Mercedes-Benz has expanded its electric vehicle portfolio with the debut of the new EQS SUV – a three-row, seven-passenger EV crossover that will go on sale in Canada in the fourth quarter of this year.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV takes many of the same features of the EQS Sedan and wraps them up in a crossover-shaped package. It will launch in the same EQS 580 4MATIC trim level, which has a dual-motor powertrain rated at 536 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. A less powerful EQS 450 4MATIC trim will also be offered at launch, which is rated at 355 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.
The EQS SUV utilizes the same platform as the EQS Sedan and also has the same 3,210-mm wheelbase, however, this new crossover model sits roughly 20 cm higher. The shared platform utilizes a four-link front suspension, a multi-link rear end, and comes standard with height-adjustable air suspension across both of the launch trim levels. Rear-axle steering is also standard, enabling a tighter turning radius at low speeds and greater stability and turn-in response at higher speeds.
Power in the 2023 Mercedes EQS SUV comes from the same 107.8-kWh lithium-ion battery as the EQS Sedan, which provides roughly 600 kilometres of driving range on the European test cycle. A DC fast-charging system enables the vehicle to charge at a rate of up to 200 kW, adding roughly 250 kilometres worth of range in 15 minutes. There’s also a 9.6-kW onboard charger that can fill the battery in about 12 hours. A standard “Navigation with Electric Intelligence” system chooses the most efficient routes for the EV drive system and will display nearby charging stations along the selected route. This navigation system will also dynamically change the route based on the traffic flow and other factors.
Inside, occupants will be greeted by Mercedes’ impressive MBUX Hyperscreen, which includes a digital curved display screen that spans from the driver’s side pillar all the way to the passenger side pillar. This display is made up of three separate display screens that sit under a single, uniform glass panel, including a 12.3-inch OLED display for the front passenger. This impressive display will come standard on the EQS 580 4MATIC in Canada. A rear-seat entertainment system will also be offered.
Outside, the Mercedes EQS SUV adopts the same svelte, smoothed-over exterior styling as the ultra-aerodynamic EQS Sedan. It features a closed-off front grille with active shutters, optional aerodynamically-enhanced running boards, a flat underfloor and flush door handles, all of which help it cut through the air and maximize the range of its lithium-ion battery. The EQS SUV debuted with 19-inch wheels on the EQS 580 4MATIC, however, a variety of wheel options will be offered from launch.
Canadian pricing for the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has yet to be disclosed. We expect it to be priced close to the EQS Sedan, however, which starts at $146,500 in Canada before taxes and freight charges. We expect more details on this new battery-electric SUV to be disclosed as its official Canadian launch approaches in the fourth quarter of this year.
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