The local Mercedes-Benz EQ line-up comprises an array of models, from premium compact and family SUV/crossovers to executive and luxury saloons, each suited to plug each South African consumer’s needs.
Mercedes-Benz has electrified South African roads with the introduction of its EQ range. Comprising models such as the EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE and EQS, with several other variants en route to the Southernmost shore of Africa, the local line-up offers those wanting to bridge to battery-electric from traditional manners of propulsion several vehicles tailored to suit their respective lifestyles.
The EQA
Available in only 250 format, the EQA provides an entry point to the Three-pointed Star brand’s EQ portfolio. The baby EQ’s sculpted bodywork cuts a dashing figure. A highlight is the sculpted rear end, which features a striking LED light strip spanning the tailgate. The interior is suitably premium, with several soft-touch finishes and a generous amount of equipment, such as the German marque’s MBUX infotainment system, as standard. The drive is refined, balanced between comfort and a touch of dynamism. The EQA’s 66.5 kWh ‘double-decker’ lithium-ion battery pack, a structural element within the crossover’s underbody, is coupled with a 140 kW electric motor driving the front wheels. Benz claims the EQA 250 has an all-electric range of up to 429 km.
The EQB
Where the EQA may excite young, upcoming executives looking for a stylish crossover, the EQB is for families wanting sufficient space for the weekly school run and road trips with their loved ones. The EQB measures 4 684 mm bow to stern, 1 834 mm in width, and 1 701 mm in height. The EQB boasts a generous 495-litre luggage capacity thanks to its boxy bodywork. In addition, Benz offers the option of specifying the five-seater SUV with two more pews for a seven-seat configuration. Locally, the EQB can be had in 350 4Matic guise. This variant’s twin electric motor arrangement produces 215 kW and 520 Nm of torque. Mercedes claims the all-wheel-drive EQB has an electric range of up to 423 km when the 69.7 kWh battery is fully charged.
The EQC
The first Mercedes launched under the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s EQ brand, the EQC 400 4Matic’s wheels are driven by a duo of asynchronous electric motors, each sited on the fore and aft axles, producing 300 kW and 760 Nm. Mercedes claims the premium-midsize SUV completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds. Fully charged, the 80 kWh battery lithium-ion battery offers an electric range of 437 km. Two design options are available: the original body styling and the firm’s AMG Line package for those wanting a sportier look.
The EQE
The EQE saloon will be available in two flavours, the 350+ and AMG 43 4Matic. The former version of the avant-garde business saloon’s rear axle is driven by a permanently excited synchronous motor — coupled with a 90.56 kWh (usable) battery, which, when fully charged, offers a range of up to 535 km — producing 215 kW and 565 Nm. The all-wheel-drive AMG variant’s two electric motors have 350 kW and 858 Nm on tap, which allows this model to surge to 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 4.2 seconds. Mercedes-Benz SA has confirmed that the EQE SUV will also make its way to local shores.
The EQS
Spearheading Mercedes-Benz’s EQ line-up, the EQS can be described as the electric S-Class. It’s the first luxury saloon bearing the Three-pointed Star emblem. The aerodynamically styled exterior looks sleek, while the interior is beautifully crafted (the range-topping model ships with the automaker’s MBUX Hyperscreen as standard). The low-slung, luxury EV is available in two configurations: the (rear-wheel-driven) 245 kW/568 Nm 450+ and AMG 53 4Matic+, which, thanks to its outputs of 484 kW and 950 Nm, dispatches the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds. Both models make do with a 107.8 kWh battery pack. Fully charged, the 450+ boasts a range of up to 782 km, the most of any EV currently available in SA, while the AMG model can travel up to 586 km before the battery needs to be replenished. In addition, for those wanting all the luxury provided by the EQS saloon in a taller-riding vehicle, Mercedes has announced that the SUV variant will also be introduced to SA.
