Vehicle Type: 4-door, 5-passenger all-electric midsize luxury sedan.
Price Range: $75,950 - $86,895, including destination but before options.
Powertrain: Base EQE 350+ models come equipped with a single electric motor making 288 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque driving the rear wheels.
EQE 350 4Matic models feature all-wheel drive via an added electric motor driving the front wheels, with horsepower figures remaining at 288, but torque is raised to 564 lb-ft.
A higher output all-wheel drive version, the EQE 500 4Matic, raises horsepower to 402 HP and torque to 633 lb-ft. All configurations are powered by a 90.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
What’s New for 2023?
The Mercedes-Benz EQE is an all-new model for 2023.
What’s Good?
- Whisper-quiet cabin
- Excellent materials and build quality
- Comfortable ride, with a roomy interior
What’s Bad?
- Below-average standard driver assistance features
- Muted driving dynamics and feedback
- So-so infotainment interface
- Anonymous looks, no frunk
Would we buy one? Maybe. While luxurious, the car feels underpowered for the asking price, which should never be the case on a luxury EV.
More Photos:
See more 2023 Mercedes Benz EQE Photos.
Overview:
Mercedes-Benz continues on the path to electrification with the all-new EQE. The Mercedes-Benz EQE slots in below the slightly larger EQS in both size and price. Buyers considering the Mercedes E-Class, but looking to go electric, will find the EQE offers a larger interior space, better tech and features, and a fresher overall design.
The EQE competes with models like the Audi Etron GT, BMW i4, Lucid Air, Polestar 2, Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S, and Tesla Model 3.
With a maximum range of 305 miles, the EQE does not win the class endurance contest, nor does it have the outrageous acceleration or sharp handling characteristics of sportier options. Where the EQE does shine is in delivering a quiet, smooth, comfortable ride, with Mercedes-Benz-level build quality. A Mercedes-AMG version is available and may be a closer match in performance stats to some of the competition, but it won’t be covered in this review.
The EQE is intended to be a sportier version of the EQS, so it is drawn up with more athletic proportions. Despite its status in the Mercedes Hierarchy, the EQE brings nearly the level of comfort and luxury of the EQS and outpaces most other offerings in the field. At this price point, the EQE brings a higher level of luxury than competitors from Telsa, Porsche, and Audi.
Overall Score: 3.9/5 stars
Driving Experience: 3.5/5 stars
In any configuration, the EQE is not the quickest in the class but has plenty of power for everyday driving. It is obvious that the automaker’s designers put comfort and quiet ahead of insane acceleration or other performance specs.
The EQE is easy to maneuver in low-speed situations. Optional features like rear-axle steering and a self-parking system make the work even easier.
For enthusiastic driving, the brake pedal and steering wheel feel somewhat numb, with little feedback. Handling is acceptable, but the stock tires are geared toward comfort, meaning less grip and longer braking distances than rivals.
For driver comfort, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is at or near the top of the class.
One area reviewers found lacking was overall visibility, thanks to the sloping roof design and placement of driver-assistance equipment vision is compromised.
Safety Features: 3/5 stars
The Mercedes-Benz EQE has not yet been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for crash test safety, though the model did receive a top score of five starts in the Euro NCAP testing.
Likewise, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet to review the EQS and evaluate it relative to other vehicles in the class.
The EQE comes standard with several active safety features including Automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist.
Top-end safety features are available as part of a driver assistance package that includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go tech, a feature that can be had as standard equipment on less expensive vehicles.
Value: 4/5 stars
The EQE delivers nearly the level of luxury as its more expensive stablemate at a lower price. Comparably priced offerings from Audi, BMW, and Tesla lag behind in material quality and overall luxury.
In standard configuration the price-to-feature ratio is quite good, offering plenty of equipment at the base level to be a competitor in the segment.
Moving up in trim levels adds to the price, but each trim offers compelling tech or luxury to justify the additional cost.
Being on a nearly new platform it is difficult to guess how the long-term reliability and maintenance cost will grade out compared to the competition.
Tech Features: 4.5/5 stars
Base models get a 12.0-inch center touchscreen infotainment system, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Expected features like Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and voice control are all present.
Other standard features include Navigation, 64-color ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, and a Burmester premium sound system with EV sound which replaces the driving sounds that would accompany an internal combustion vehicle with a variety of selectable tones.
Some reviewers complained that the MBUX user interface is convoluted and not user-friendly. Features are sometimes locked away in menus that don’t make sense, and the owner’s manual may not always hold the answer.
An optional Hyperscreen stretches the 56-inch width of the dash and includes a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch center touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch screen for the front passenger. This screen is described as either the star of the show or a big distraction by reviewers thanks to its propensity to cause a blinding glare and collect smudgy fingerprints.
