2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV review: Australian first drive

Mercedes-Benz is putting together a faintly dizzying range of stylistically similar EVs in myriad shapes and sizes – offering more choice in models than any other brand in the market.

Its latest entrant is the EQE SUV, not to be confused with the EQE sedan…

As the last letter in its name suggests, the EQE SUV is bigger than the (out-of-production until a new one arrives) EQC, and smaller than the EQS which sits upon the same all-electric architecture, filling what the company regards as a sweet spot in today’s luxury market.

As well as lining up against the all-electric BMW iX, Polestar 3, Audi Q8 E-Tron and Lexus RZ, the EQE SUV also looms as a potential alternative to, or replacement for, the internal combustion Mercedes-Benz GLE that’s a common sight in private school carparks and ski lodges across the nation.

Mercedes-Benz’s challenge is thus twofold: to be more compelling than a strong (and growing) list of competitors, and to convince the company’s existing loyal owners to make the switch to something directly powered by electrons and not dead dinosaurs.

While the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV range will be offered with a choice of four drivetrains, including a hotted-up Mercedes-AMG EQE 53, the only version available on the recent Australian launch event was the entry EQE 300 rear-wheel drive variant.

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How much is it, and what do you get?

Similar feature lists across the Benz-branded line-up, with upgrades focused on range and performance.

The EQE 300 SUV is priced at $134,900 before on-road costs, climbing to $144,900 for the more powerful EQE 350 dual-motor AWD; $164,900 for the even more powerful EQE 500 limited edition; topping out at $189,900 for the AMG 53 4Matic+ flagship.

Mercedes-Benz Australia sells its vehicles through agents with set pricing, meaning there’s no scope for individual haggling. All prices listed above are before on-road costs such as stamp duty and registration, but inclusive of luxury car tax and GST.

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Standard equipment for the EQE 300 includes 21-inch AMG Line wheels, panoramic glass sunroof, proximity sensing key fob, powered tailgate, heat-insulating dark tinted glass, illuminated aluminium-look running boards, and an EQ-specific ‘grille’ insert with a cluster of Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star logos.

It also comes standard with the Digital Light package, an adaptive high-beam assist system with a staggering one million micro-reflectors within each headlight unit to give “precise and highly responsive” light distribution. Ideal for those doing country night driving.

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On the inside you get twin screens including a 12.8-inch OLED centre touchscreen running MBUX infotainment with conversational voice commands, satellite-navigation with augmented reality overlay, smartphone integration, wireless charging, a projecting head-up display, a Burmester 3D surround sound system, ambient cabin lighting with 64 colours, a 360-degree parking camera, and leather trim with heated front seats.

Those who fancy ticking some options boxes should note that the EQE 300 variant is not available with the massive MBUX Hyperscreen that takes over the dash. One feature you can add, however, is rear-wheel steering ($2900) that can reduce the turning circle from 12.3m to 10.5m. There’s also available Airmatic air suspension for $3400.

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV range pricing

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Where is this model in its lifecycle?

Brand new EQE SUV comes with all weapons loaded

The EQE SUV uses the same newly developed base architecture as the larger and more luxurious EQS SUV and EQS sedan family, and unlike the older-design EQC, was never developed with internal combustion in mind.

As well as being brand-spanking-new from the ground up, Mercedes-Benz Australia says the supply situation should be adequate to meet demand, some of which is coming from buyers who are new to the brand.

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How do rivals compare on value?

Ballpark value next to shorter-range rivals, but there’s a trade-off when it comes to acceleration.

No surprise, Mercedes-Benz is not the sole luxury brand convinced this is a fertile corner of the market for electric SUVs.

The $134,900 (MSRP) EQE 300 SUV competes against the base BMW iX xDrive40 ($135,900), Polestar 3 Long Range ($132,900), and Lexus RZ450e Luxury ($123,000), and undercuts the cheapest Audi Q8 e-tron (the $153,900 e-tron 55).

