs could give it an edge over the off-road chops of the EQS SUV. We’ve stuck to pavement, where the EQE SUV’s front strut and four-link rear independent suspension better carves the road. 

The available adaptive dampers and air suspension pair with Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual, and Offroad drive modes to optimize the setup, and models with rear-axle steering noticeably cut corners under 37 mph, where the rear wheels turn up to 10 degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels. It’s beneficial when parking or pulling a U-turn. Above that speed, the rear wheels turn in-phase with the fronts to a lesser degree for more high-speed stability on winding roads. 

Sport mode buttons down the suspension, which otherwise tends toward comfort, and the steering feel remains communicative when needed but otherwise distant, like a great uncle. 

EQE SUV AMG

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE SUV delivers not only alphabet soup but also heart-pumping performance for a five-passenger SUV. Its dual motors rate at 460 kw and wring out 617 hp and 701 lb-ft to easily offset its hefty 5,768 pounds. On a sprint or hustling through highway traffic or tapping into its potential beyond the exurbs, the AMG EQE SUV handles much smaller than its size. 

A Dynamic Plus package spins those new motors to 677 hp and 738 lb-ft on its way to a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds. It’s worth the $4,000. It hunkers down like a sprinter at the starting blocks then explodes in gut-dropping silence, unless the artificial sound is activated.  

The AMG SUV sits 0.6 inches lower, and its thicker spoiler-clad bumpers add 0.6 inches to the car’s overall length, while larger air intakes improve airflow. It looks the part of the electric performance crossover, especially with the Night Package. 

It has 21-inch wheels with low profile performance tires, and the standard rear-axle steering has 1.0 degree less counter-steer than the EQE 500 SUV because of it. Other standard suspension upgrades include an adaptive air suspension and active anti-roll bars front and rear. Stopping might be more important than going in a vehicle this size, so the AMG wears 6-piston calipers with 16.3-inch rotors up front and single-piston calipers with 14.9-inch rotors at the rear. A decoupling front axle spares battery charge by reducing friction losses.

Sacrificed at the altar of the wind god is an abruptly rounded rear end. The headroom is nearly identical in front and back, and the 40.6 inches of rear legroom matches the front, making it great for four adults, especially with available heating rear seats. But the lack of vertical space in the cargo area and the lack of a frunk limits what it can tote. Mercedes prevents easy access to the hvac and motor systems under the hood; all you can do is add wiper fluid on a tray that pops out in the driver’s fender.

Flip those rear seats down and the cargo hold blossoms to an enormous 55.0 cubic feet. The real Mercedes magic happens up front, however, with standard power front seats that are heated and covered in synthetic leather. Most EQE SUVs have real leather, and massagers are on the options list, but even the standard seats are plush yet supportive, ideal for long-distance touring. AMG models have sport buckets with significantly more side and thigh bolstering. 

Be aware that Mercedes’ semi-autonomous drive system employs a driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster that might prompt you to raise the seat or the wheel position for it to work. 

Skip the Hyperscreen offered only on the AMG model to immerse the cabin in Mercedes’ finest materials, from aluminum ribbed wood trim to immersive soundscapes with names such as Vivid Flux and Serene Breeze. Air fragrance and filtration systems also grace the cabin, but the most significant charm is how well sealed it is from the outside world, the better to enjoy the Dolby surround-sound system. Some days, it might be the perfect respite, even in the garage.

The layered but comprehensive infotainment system earns a point, as do standard features such as synthetic leather upholstery, navigation, a panoramic sunroof, satellite radio, and a popping Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos that, along with 64-way ambient lighting, vibes with the club or symphony hall. It’s superlative sound. The vast options list, from massaging seats to a HEPA air filtration system, earns it another point, but a heated steering wheel and 12.3-inch 3D instrument cluster still cost extra on top Pinnacle trims, which are already $5,750 more than the Premium. 

The EQE SUV carries Mercedes’ 4-year/50,000-mile warranty but does not include free scheduled service, unlike some rival luxury brands.

Which Mercedes EQE SUV should I buy?

We’d stick with the base Premium on the all-wheel-drive 350 SUV, since popular options cost extra anyway. The mid-level Exclusive trim mostly adds advanced driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control with automatic lane changes, and augmented navigation for about $2,100 more than the Premium. 

The question then becomes which drive unit? The EQE 500 4Matic costs $87,050, or $3,600 less than last year, and in addition to its larger motors it upgrades to an air suspension, rear-axle steering, 20-inch wheels (from 19s), and leather surfaces. 

How much is a fully loaded EQE SUV?

For all the performance, jump up to the AMG EQE SUV for $110,450. It adds active anti-roll bars, larger brakes, nappa leather on more heavily bolstered front seats, and the Hyperscreen. That’s a 12.3-inch screen for the instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch screen for the infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch screen for the passenger display. It’s a lot, but there are still options, such as the $5,400 carbon ceramic brake package and a $250 heated steering wheel. It can easily top $130,000.

How fast does the EQE SUV charge?

The EQE SUV comes with two years of DC fast-charging at Electrify America stations, but the sessions are capped at 30-minute increments. That should be just enough to charge from 10-80% at a peak of 170 kw (Mercedes estimates 32 minutes). It translates to 100 miles of range in 15 minutes across the lineup. 

The 9.6-kw onboard charger lets in 240-volt AC power at 32 amps to charge the EQE SUV at home in 9.5 hours. A standard heat pump recovers waste heat from the motors and battery to warm the cabin.