Introduction
The Mercedes EQS SUV 450 has joined our long-term fleet, making an instant impact on my family, especially my children. With ample space as a five-seater—differentiating it from the seven-seater EQS 580—the EQS 450 offers a royal feel in the rear seats, which my 16-year-old daughter aptly calls command centres.
Features
Rear Seat Comfort and Entertainment
Touchscreens embedded in the back of the front seats and a retractable tablet controller located in the armrest provide control over ambient lighting, HVAC preferences, and music through both the car’s audio system and Bluetooth headphones. My daughter was particularly thrilled to see real-time data visuals of the car’s performance, showcasing parameters like range and speed, adding to the entire command centre experience.
Noise-cancelling headphones can even block out sound from the car’s main audio system.
Noise-Cancellation and Audio Experience
These headphones excel at muffling cabin sound, enabling my kids to enjoy their individual audio while my wife and I listened to the radio via top-notch Burmester speakers. However, the clamping force makes prolonged use uncomfortable. During a one-hour trip from Mahim to Borivali, both children relished their music, while we enjoyed our broadcast with ease.
The steering touchpad makes precise volume adjustments challenging.
Driving Experience
Seat Comfort and Interior Feedback
The seating is plush and the headrest pillows are a hit with my children. Surprisingly, both my wife and I struggled to find a comfortable position in the front seats, as they tend to push your head slightly forward. Additionally, the touchpad on the steering wheel can be frustrating to operate, requiring a careful slide to adjust audio levels—often resulting in unintended changes. Thankfully, the passenger touchscreen gave my wife the ability to manage the audio effortlessly.
Boot Space
The boot space is quite limited due to the presence of a spare tyre, tools, and two charging cable bags, which fill it up before any luggage can be added. This is a common issue across similar models in this segment.
Performance and Handling
Like its more robust counterpart, the EQS 580, the EQS 450 features an air suspension system that effectively smooths out uneven surfaces, although noticeable body movement does occur. While the Sport mode helps manage this, enhanced body control would have been preferable. A standout feature is the ability of the air springs to automatically raise the vehicle at specific GPS coordinates, allowing for smooth navigation over speed bumps without any issues.
Rear-wheel steering aids in navigating tight corners efficiently.
Power and Efficiency
Despite having 360hp compared to the EQS 580’s 544hp, the EQS 450 facilitates a satisfying driving experience, achieving 0-100kph in 6.1 seconds. Its quiet performance at high speeds is commendable, and maneuverability is enhanced due to rear-wheel steering, which significantly reduces the turning radius.
Technical Data
My experience with the EQS 450 has brought me to about 500km in the city, with a total range estimated at 820km from its 122kWh battery pack. The keys to this remarkable vehicle may be hard to keep away from fellow drivers eager to test it out.
| Mercedes Benz EQS SUV 450 Test Data | |
|---|---|
| Odometer | 1,208km |
| Economy | 3.73km/kWh |
| Maintenance Cost | None |
| Faults | None |
| Price | Rs 1.28 crore (ex-showroom, India) |