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However each of these competitors come standard with dual-motor AWD unlike the single-motor EQE 300 variant, and are subsequently punchier and more versatile. The positive trade-off is the Mercedes-Benz’s longer range claim.

Features-wise, we should mention that the EQE 300 has a more generous list of equipment than the entry GLE 300d diesel which Mercedes-Benz sees as a candidate for cross-shopping, given its roughly $15,000 lower sticker price will be offset by higher running costs. Note, it also costs about the same as a GLE 450 petrol ($133,670 MSRP).

Interior quality, comfort, space and storage

Brash, bright and highly capacious for five occupants.

All told, while the new generation of Mercedes-Benz interiors eschew the old world design cues and bank-vault-matching fit-and-finish, they offer uber flashy displays and are generally well thought-out once you scratch beneath the surface.

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The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV offers a premium experience even in base guise, with extensive use of quality materials such as suede-like door inlays, leather upholstery, brushed aluminium and dark wood trims, flashy light piping that runs the width of the dash into the doors, and contrast red stitching. The speaker covers look like art.

You’ll never convince this writer that such liberal use of glossy piano black trim pieces makes sense however, since they’re a magnet for dust, smudges and sun glare.

Storage solutions abound, including a large open section beneath the transmission tunnel enabled by the flat floor, a relatively large twin-lidded centre console, and a lidded section below the centre fascia with cup holders and a wireless charging pad.

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The EQE SUV offers no seven-seat option, meaning there are just the two rows of seats.

At 194cm or 6 feet 4 inches, this writer is quite lofty, yet there was plenty of headroom and toe room in the back, and the flat floor means no driveline hump ruining legroom for the centre seat.

Amenities in the rear include reading lights, air vents and two USB-C ports – bringing the total number of USB-C ports (with blue surround lighting that are helpful at night) to eight!

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Boot space

Boot capacity for the EQE SUV is 520 litres, which is thereabouts with its closest competitors but not exactly massive given the EV platform. It’s also 110L less than the GLE’s claim of 630L.

The back seats fold in three sections (40:20:40) to create more storage space for longer items. There’s room for your charging cable beneath the loading floor. 

Mini matchup

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Technology in the cabin

If you’re into tech, this interior will blow your mind.

Mercedes-Benz is right near the top of the pile when it comes to in-car displays, even without the Hyperscreen being available in the EQE 300. The portrait-oriented tablet has an OLED display and super bright and sharp graphics, with impressive loading speeds and responses to tapping, pinching and swiping.

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It’s also really simple to operate, with the climate control panel always situated on the lower section rather than being buried in sub menus, floating tiles on the main menus that direct you to key functions, and the presence of conversational voice commands activated by a ‘Hey Mercedes’ prompt, which can do things like change the interior temperature and open/close the sunroof on command.

Infotainment comprises wireless phone mirroring, which in this writer’s case means Android Auto that takes up all the real estate (meaning everywhere except the fixed climate control bar), as well as satellite-navigation with AR overlays and a forward camera view at traffic lights. The 360-degree parking cameras are crisp-resolution, too.

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Behind the five-spoke steering wheel with slightly fiddly haptic touchpads that you strike with your thumb, is a 12.3-inch digital display that offers a full-size map view and various display ‘themes’, augmented by a big projecting head-up display on the windscreen to ensure your eyes stay on the road for longer.

It’s quite an event inside the cabin even without the twin screens, given there are 64 lighting colours to choose from, piped around the dash and doors, plus two entry themes or ‘soundscapes’ – to use Mercedes-Benz’s terminology.

The Burmester-branded audio system has 3D surround-sound, but if you use Apple Music you also get Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, billed as the next level in soundscapes.

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What is it like to drive?

Serenity now. The EQE 300 isn’t anyone’s idea of sporty, but it’s a silent, wafting experience.

The EQE 300 is the base variant in the range, with a single (rear) motor making 180kW and 550Nm. Those outputs fall short of its twin-motor competitors, not to mention the 215kW and 765Nm EQE 350 4Matic variant that costs $10,000 more.

