The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS Electric Sedan Is Cooler Than Its Competition

In the past, EV performance car fanatics haven’t had many options. With about 18 all-electric miles, the BMW i8 is practically a disgrace to modern-day ranges. On the contrary, the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan is set to provide a much more impressive metric—all while looking good doing it.

How the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS stacks up against Tesla

Daimler CEO Ola Källenius says the EQS electric sedan from Mercedes-Benz will boast a 435-mile range, enough to blow range anxiety out of the water.

Granted, that range is based on something called the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle (WHLV) test metric rather than the U.S. or Canada EPA metrics. This means the EPA range will likely be a bit lower, but that’s still a high number that rivals most gas-powered sedans.

At 402 miles, the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus was the first EV to exceed a 400-mile range. If the EQS is developed with innovative charging technology, drivers could get 80% of their range juiced up in just 20 minutes. New charging networks in the works use 350 kWh technology, as opposed to Tesla’s 250 kWh.

The Tesla S LRP is likely faster than the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS by 0.9 seconds in the 0–60 MPH measurement. The EQS performance is nothing to be shy about, however, at 469 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque.

Digital lights headlights reflect the Mercedes EQS aesthetic well

Given the vehicle’s capabilities on range and charging, the design doesn’t look like a coverup for poor EV engineering. Plus, the market is pushing the envelope in the EV world—and automakers can’t get away with a shotty job like they used to.

Specifically, the Digital Light headlamps use dual holographic lenses to produce an infinite number of light structures.

This is consistent on the inside, too. The interior maintains a lighting system called Connected Light, which serves a two-fold purpose of aesthetics and information.

These external and internal lighting features complete the plot for the seemingly seamless EQS.

Mercedes-Benz canceled the EQC crossover variant 

Initially, Mercedes was planning to release the EQC, a crossover SUV version of the EQS sedan. But based on the vehicle’s weight and distribution, Mercedes has been having difficulty getting a fair range on the utility vehicle—one that more North Americans are willing to bet on.

Plus, the EQS sedan uses the automakers’ Electric Vehicle Architecture. Meanwhile, the EQC crossover wasn’t designed using this platform, so it’s possible that Mercedes-Benz wants to reset the design so they’re releasing everything on the latest engineering.

Long story short, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS is a stunner

U.S. drivers will have access to the EQS by summer 2021. The car is coming out as a 2022 model year. According to Christoph Starzynski, Vice-President Electric Vehicle Architecture and Head of Mercedes-EQ for Mercedes-Benz, the “EQ models will meet the highest standards and also set standards in many disciplines.”

Estimates suggest the MSRP will start at $96,000. It may take time for the Mercedes subbrand, EQ, to expand their repertoire given the recent takeback of the EQC. Perhaps that is good for the company, though, to give electric charging networks the time to advance.