A Tech-Packed Luxury Electric Sedan
The Mercedes-Benz EQE midsize sedan is offered in four trims with each offering a clear choice of power and price. They are also a peek into the future of what to expect from Mercedes EVs—a full complement of tech and safety equipment wrapped in a silent, smooth-riding package.
Clean Fleet Report recently spent a week in the 2024 EQE 500 4Matic, which falls in the queue as the second most powerful EQE sedan. Times are changing at Mercedes-Benz and they have no interest in ceding ground to Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Lucid or any of the other car companies striving for a piece at the upper end of the luxury EV market.
Silent, Luxury Propulsion
Clean Feet Report drove the 2024 EQE 500 4Matic (4Matic is Mercedes-speak for all-wheel drive), which features dual motors, one each front and rear. They produce 402 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. The EPA rates the all-electric range at 298 miles, which is pretty much what we got in our week driving on plenty of Southern California highways.
Stepping on the accelerator results in an instant, strong launch, which is the beauty of EV torque. The performance was impressive, with the 5,681-pound EQE returning 0-60 mph runs at 4.7 seconds.
The well-distributed weight gave the EQE a balanced and confident ride. The Pirelli PZero summer tires, mounted on 21-inch AMG multi-spoke black aluminum wheels, provided ample grip, even when pushing corners to their limit. The 4Matic drive system automatically senses grip level and undetectably sends power front-to-rear and side-to-side, while the electronically controlled air suspension automatically controls the damping force of the suspension to provide for a smooth ride. The automatic air suspension system ($1,900 option) also adjusts the ride height depending if in Eco, Comfort or Sport driving modes.
The EQE comes standard with active steering assist, stability control and 4.5-degree rear axle steering. This last feature helps the EQE be much more agile and maneuverable than would be expected, and nearly eliminates three-point turns with a 34.5-foot turning radius.
The steering is light for around town and then is speed-dependent, so there is never a loss of road feel or the ability to accurately carve through mountains or traffic. Ride comfort is expected from a Mercedes, with only the most severe road surfaces being noticeable in the cabin. The EQE is easy to drive, easy to steer, and comfortable in every sense. It handled very well for being more than 16 feet long.
Charging and Regeneration
Using a DC fast charger, the 96 kWh lithium-ion battery will replenish 10-to-100% in 32 minutes using the on-board 9.6 kW charger and charging at 170 kw. A 240-volt/32-amp home charger will take 11.5 hours for the same charge.
The first two years of owning an EQE comes with complimentary charging sessions at Electrify America DC fast chargers.
Powerful motor regeneration is controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddles. So when coasting or braking it converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. One pedal driving, where the regeneration is set at the highest level, made it possible to do most driving without relying on the brakes.
Slippery Design
A .26 coefficient of drag (Cd) comes from the EQE “one bow” design. Its cab-forward proportions has a few traditional Mercedes-Benz owners raising an eyebrow. It is a diversion from the stately S-Class, but we like its form and function, which makes it efficient and quiet to drive.
The midsize EQE 500 has a smooth exterior, drawing one long sweeping line from front to back. It begins with a rounded nose, the traditional grille area replaced by a polycarbonate face having a repeated three-point star pattern. The LED digital headlight system has the ability to project symbols and animation onto the road, such as warning symbols of road work, no-entry, stop and yield, driving guidelines on narrow roads, and several others.
The coupe-like design has smooth sides with flush door handles and a curious rectangular door on the driver-side front fender. Too small for a charge port, so what is it? Mercedes does not want you opening the hood (which goes as far as there not being a visible hood release lever under the dash) so this fender door is for refilling the windshield fluid. Clever, but curious.
Our EQE 500 4Matic had the Winter Package ($1,500) option with the heated windshield and heated spray nozzles and fluid hoses.
