Mercedes EQS SUV India launch on September 16

Closely following the launch of the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, the company has now announced that it will also launch the regular EQS SUV in India on September 16. This will be the brand’s sixth EV in its lineup, and will be positioned between the EQE and Maybach EQS SUVs. 

The exterior draws heavily on the smooth-surfaced design that has characterised all EQ models so far. Key styling elements include a blanked-off black panel grille that extends well into the lower section of the front bumper, angular LED headlights, and a horizontal LED light bar across the leading edge, all of which provide a clear family resemblance to other EQ models.

Compared to the Maybach EQS, the regular SUV gets far less chrome, especially on the face. It will also miss out on the Maybach’s characteristic dual-tone paint scheme along with the deep-dish alloy wheels. Mercedes could offer the EQS SUV with the AMG Line package that brings sportier front and rear bumpers.  

At 5,125mm in length, 1,959mm in width, and 1,718mm in height, the EQS SUV is 82mm shorter, a scant 3mm wider and 105mm lower than the Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV.

Given that Mercedes offers the EQE SUV in 500 4Matic spec in India, the EQS SUV will likely be brought in 580 4Matic spec. This variant gets the Hyperscreen setup as standard which comprises a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 17.7-inch central infotainment and 12.3-inch front passenger screens in one expansive surface. It also gets optional head-up display with augmented reality navigation.

The Maybach EQS is offered in either 5- or 4-seater configurations in India, but what’s interesting about the regular EQS is that it even gets an optional 7-seater variant, although legroom and kneeroom are at a premium for adults. 

The EQS SUV draws power from a 118kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In 580 4Matic guise, the dual electric motors on each axle make it all-wheel drive, and it has a combined output of 544hp and 858Nm of peak torque. Mercedes claims a 0-100kph sprint time of 4.7 seconds and a top-speed of 210kph.

The EQS 580 4Matic has a claimed range of 643km on a single charge. Using a fast 200kW DC charger, the battery can be juiced up from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes. Meanwhile, using a regular 7.4kW AC charger, the battery can be topped up from 0 to 100 percent in 18.5 hours.

The EQS SUV will likely sit above the flagship EVs from rival brands such as the BMW iX and Audi e-tron SUV given that the EQE SUV is already positioned against them.