A green SUV that offers luxury and performance

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz's new offering EQE 500 4 Matic is a fully loaded, tech-filled SUV that's swift and fun to drive

- Renuka Kirpalani

Kashmir is all that you imagine it to be: serene, splendid and surreal. Driving in the Buta Pathri district around Gulmarg is like being in heaven. The sky is a brilliant blue, with pine trees reaching high into the sky. The ample green fields and quiet surroundings have an instant calming effect on you. I can enjoy the surroundings more because I am driving something green, something silent the latest EV from Mercedes-Benz, the EQE 500 4 Matic.

This is the electric equivalent of the GLE but looks vastly different. No more upright styling; it has more curves and smooth surfaces to ensure that it cuts smoothly through the air without affecting the range. This means it doesn't have a butch SUV appearance nor is it very tall. The front has a smooth, glossy cover spangled with stars, where there would typically be a grille, and it is flanked by two hi-tech LED headlamps connected by an LED bar. The surfaces are clean, and the smart 20" alloys are aerodynamic around the side as well. There is a sidestep that illuminates at night to give you a boost up into the car. Honestly, it is not needed but adds to the SUV styling. Around the rear is a distinctive set of LED lamps with a helix design. While overall this may not have the typical SUV rugged appeal, the EQE is a smart-looking EV.