The sleek roofline peaks at the B-pillar and continues on a gentle slope to an ever-so-small lip spoiler on the power trunk lid. EQE 500 and 4MATIC badging sit below the LED light bar that connects the distinctive helix design tail lights. The restrained use of chrome was found around the windows, along the lower doors and just a taste on the front and rear lower fascia, giving the EQE 500 a classy look.
Clean Fleet Report’s EQE 500 was painted in Patagonia Red Metallic ($1,750), which is one of 11 exterior colors of Black, Obsidian Black Metallic, Selenite Gray Metallic, Graphite Gray Metallic, Alpine Gray, Graphite Gray Magno, Moonlight White Metallic, Polar White, Selenite Gray Metallic, and Twilight Blue Metallic.
Screens in Abundance
The dominant feature of the EQE cabin is the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) hyper screen. There is a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and an OLED 12.8-inch infotainment screen. The only negatives about these screens is the reflected light under certain angles and that it’s a fingerprint magnet.
The OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display works without a backlight as it emits its own visible light. The benefits? It produces deep black levels and offers higher contrast than a LED system and uses 30-percent lower energy. Make sure to visit the Mercedes-Benz dealership in the evening to get the full impact of the touchscreen.
The center screen is home to an augmented reality navigation system and the 710-watt Burmester 3D surround audio system. The 15 separate amplifier channels and 15-speaker system has a combination of mid-range, bass, tweeter and surround speakers for SiriusXM, FM radio, (no AM radio) wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth voice commands for the radio and the telephone are part of the MBUX assistant system. There are multiple USB power and connectivity ports throughout the cabin.
The leather-wrapped, heated, multi-function flat bottom steering wheel has capacitive touch controls for audio, telephone and the adaptive cruise control, and to change the gauge design on the driver information screen. The radio can be controlled by natural voice commands (“Hey Mercedes”) or the touchscreen. The system has a learning curve that isn’t too difficult and is well worth mastering to get the most from the excellent sound quality and vast array of comfort features available to those in the cabin.
The 12.3-inch 3D digital color instrument cluster has multiple views that provide a wealth of information. It is too involved to go into here, so make sure your Mercedes-Benz dealer sales representative walks you through it completely. The glasses-less 3D is impressive and adds uniqueness for this highly customizable screen.
Sumptuous Interior
All materials were top notch quality, with Clean Fleet Report’sinterior looking elegant in two-tone black and space grey with a black microfiber headliner. The leather multi-contour front heated and ventilated power seats had memory, massage and power adjustments. The cabin, with natural grain Anthracite Linden wood trim, has a four zone climate control with energizing air control and a HEPA filter. Seating comfort front and rear was good, but the heads of taller passengers may touch the ceiling. The rear seating position was a bit upright with no recline feature.
Other interior features are a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals, a power tilt and sliding panoramic roof, and wireless phone charging. The 64-color ambient lighting is soothing and fun to play with.
Safety
The EQE 500 comes with a standard and optional list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the Drive Pilot semi-autonomous driving system that utilizes lidar, radar, cameras, moisture sensors, ultra-sonic sensors and an antenna. Upon setting the system, the EQE will stop, accelerate from a stop, and adjust speed to the cars in front.
It is not a completely autonomous hands-free system as there are none on the market, regardless of what some car companies will tell you. On your test drive, experiment a bit by removing your hands for up-to 45 seconds while on the highway. Under the right conditions, the EQE will follow the lanes and turn gentle corners hands-free. It is a wonderful feeling getting a sense of where true autonomous driving will be sometime in the future. There is a full list of the standard safety systems at the end of this story.
When on the highway, there is an option for the car to automatically change lanes or it can be set to change lanes when applying the turn signal. We tried both at 65 mph on Interstate 5 in San Diego County, on a bright sunshine day, and found them to work equally as well.
It really is a sensation when the system is set to change lanes automatically. The EQE pulls-up behind a vehicle, scans the adjacent lanes, and when the computer and all those sensors determines it is safe to do so, the EQE moves into the next lane and, after passing the vehicle, returns to the original lane.
