AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING7/10
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Safety10/10
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PRACTICALITY7/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8/10
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FEATURES10/10
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POWER10/10
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COMFORT9/10
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DRIVING FEEL7/10
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FUEL ECONOMY6/10
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VALUE8/10
When it comes to making its regular sedans and SUVs go faster, Mercedes-Benz has turned to its in-house performance division AMG.
Known for their oversteering, tire-smoking, and just plain over the top driving dynamics, AMG-blessed ‘Benzes are powerful German muscle cars powered by immense motors. Those gas-powered units have been an integral part of the AMG experience for a long time. Choosing an AMG is like adding a third scoop of ice cream, or a venti frappuccino with extra whipped cream and caramel – and chocolate drizzle, too. AMGs are an over-the-top experience.
This question is: how does AMG capture that character in all-electric form?
One such attempt is the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, which packs a 90.6-kWh battery under the floor and has an estimated range of 378 km. It’s also expensive.
Power: 10/10
Once you start shelling out well over $100,000 for a vehicle, electric vehicles (EVs) start to make more financial sense. The AMG EQE SUV is significantly less expensive than the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, and it makes 677 hp and a scarcely believable 738 lb-ft of torque from dual AMG-specific electric motors. That’s 74 hp and 111 lb-ft of torque more than the AMG-tuned GLE-Class, which can be considered its gasoline counterpart.
It’s a heavy vehicle, but with the kind of power it has the weight just disappears. Acceleration is mind-blowing, but the only way to truly experience it is by using “race start,” where every last scrap of power on hand is unlocked. To activate the system just mash the accelerator and brake pedals in the sport plus drive mode, and when the AMG starts to shake (yes, really) release the brake and blast off into another dimension.
Driving Feel: 7/10
It’s not as good to drive as the sedan version, but it’s very agile for an SUV thanks in part to its rear-wheel steering system. Where the non-AMG version of the EQE SUV wafts along the road on a cushion of air, this feels more stable and planted. There’s more road feel, the steering is quicker, and the ride is stiffer but not in a bad way as it still rides on an air suspension. The AMG stays flat under cornering but the rear feels a tick or two behind the front in quick transitions, something likely amplified by the squishy winter tires this tester was riding on. Powering out of a corner at low speeds produces a playful wiggle of the hips, an unmistakable and fun AMG characteristic.
There’s a tangible difference between this AMG EQE SUV and the non-AMG version, and from the seats to the micro-suede covered steering wheel the AMG experience has been preserved in many ways. Best of all, this ‘Benz doesn’t have a bone-shattering ride but still delivers capable handling in any mode. The brakes, however, are the fly in the ointment. Stomp on them hard and there’s a ton of stopping power, but try to brake smoothly for a corner and the non-linear feel of the pedal will let you down every time. It blemishes the otherwise great driving experience.
Styling: 7/10
You either like it or not, but the EQE’s EV-forward, nebulous shape seems to work better as an SUV than it does in sedan form. The large AMG-specific not-a-grille is ostentatious and proudly wears a large backlit three-pointed star front and centre. It’s a shape that’s aerodynamic but lacks definition. Such is the price to pay for a wind-cheating design.
Inside, there’s one giant screen that measures a total of 55 inches. It attracts fingerprints and reflections, but the displays themselves are incredibly sharp and colourful. All the materials are also really nice and it feels as luxurious as it does modern with a helping of AMG trim items like carbon fibre, microsuede, and special sport seats. If you’re paying over six-figures for a vehicle, this is the type of interior you should expect.
Features: 10/10
This EQE SUV has options you didn’t even know you wanted, like energizing air control with a HEPA filter that purifies the outside air entering the cabin. Ambient lights are everywhere, even on the seats, and they can be set to animate as you drive. The big ‘Benz also gets high tech items like anti-roll stabilization, four-wheel steering, and a full air suspension system.