Practicality: 4/5 stars
The EQE offers a more spacious interior than its gas-powered counterpart the E-Class. Thanks to its flat floor and high roof height, seating for all passengers is comfortable and the headroom is spacious.
One missing feature found on many electric sedans is the front trunk also called a frunk. The EQE’s hood does not open easily, and underneath it houses an extensive air-filtering system among other things. A small door swings out to top off the washer fluid, in the absence of an easy-to-open hood.
Unlike the Mercedes EQS which features a liftback design, the EQE has a normal trunk. This makes accessing the space more difficult, but the trunk and cargo space are competitive for the class.
Styling & Design: 4/5 stars
The exterior styling of the EQE is shaped by the wind, as the car slips through the air with a low drag coefficient of 0.20. Some reviewers found its proportions awkward with somewhat stubby front and rear overhangs. The wheelbase is just 3.5 inches shorter than the EQS, despite being nine inches shorter overall.
The EQE sedan features a large black grille area with the brand’s three-pointed star, ensuring no one will mistake this for an inferior brand. As aerodynamic efficiency becomes increasingly important in the electrified future, brands will have to find ways to make their vehicles stand out.
Thanks to its skateboard-style platform, the EQE makes full use of the flat cabin floor, with a roomy interior, that is comfortable for front and rear seat passengers. Legroom is plentiful in either row. Rear seat passengers will have their view obstructed by the sloping roofline, but without the roof encroaching on their physical space.
The interior features high-quality materials, trimmed in leather, metal, and wood. Build quality is near perfect, and the ergonomics are mostly spot on.
Front seats are throne-like and feature standard heating. Massaging and ventilation are optional or reserved for higher trims standard packages.
The EQE certainly meets its goal of being a mini EQS, with a top-level interior for the class. The EQE has one of the quietest interiors of any vehicle.
Fuel Efficiency: 4/5 stars
In base single-motor, rear-wheel drive configuration, the EQS gets an EPA estimated range of 305 miles. While less than offerings from Tesla and Lucid, any car with over 300 miles of range will handle most daily driving without needing to recharge.
Dual-motor, AWD EQE 350 4MATIC Sedans get an EPA estimated range of 260 miles, and the more powerful EQE 500 4MATIC maintains the same maximum range number of 260 miles.
With a maximum charging rate of 170 kW, the EQE can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charging.
Buyers considering an electric vehicle should budget to have a Level 2 charger installed at home. Charging the EQE at Level 2 speeds takes about ten hours to top off the battery from ten percent. Charging times from a regular outlet are can take more than a day for vehicles with this much battery capacity.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
The 2023 EQE starts at an MSRP of $75,950 in the base Premium trim level. Coming in at about $25,000 less than the entry-level EQS, but packing with similar features. All EQE 350+ models are powered by a single motor with 288 horsepower driving the rear wheels. This combination is good for 305 miles of driving range. Interior equipment includes heated front seats, a panoramic sliding sunroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control with a precondition function. Safety features like blind-spot assist, automatic emergency braking, front and rear parking assist, and high beam assist are included. Tech features include ambient lighting, a Burmester sounds system, an onboard navigation system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and voice command.
Stepping up to Exclusive trim costs $78,050 and adds augmented reality for the navigation system, six USB charging ports, and active ambient lighting. Additional driver assistance features include active steering assist, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology.
Top-tier Pinnacle trim starts at $81,550 and adds four-zone automatic climate control with fragrance and air ionization, heated and ventilated front seats, Mercedes Digital Light headlights, and a head-up display.
The EQE 350 4Matic starts at $78,950 and adds dual motor AWD with 288 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque. Trim levels mirror the EQE 350+ as far as additional features with Exclusive trim starting at $81,050 and Pinnacle trim at $84,550.
The EQE 500 4Matic starts at $86,895 in base Premium trim and raises horsepower and torque figures to 402 and 633 respectively, with dual motors driving all four wheels. Aside from the additional power, all EQE 500 models feature 10-degree rear-axle steering. Again trim levels follow the same pattern and included features, with Exclusive trim starting at $89,050 and Pinnacle trim at $92,550.
Notable optional packages include an adjustable air suspension for $1900, Winter Package for $1500 with a heated steering wheel, rear seats, and windshield, and AMG Line Interior package for $2,100 with sporty appointments borrowed from the AMG EQE.
For our money, we would stick with the base model EQE 350+ in base Premium trim, which offers plenty of luxury features and has the longest range of all trims. Those in colder climates may want to step up to the all-wheel drive EQE 350 4matic, in which case we would also recommend base trim but add the Winter Package to get the additional heating enhancements.
