Given that we were so well acquainted with EQS 2023, it didn’t feel like a far stretch. We’re currently driving the EQE, the smaller version of the full-size EQS sedan – here are our first impressions of it.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE is compact yet very stylish
The 2023 EQE is based on the most popular model. That means it’s a midsize sedan compared to the full-size EQS niche. And while we’re used to the huge amount of internal volume and nifty EQS gadgets have, the EQE is a more than adequate and affordable alternative.
. Our tester was equipped with the LED Digital Light Beam, which makes the headlights dance at startup. It is an amazing feature that is sure to impress your friends for a few seconds.
The EQE is also equipped with such luxuries as the Air Balance package, which includes ionizers and carbon filters that clean and deodorize the air in the cabin. There’s also active ambient lighting, which can be set to almost any color in the 64-color range your little heart desires. These LED lights even alert you when a vehicle is in your unseen spot with an impressive light show.
In the center of the dashboard is a 12.8-inch OLED touch screen that displays the navigation map in great detail. Switching between the different menus is easy, and the screen is very responsive. It did, however, make us lose the 56-inch Hyperscreen in the EQS—but in the end, size does matter.
We also wish the car came with a seat massager like its big EQS brother, but we’re picking now.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE has plenty of power
The Mercedes EQE comes with a 90.6 kWh battery that feeds power to a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle. However, our tester had 4MATIC AWD, which uses another motor between the front axles. Despite the added traction, the total system output equates to 288 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque.
With that kind of power, the EQE can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 6.2 seconds, which is fairly quick for a heavy EV sedan. In the real world, EQE feels fast off the line. The sudden jolt of instant torque propels you back in your seat and propels you swiftly onto the highway. However, it’s still not as fast as the Tesla Model S or EQS, but for the 99% of drivers who don’t care about speed, it will do.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE offers an affordable luxury electric vehicle option
In the end, even though the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE doesn’t have the same performance and luxury luxury you’ll find in an EQS or Tesla, it’s still a really good luxury EV. For about $75,000, you’ll get all the luxury features—including driver-assist features and heated/ventilated seats—that you could possibly need. Sure, it’s still a lot of money to spend, but it’s cheaper than most of its competitors. Stay tuned for more of our impressions of the Mercedes-Benz EQE.
