Best in class
Whole-life cost analysis: Large EV SUVs Mercedes-Benz EQE
Mercedes’ new premium mid-size EV SUV shares its EQE badge with the established saloon, but it’s up against some tough oppositon - including a Lotus! Is it good enough to claim top honours? Let’s take a closer look.
Mercedes EQE 4Matic 350 89kWh AMG Line Premium
Martyn Collins
Confusingly, Mercedes’ latest mid- size, electric-powered SUV shares the same EQE nameplate as the brand’s established saloon. This is deliberate, as it is effectively an SUV version of the EQE saloon, sharing some styling features. This means that again, the front has a surprisingly short overhang thanks to a lack of engine and continues the cab- forward look, first seen on the EQS saloon – although in SUV form.
There are the same large headlights and faired-in grille with Mercedes logo detailing. At the side, there are the identical powered flush door handles we’ve already seen on other EQS and EQE models, while at the back it also gets a curvy rear light bar.
Inside, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re sitting in a slightly smaller EQS SUV, with the same soft leather on the seats, the flat, minimalist
dashboard, which on our test car, also included the optional extra Hyperscreen on the passenger side. We’re not sure that the extra screen is useful enough to warrant this package’s eye-watering £7,995 price. Elsewhere, there’s the general level of spaciousness we’ve come to expect from Mercedes EQ EV products. Our car also had the excellent 12.8in central touchscreen, running Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment system, which despite all its technology, is easy to use. We had the EQE SUV 350, which is at the bottom of the EQE range, and is expected to gain the most fleet interest. It has an 89kWh battery and 288hp, via twin motors. This means 62mph
Residual value: 44% Depreciation: £54,775 Fuel costs: £5,268 SMR: £3,220
acceleration in 6.6secs and a top speed of 130mph. However, despite the impressive performance, this EQE SUV still boasts up to 323 miles to a charge. Talking about charging, with rates up to 170kW, this SUV isn’t at its best when home-charged. Yet, it’s still possible to go from 10-80% charge in just 31 minutes, via a 170kw rapid public charger.
None of these cars could ever be called cheap but choose any of them and you’ll benefit from the same low 2% BIK company car tax figure.
We’d say any EV with a range of more than 300 miles is at the top of its game, but the 323-mile range here is only good enough for third place, behind the BMW and Lotus.
The news gets slightly better when we discuss the P11D values of this set of cars. In years past, over £90,000 would have bought a supercar. Now it seems about the going rate for the best EV models. Incredibly, with a P11D value of £99,205,
P11D: £99,205 CO2 (tax): 0g/km (2%) BIK 20/40% a month: £33/£66 Range: 323 miles National Insurance: £22 First year VED: £0 Subsequent VED: £0 Battery size/power: 89kWh/288hp AFR: 9p
the EQE SUV is the cheapest here. Despite being worth 44% of its original price after three years, this is only good enough for second place, with perhaps the allure of the Eletre’s Lotus badge helping this new SUV contender take the top position. The only other area where the Mercedes comes top, is SMR, which at £3,220, is over £500 less than the second-placed BMW.
This Mercedes doesn’t come top in enough key areas, but given it’s the newest model in the set, it is only just behind the Lotus with its 105p cost per mile figure.
105p Cost per mile
48 | February 2024 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
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