When Mercedes-Benz announced a few years ago that the brand would be leaning heavily toward electrification, they weren’t kidding—which is to be expected, since German automakers aren’t known for their wry sense of humor. Their world is serious business. Up until that point, the Mercedes-Benz EQE line consisted only of serious all-electric vehicles. While the automaker still produces fossil-fueled builds for its AMG performance collection and sells hybrids across brands, the EQEs are plug-in-only luxury rides that offer reliable range and the expected Mercedes-Benz amenities.
In the EQE 2026 SUV, the Mercedes-Benz synchronous electric motor has a power of 35 kilowatts. The 90.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion traction battery has a range of about 253-300 miles, depending on driving conditions and performance requirements. With a 170 kilowatt DC fast charger, the EQE SUV will go from a 10 percent charge to 80 percent in just over 30 minutes, as tested. These numbers can change in a world of heavily used (and potentially abused) public chargers if the owner doesn’t have a fast charging unit built into the garage. If plugged into a heavier-duty 220-volt home outlet with the SUV’s 9.6-kilowatt charger, the vehicle will run up to 100 percent battery capacity in about 11.5 hours. This means, without a fast charger installed at home, the owner can still park the EQE, plug it into a standard 220V outlet overnight and walk out the next morning with usable range.
As tested, the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system manages 315 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. In an era of EVs that boast instant torque and fun-to-fast acceleration, these numbers feel a little disappointing. The car is still endlessly soothing and perfectly balanced in that distinctive Mercedes-Benz way. However, buyers will need to upgrade to the sport-tuned AMG EQE SUV version, with its 677-horsepower, 0-60 in 3.4-second capabilities, if they want extra speed. And of course, swapping an electric motor for a turbocharged V6 or a throaty V8 robs the driving experience of the aural pleasure of driving a Mercedes. This is just the reality of an increasingly electrified world that takes some of the passion and sensuality out of life.
At least there is the technological wizardry of the EQE group to enjoy. Apart from the all-electric (which needs to be closely managed in an EV for obvious battery drain reasons), the SUV still has the MBUX Multimedia System and its 12.8-inch portrait display, with an additional 12.3-inch driver display. In addition, a fingerprint scanner for MBUX profile authentication keeps intruders at bay. Alas, full massaging seats would hit the battery and cut the all-important range once again, so there’s only heat—and then only the front seats.
Full voice activation will work with MB onboard intelligence or connected Apple CarPlay. There’s a mobile internet hotspot on board and MBUX EQ Navigation Services offer electric intelligence (for monitoring car capabilities and available power) and active range monitoring. The same system will also track and direct the driver to a charging station if distance becomes an issue.
While this EQE’s unflinching engineering is on-brand, delivering the reliable performance needed to prove its Stuttgart credentials, the styling sticks. It lives in a separate universe of “big hatchback” and “not quite a sedan.” These lines do not confirm, “Ich bin ein Mercedes!” in the eyes of a motoring public, perhaps opting for a gentler apology that the car doesn’t more closely resemble its more distinguished relatives. The world should at least forgive the hatchback half of the EQE SUV’s confusing looks. No class in the automotive world stretched its visual cues over the past decade more than the SUV—especially in the small and midsize versions. With station wagons on the verge of extinction and sedans lagging behind, many of the subcompact SUVs are trying to squeeze into bloated hatchback form. The EQE SUV can’t quite manage this and ends up stuck somewhere in its aesthetic limbo.
There’s a chance that some behind-the-scenes internal marketing research will determine that the EV buyer isn’t the aggressive type, making the more serious, even grittier look of the traditional Benz bloodline too tough for Captain Planet. It recalls the early hybrid days of the Prius-a car Toyota it was purposely made ugly so that owners and drivers could announce to the world that they hated cars while still needing one. Driving a toaster on four wheels meant they could be transported around with the appropriate carbon offset of regret. While the EQE SUV is a long way from that Prius-type, it still lacks a lot of flash and circumstance. It’s doubtful that every Mercedes-Benz driver is motivated by such a sense of climate, and there are urban lifestyles that ensure the EQE range will serve as convenient, reliable, but not easily affordable transport. Clean, safe, comfortable and bold, the SUV allows its driver to ride in the front seat without worrying too much about how it looks.
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