Competes with: Audi E-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S
Looks like: Mercedes’ CLA, or a smaller take on the new EQS
Powertrains: Single electric drive motor producing 288 system horsepower; 90.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack; rear-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: 2022
Mercedes-Benz shoppers will have more EV options as the luxury marque has revealed its second all-electric vehicle, the 2023 EQE sedan. Consumers have already seen luxury competitors in the Audi E-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Porsche Taycan, but the EQE gives Mercedes another next-generation EV for the U.S. market. It joins the 2022 EQS sedan announced earlier this year.
Like the EQS, the EQE hails from Mercedes’ dedicated EVA2 electric architecture. With many automakers focusing exclusively on electrified SUVs and pickup trucks, Mercedes’ pair of electric sedans lends choices to those who want something lower-riding. Out of the 49 upcoming EVs we expect by 2025, only seven (including the EQS and EQE) are sedans, and only a handful of luxury electric sedans currently exist, among them the Tesla Model 3 and Model S, Polestar 2, Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT.
Exterior
The EQE follows Mercedes’ EQ styling characteristics found on the EQS, but in a smaller package. Styling features include a cab-forward design with a visual arc running from the front fender through the roofline. The front end features LED headlights and a black panel over the grille; the unit functions as a hub for the variety of sensors and cameras needed for the EQE’s driver-assist systems.
2023 Mercedes EQE | Manufacturer image
The EQE has a shorter wheelbase with slightly shorter overhangs than the EQS; its exterior dimensions are comparable to Mercedes’ CLS. The EQE rides on standard 19-inch wheels that can be upgraded to 21 inches.
Interior
Inside, the massive MBUX Hyperscreen steals the spotlight. The optional 56-inch high-resolution screen is integrated into the instrument panel and stretches across the entire width of the dashboard. Though it appears as one ultrawide touchscreen, the Hyperscreen is actually three: a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 17.7-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch passenger display. The screens adjoin under a single glass surface bookended by air vents. Sans the Hyperscreen, the EQE’s standard multimedia system comes in a more traditional package featuring a 12.8-inch touchscreen. The interior also gets leather-wrapped AMG Line sport seats, with available high-end trim like open-pore lime wood.
2023 Mercedes EQE | Manufacturer image
Mercedes claims the interior is noticeably more spacious than that of the gas-powered E-Class, offering an extra inch of shoulder room and 3 inches of additional interior length. An optional health and wellness system, meanwhile, is intended to promote relaxation and alertness thanks to a combination of climate control, ambient lighting and sound effects from a variety of nature themes, such as forest and sea. (It’s not the first Mercedes to offer such programming, however.)
Performance, Range and Charging
Mercedes will offer two versions of the EQE: the EQE350 and a second variant to be announced closer to launch. The EQE350 houses a 90-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a single electric motor good for 288 system horsepower and 391 pounds-feet of torque. Although the base EQS gets 41 more horses, the two vehicles’ 0-60 mph times are nearly identical: 5.5 seconds for the EQS and 5.6 seconds for the EQE. The EQE350 will be available with rear-wheel drive only, while the second model will offer Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive.
2023 Mercedes EQE | Manufacturer image
Mercedes estimates the EQE’s range at 410 miles, but that’s using a European test cycle, not the official (and usually less favorable) U.S. EPA estimates. In comparison, the EQS is expected to get 70 additional miles of range for a total of 480, per European testing. Still, the EQE could end up notching EPA range in the mid-300s.
Using Level 2 charging, the EQE will take approximately 9.5 hours to charge from 10% to 100%, Mercedes says, while DC fast charging takes the EQE from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes.
Technology and Safety
The EQE’s power and range fall short of its EQS sibling, but the smaller sedan makes no compromises on technology and driver-assist features. The latest MBUX system uses artificial intelligence to personalize the infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions for the driver. As in various other Mercedes vehicles, an augmented reality navigation system can superimpose directional arrows or addresses onto a dashboard camera display.
2023 Mercedes Benz EQE | Manufacturer image
Even though the EQE is expected to boast generous range, road trips in an EV can still be tricky because charging a vehicle isn’t as quick or simple as filling up at the pump. Similar to a navigation function from Tesla, the EQE’s Navigation with Electric Intelligence system optimizes routes to include charging stops, with recalculations based on factors like traffic and driving style. It can inform the driver if the range is sufficient to make it to the desired destination, as well as the estimated costs for charging at the planned stops.
An optional Driver Assistance Package brings a suite of advanced driver-assist systems including adaptive cruise control, stop-and-go assist, active blind spot assist and lane-centering steering, but Mercedes didn’t mention hands-free lane centering — a feature proliferating among other brands. A car-to-X communication system can turn the EQE into a receiver and transmitter to monitor road conditions ahead, then issue warnings as needed to help drivers anticipate potential dangers.
Don’t Let the Door Hit You
Another high-tech convenience is the EQE’s automatic comfort doors. Also similar to a feature from Tesla (in this case, on the Model X), the EQE’s doors can open and close automatically using the vehicle’s blind spot assist feature to help ensure safety. As the driver approaches the vehicle, the door handles extend and the driver’s door opens automatically. The door can also be closed with a one-touch operation and automatically closes as the brake pedal is depressed. The driver can also open the passenger door through the multimedia system.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2023 Mercedes EQE350 arrives at U.S. dealers in 2022 alongside the unspecified second EQE AWD variant. Mercedes says additional models will follow, and we expect pricing to be announced closer to the EV’s arrival.
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