The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has been revealed, ahead of production starting at the firm’s North American plant later this year. Due for release in the UK in summer 2023, the large electric five-seater is the SUV sister to the Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon – already on sale here in the UK.
Visually, the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV sticks to the ‘Mercedes-EQ’ family look used on other pure electric vehicles, including the even larger Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. At the front, it has a distinctive black panel unit, which can optionally be covered in a distinctive Mercedes-Benz 3D star pattern. There are bright LED daytime running lights and an LED light bar that connects the headlights. The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has a dynamic side window line that kicks upwards towards the rear, enhancing its beefy haunches. The wheelarches are surrounded by unpainted black plastic cladding, to create a more rugged SUV appearance. Large wheels, sized from 19 inches to 22 inches, are available. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV has a dynamic rake to its roofline as it blends into the tailgate. This has been tuned to help deliver a notably low and impressive aerodynamic drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.25. Retractable door handles also add to the slippery appearance, although they’re optional rather than standard. Inside, the luxurious and high-tech dashboard of the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a real standout. The clean, modern interior is immaculately detailed, with a very high standard of quality and finish. It is available with a broad range of colours, upholsteries and trim inlays – including a standard Electronic Art interior that doesn’t use a single piece of leather. The new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV features a standard 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen display in the centre of the dash – or an optional 17.7-inch MBUX Hyperscreen setup. This adds a third 12.3-inch screen for the passenger, alongside the 12.3-inch driver display, then covers it all in a single piece of glass to give a sleek and seamless appearance. Fully connected to the cloud and boasting over-the-air updates, the MBUX infotainment system is one of the best around. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is a five-seat model and the premium brand promises loads of space front and rear, with more than a metre of headroom all round, plus a metre of rear legroom. The 520-litre boot can be extended to 580 litres if you angle the rear-seat backrest more upright. It also expands to 1,675 litres with the rear seats folded. There will be three versions of the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, along with two high-performance Mercedes-AMG EQE SUVs. The EQE 350+ and EQE 350 4Matic both offer 288PS, while the EQE 500 4Matic has 402PS. They all share a 90.6kWh battery, which means the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ can travel up to 366 miles between charges. It has standard 170kW DC rapid charging capability, to potentially add 135 miles of range in 15 minutes. The Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4Matic has 476PS, while the EQE 53 4Matic+ has up to 689PS when the optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package is fitted. It does 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, but even the EQE 43 4Matic can reach 62mph in 4.3 seconds. Optional Airmatic suspension with ADS+ continuously variable damping delivers a smooth and cushioned ride – with the added bonus of a 30mm uplift in ride height for tackling tough terrain. 4Matic models have a standard off-road mode, and can tow up to 1,800kg. The new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is also available with innovative rear-wheel steering. This can reduce the turning circle from 12.3 metres to just 10.5 metres. Scheduled for UK release in summer 2023, prices are expected to start from £90,000. Most examples will likely tip into six figures once those buying or leasing a new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV have configured their perfect specification.