The optional illuminated running boards don’t make a whole lot of sense, as they’re too narrow, and the EQE SUV isn’t that high off the ground. The 22-inch turbine wheels on this tester are a nice touch.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
It’s going to take time to get used to everything in this SUV. Nearly everything is accessed through the centre screen. On the bright side, it’s massive and using it is made easier for that exact reason. “Voice recognition works well most of the time, and important items like the climate controls are always displayed and all the menus are clearly laid out and self-explanatory. A volume knob would be great, but the volume sliders aren’t that bad. And cycling through the AMG’s drive modes on the digital dial attached to the steering is as cool as it is satisfying.
Comfort: 9/10
Mercedes has some great seats, and the ones in this AMG are good examples. They’re supple yet supportive, although a bit more lateral thigh support would be welcome. The EQE SUV rides on a two-axle air suspension with dynamic dampers that help deliver a smooth and very comfortable ride over all surfaces. And purified and scented air in the cabin ensures this ‘Benz delivers a luxury experience that’s hard to beat.
Practicality: 7.5/10
The main reason to buy the SUV over the sedan would be the cargo space. With the rear seats in place there’s 520 L, which expands to 1,675 L when they’re folded down. While that’s quite a bit more than the sedan, it’s less than the GLE-Class. Rear seat passengers get lots of legroom, and thanks to a flat floor a third person can sit in the back quite easily. There are generous door pockets and small cubbies, and a large space under the centre console, perfect for additional storage.
The 90.6-kWh battery is good for 378 km of range and can fast charge at a maximum rate of 170 kW. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent at this speed takes just 32 minutes. The fastest charging speeds experienced during this cold-weather test was 110 kW, which is still plenty fast. Level 2 charging at 9.6 kW will fully charge a depleted battery in a little less than 11 hours.
Fuel Economy: 6.5/10
Cold temperatures negatively affect range and charging speeds, as a large portion of the battery’s energy is used to warm the cabin and itself. Pre-conditioning the cabin and battery can help, but Canadian winters can be especially harsh, and the heat pump was working overtime during this test.
When the battery is cold, it’s not just range that’s limited but also power. Even with more than 70 per cent charge the power was limited to 80 per cent of its total. And that meant there was no using the race start feature.
Even with a heat pump, consumption wouldn’t go below 30.0 kWh/100 km, and that was only when it was driven with the heat off and as conservatively as possible. The estimated range was reduced to only about 250 km with a battery that was nearly full. None of this is a knock on Mercedes or the EQE, but is indicative of range and battery degradation of all EVs during a cold snap. It was also a bigger issue for me as I relied on public fast chargers and those that have access to a Level 2 charger at home can largely circumvent most of these issues even in the dead of winter.
Safety: 10/10
The AMG EQE SUV has the latest and greatest in active and passive safety features and driver assistance like adaptive cruise control with lane centring, evasive steering assist, and active lane change assist.
Value: 8/10
It’s hard to think of something with a base price of $128,900 as having any sort of value, but if you compare the performance, features, and space to the V8-powered GLE 63 S, the EQE SUV is a bargain ringing in at over $30,000 cheaper. And the EQE SUV has more power, more torque and is better equipped.
The Verdict
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is crazy quick and a capable handler. The braking feel needs a bit of a revision, but in many ways this electric AMG is a lot like its gas-powered counterparts. It’s missing the rumble and drama of the V8 but makes up for some of that with torque – and plenty of it. It may lack the emotional appeal of something like the AMG E 63 wagon, but it’s still a lot of fun to drive.
| Engine Displacement | 460 kW |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Dual electric motors |
| Peak Horsepower | 677 hp |
| Peak Torque | 738 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | N/A |
| Cargo Space | 520 / 1,675 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV |
| Base Price | $128,900 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | N/A |
| Price as Tested | $149,025 |
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Optional Equipment
$20,025 – Pinnacle Trim package, $8,000; AMG Dynamic Plus package, $5,500; 22-inch AMG Multi-spoke Turbine wheels, $1,755; AMG carbon fibre trim, $1,500; Illuminated running boards, $845; Heated windshield, $715; AMG performance steering wheel, $650; Energizing air control plus w/HEPA filter, $590; Heated rear seats, $470
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