Mercedes EQS SUV

FIRST DRIVE Range-topping EV put to the test on British roads

- Sean Carson

MERCEDES' flagship all-electric EQ model has arrived in the UK, with the EQS SUV crowning the range (Maybach EQS SUV notwithstanding). And it certainly has a range-topping price tag to match its status, because this entry-level' (a relative term, of course) EQS 450 4MATIC SUV costs £129,740 before you've even thought about adding any optional extras.

Whether you like the big off-roader's smooth styling or think it looks like an amorphous blob will be a subjective call.

But the shape is driven by the need for this massive machine's aerodynamic performance to extend its range.

Thanks to a 108.4kWh battery, this EQS 450 can travel up to 364 miles on a charge, according to Mercedes' claims. You can't quite expect this level of range in normal driving conditions, but we found the EQS SUV offered more than enough flexibility on this front. It also backed this up with a genuinely refined, premium-feeling experience from behind the wheel.