Mercedes-Benz EQS electric car has 100km more range than Tesla’s Model S – does an ultra-aerodynamic exterior and cutting-edge interior technology make this the luxury EV to beat?

Apr 28 , 2021

The new Mercedes-Benz EQS offers a more luxurious interior and substantially longer range than the Tesla S. Photo: Luxurylaunches

The Porsche Taycan’s range is nowhere close, with a claimed maximum of 462km – some 300km less than Mercedes’ new offering, in showrooms later this year

The brand says the car will add more than 100km of range in around 15 minutes, though don’t expect the same acceleration as the lightning Tesla Model S

Mercedes-Benz has finally lifted the veil on the highly anticipated EQS battery electric car, marking the brand’s entry into the competitive luxury electric game. The top tier of the electric car market is relatively empty at the moment and dominated by the Tesla Model S; however, Mercedes plans to set a new standard in the segment with the most cutting-edge car it has ever created.

Ahead of the launch, the German carmaker teased some of the outstanding features set to debut with the EQS, including the massive MBUX Hyperscreen and the HEPA filtration system. But it turns out Mercedes had saved the best for the official launch.

Surprising everyone, Mercedes announced that the futuristic EQS will offer an estimated range of 769km (478 miles), more than any other electric car on sale currently, according to data from the car’s WLTP (World harmonised Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure, a global standard for measuring pollutants, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption). To put that into context, the current Tesla Model S Long Range offers 663km (412 miles) in the WLTP test, while the Porsche Taycan comes nowhere close with a claimed maximum WLTP range of 462km (287 miles).

The sleek curves of Mercedes’ brand new EQS. Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes managed to attain this headline-grabbing EV range with the help of a huge 107.8 kilowatt battery. But there’s something else also responsible for the market-leading range. Mercedes claims the car has a drag coefficient of just 0.20, again better than the Tesla. The only downside of that is the car’s rather uninspiring design. Looks are a subjective matter, but few can deny the EQS isn’t a great-looking car; the styling might remind you of the eighth-generation Honda Civic, only worse, despite the fact that Mercedes has tried to mask the dull design with some futuristic elements like the headlight and tail lamp designs. Nevertheless, the EQS makes Tesla’s soulless design language look attractive.

But’s on the inside where the EQS demolishes its competition and we are hardly surprised. Mercedes is known for its top-quality interiors and in the EQS, the German manufacturer has matched the luxurious cabin with technologically advanced features that are completely new. The centrepiece is the MBUX Hyperscreen that not only pushes the envelope of innovation with its unique design but is also properly smart. While Tesla’s cabin has the aesthetic of something designed by tech geeks – surely no big surprise given boss Elon Musk’s eccentric background – the interior of the EQS looks like a futuristic rendition of the Mercedes S Class. The only thing that comes close in terms of the luxury quotient is the Porsche Taycan.

Inside Mercedes’ brand-new EQS. Photo: Mercedes-Benz