While it won’t set any land speed records given its 2.6-tonne mass, a 7.3-second zero to 100km/h time is hardly sluggish, and as per usual with any EV the response is instantaneous and unerringly quiet. For suburban duties with plenty of stopping and starting, a battery-powered drivetrain is perfect. Plus, no NOX tailpipe emissions when idling at the school pickup point.

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I was impressed by the EQE SUV’s refinement, with the suppression of road and wind noise seemingly good on our launch drive down the Victorian coast, imbuing the right sort of ambience. And while there’s a bit of lean in corners, body control for a large and luxury-focused SUV felt stable.

The ride quality was also better than expected, given the low-profile run-flat tyres and lack of standard Airmatic air suspension, with only occasional firmness over sharp inputs like expansion joints interrupting the experience. Personally I'd consider the rear-wheel steering option to really tighten up that urban turning circle, and the air suspension for maximum plushness.

If there’s a criticism to be found based on this quick launch drive, it’s the brake pedal, which feels very doughy on application, and perhaps not as smoothly paired to the motor’s regeneration system as it might be. My size 13 boot also kept collecting a hard point somewhere in the foot well, rather than pressing the middle pedal, which was irksome.

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How efficient is the electric drive system?

While it’s a big and heavy vehicle, the EQE 300 SUV's low drag coefficient and single motor boost expected range.

Mercedes-Benz claims energy consumption of 18.9kWh/100km helped by a proprietary Mercedes motor design and super-low drag coefficient, and a 539km maximum driving range on the NEDC/ADR test from its 89kWh battery that outstrips all rivals bar the 610km Polestar 3. This is very optimistic though.

The more realistic WLTP-rated driving range is 446km, which our 21-22kWh per 100km consumption suggested was realistic. For the vast majority of owners this will be totally fine, but if you do a lot of long road trips, just consider if you’ll have charging options.

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For the vast majority of owners, this (446km driving range) will be totally fine

For winter driving, the onboard heat pump takes waste heat from the inverter and electric motor to supplement the vehicle’s internal heating system, reducing draw on the onboard battery and thus optimising driving range.

For charging, Mercedes-Benz will sell you an AC wallbox (up to 22kW output, if connected to three-phase power), while DC charging offers the prospect of taking charge from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes using ultra-rapid charging with a 170kW maximum speed. A Mode 3 cable is supplied.

A nifty infographic shows you the maximum allowable DC charging draw available at any given moment, since a fuller battery can generally handle less charge.

Mini matchup: Fuel consumption

How safe is it?

As you’d expect, it comes with all the driver-assist features

There aren’t many safety features missing in what is ostensibly a family vehicle. There’s the full gamut of airbags (10 all up) including a front centre ‘bag for side impacts, Pre-Safe systems that tighten up the occupants’ belts for impact in the blink of an eye, and a suite of driver-assist aids including:

Attention assist, autonomous emergency braking, active lane-keeping aid with steering and lane changing helper, automated parking assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alerts, and traffic sign assist. There are also Digital Lights with adaptive high beam.

We await the ANCAP crash test results.

Warranty and running costs

There’s a five-year warranty with roadside assist, plus eight years for the battery up to 160,000km.

Mercedes-Benz advises a five-year service plan (75,000km) costs $3555, whereas a three-year term is $1950. The company provides a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assist for the car, and eight years or 160,000km for the high voltage battery in case of excessive degradation.

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VERDICT

To be blunt, the Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 looks a bit too similar to the EQA and the EQS for this writer’s liking, with slightly anonymous and borderline blobby looks against some pretty shapely competitors. But this is strictly subjective.

On the downside I found the brake pedal feel numb, the lack of available Hyperscreen on the base model a shame, the non-air-suspended ride slightly firm at times, and that 539km range claim overly optimistic. Its direct pricepoint rivals also offer more powerful dual-motor drivetrains as standard.

But on the other hand, the EQE 300 wafts along with a serenity the GLE could never hope to match, has some wow-inducing interior displays and driver assists, and plenty of interior space for five occupants. Not to mention a coveted badge. Few surprises here, then.