Merc EQE shaking off your range anxiety

Range is a big deal for electric vehicles. Getting a good amount of distance under your wheels between trips to the plug is essential, and while big electric SUVs are popular, these heavier models don't often offer the best outright efficiency or range.

- 

The EQE looks to change things. It's a sleek, aerodynamic saloon designed to get the most from the energy its batteries have stored up. We've been trying it out in ultra-long-distance 350+ specification.

WHAT'S NEW?

The EQE has been a part of the Mercedes electric vehicle line-up since 2022 but a revision in 2024 has equipped it with a larger battery.

Inside, it still gets all of the latest Mercedes tech, from a super-large central screen to cutting-edge assistance systems and quick-fire ways to turn these off.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

Now measuring in at 96kWh - compared to the 90kWh version - the battery unlocks a claimed top-end range of 429 miles, which is one of the longest available from any EV today. It's a significant uplift on the 394 you'd get from the older EQE.

The single rear motor produces 288bhp and enables a 0-60mph time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. A top-whack charging speed of 170kW means a 10 to 80% charge could be done in 30 minutes, though this speed is slightly behind rivals the Ioniq 6 can charge at speeds of up to 350kW, for example.