Mercedes-Benz is not the only car company to offer this technology, so we were familiar with how it should work. Glad to report the Mercedes system worked flawlessly.
Pricing
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic comes in three trims. These base prices include the destination charge of $1,150.
Premium – $85,900
Exclusive – $89,100
Pinnacle – $91,750
All trims are nicely equipped so buying one at the base price will be a very nice car. However, Mercedes-Benz offers packages and options that ramp-up the convenience and safety features, and also the price.
Clean Fleet Report’s EQE 500 4Matic Premium started at the $85,900 price listed above, and had $17,395 in packages and options as well as the $1,150 destination fee. The final MSRP was $103,295.
The EQE has four models:
EQE 350+ – $74,900
EQE 350 4Matic – $77,900
EQE 500 4Matic – $85,900
AMG EQE 4Matic – $106,900
Note: Automobile manufacturers loan Clean Fleet Report cars, trucks and SUVs for a week, or more, to test in real world situations. We put on hundreds of miles, which is something a shopper could never do when visiting a dealer. The cars we get are usually highly or fully optioned so we can report on the ultimate version that could be ordered. To see what all was on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic Premium we drove, see the Monroney (window sticker) at the end of the story.
Warranties
Whole Vehicle – Four years/50,000 miles
Battery – 10 years/155,000 mile warranty
Free Factory Maintenance – Two years/20,000 miles
Observations: 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic Sedan
Mercedes-Benz has packed so much technology into the 2024 EQE 580 4Matic sedan it would take multiple reviews to cover everything. You will be relying on the dealer sales representative to explain, in detail, the systems to get the most from your car. Don’t be shy when at the dealership, no question is wrong. Insist you are treated like the premium car buyer you are.
Climbing behind the wheel of the EQE 500 4Matic quickly gives one an appreciation for a fine automobile. The styling may not please everyone, but it is one of the most aerodynamic cars we have driven. The impressive interior, where occupants are encased in high-quality materials and workmanship, ranks among the top in luxury EVs. The features list is long and deep, including a full safety suite (see below). The price may seem high, but there is a whole lot going on that in the rarefied world of this midsize luxury electric vehicle.
The EQE is classy and quick, but it is not exciting to drive. The supremely quiet cabin (did I mention the noise-reducing, infrared-reflecting glass?) and buttery ride will impress many people. Mercedes-Benz loyalists looking for something pulse-raising to drive will have to look to the pricey AMG version that can shave more than a second off the zero-to-60 time.
Whether it is an entry-level or a luxury model, there is something very satisfying about driving an electric car. The lack of sound as it moves down the road is wonderful, and the instant torque from a stop or even at highway speeds is something to enjoy.
Have you reached the stage in life to reward yourself with a smooth-driving, quiet, emission-free luxury sedan? If so, the 2024 EQE 500 4Matic may be what you are looking for.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Mercedes-Benz.
[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]
EQE Standard Safety Features
Car-to-X Communication
Active Distance Assist Distronic
Active Steering Assist
Active Brake Assist
Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call
Attention Assist
Enhancements to Attention Assist
LED Digital Light headlamps w/lightband
Adaptive High beam Assist
LED Daytime Running Lamps
Crosswind Assist
Active Blind Spot Assist
Exit Warning Assist
Evasive Steering Assist
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Active Lane Change Assist
Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
Active Emergency Stop Assist
Active Speed Limit Assist
Extended Restart in Stop-and-Go Traffic
Active Stop-and-Go Assist
Front and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert w/pedestrian detection and automatic braking
Pre-Safe
Pre-Safe Sound
Pre-Safe Plus
PRE-SAFE Impulse Side
Parktronic with Active Parking Assist
Surround View System
Seven air bags
Acoustic Vehicle Alert System
Adaptive braking technology
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Brake Assist (BAS)
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
Torque Vectoring Brake
EQ-specific safety concept
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Guard 360 Vehicle Protection Plus
Parking Damage Detector
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
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