Mercedes’ EQ range of battery powered models continues to grow in the local market. We recently drove the Mercedes-EQ EQE350+ in sedan guise.

Do you recall the W123 Mercedes? You must’ve known at least one uncle who owned one. It was the slightly elongated, elegant car that many families had, and at least one teacher in your school drove in the 1980s. There was an abundance of 230E variants around. The W123 grew into the W124 and 2xxE naming format changed soon after into the E-class. The E-class is the middle ground between the opening level A- and C-class sedans and the range-leading S-class.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

Mercedes has diversified its naming structure even further in recent years. There is Mercedes-Benz, which almost everyone in the world knows. Then there is Mercedes-AMG which are high-performance models. Now we have Mercedes-EQ, denoting models that are powered purely by electricity. From that extended explanation you may be able to work out that the Mercedes-EQ EQE350+, the subject of this review, is an electrified E-class.

Two Options

The Mercedes-EQ EQE350+ is the other variant in a two-car EQE range. Its sibling is the more powerful Mercedes-AMG EQE43. The EQE350+ is a handsome prospect. We noticed glances, stares and several folks wielding mobile phones to snap a pic of the relatively new car. The novelty factor could have a large part to play in these appreciative and inquisitive looks. This the first EQE we have seen ‘in the wild; ie outside of a showroom on public roads.

The smooth, cohesive body has a low drag coefficient. Mercedes dubs it a “one bow, cab forward design”. Special attention was paid to the aerodynamically efficient front and rear aprons. There is no central air intake, as there isn’t a typical cooling system with a large radiator mounted behind. The aim of the shape is to extend the range of the battery. The aero optimised wheels with low-profile rubber look great in a contrasting shade to the body.

Click here to read our twin review of the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-EQ EQB.

Acid Jazz

The sleek, modern external appearance is continued into the interior. The EQE is built on a dedicated EV platform, not one borrowed from Mercedes’ ICE family. This means that the platform and cabin were designed to account for the more compact nature of an EV powertain, as well as the space required for large battery packs. As a result the cabin has loads of legroom and a generous boot. However, the rear seats do feel a tad upright, which could be bothersome on a long journey.

The are two large digital screens on the dashboard. The infotainment interface, mounted in portrait orientation, is massive and controls pretty much everything that isn’t supposed to be handled by the driver’s hands and feet. The MBUX system has large, crisp graphics and is quick in response. The interior also features Mercedes jazzy ambient lighting that can be altered to one’s choice of 64 colour options. Or turned off if you prefer.

RWD EV

The Mercedes-EQ EQE350+ is powered by a single motor that is mounted near, and powers the rear axle. The motor can dish up a peak of 215 kW. Mercedes says that is enough to shunt the EQE from rest to 100 km/h in 6,5 seconds. Not lightning fast, but quick enough for a heavy family car. However, it is the 565 N.m of instantaneous torque that makes it feel accelerative at any speed. The punch of torque means that overtaking is merely a thought process and toe-twitch away from being a quick reality.

Of course, one has to be quite aware that those wonderful blasts do eat into the range of the battery. The EQE350+ has an advertised max range of 645 km, which is bloody excellent and among the highest of any EV on sale in South Africa. The max figure we saw on the digital display was 558 km, a bit lower than advertised but still pretty high.

As previously mentioned, the EQE350+ was built on a fit-for-purpose platform. As a result the large saloon tends to ride with a waftiness that is befitting of the badge and its (namesake) lineage. It may look like a pretty speedy machine, but there is no real sporting edge to its make-up, even with those low profile tyres. This is not a car that should be, or likes to be hustled through corners. It is in that scenarios that the circa-2,5-ton mass really makes its presence felt. Oh, and the real party trick is how quiet and sedate the driving experience is at gentle motorway cruising speeds.

Summary

The Mercedes-EQ EQE350+ has all the hallmarks and positives that the brand is trying to promote with its EQ models. It has standout styling, a high-tech interior, long battery range and is imminently usable. There is a but (isn’t there always?). The base price of the EQE350+ is a shade of R1,7m. The last time we checked, that was a lot of money. The list of options in the EV space grows every day with more automakers bringing models to the local market. The EQE350+ is a darn good example of a luxury EV. However, don’t expect, at very least, one uncle you know or a teacher at the local school to have one.

Model: Mercedes-EQ EQE350+
Price: R1 727 951
Engine: single electric motor
Transmission: single-speed, RWD
Max power: 215 kW
Max torque: 565 N.m
0-100 km/h: 6,5 sec
Top speed: 210 km/h
Range: 645 km