Mercedes-Benz EQS 500

A higher range variant with a more powerful output, but at a cheaper asking price, the newly launched Mercedes-Benz EQS500 4Matic.

It takes over the electric flagship role from the fully-imported (CBU) EQS450+ AMG Line, and is the company’s first EV to be locally-assembled (CKD) here, in Pekan, Pahang.

Offered as a sole variant, the EQS500 tags at a price of MYR 648,888 (otr – w/o insurance), MYR 50,000 cheaper than the CBU EQS450+.

Price of the fully-electric luxury saloon includes a standard four-year/unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty, and a 10-year/250,000 KM main drive battery warranty.

The new EQS500 futuristic cockpit gets the Electric Art Line interior. Its dashboard portrays the theme hyperanalogue via the contrast between high-tech precision mechanics and digital, glass display world.

Highlight of the dash is the single pane of glass stretching from side to side, enclosing the 56-Inch Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Hyperscreen. Consisting of three individual screens, one is for the driver, one for the passenger and one in the middle.

Elsewhere, it gets a slim vent band that spans across the entire width at the top, which is paired with protruding, turbine-designed air-conditioning nozzles fitted at each corner.

Overall, it is presented in a Black/Space Grey scheme with anthracite line-structure lime wood trim elements, and accompanied by an anthracite open-pored line structure lime wood connecting centre console.

Featuring 1/3 of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Hyperscreen, it gets a 12.3-Inch LCD digital multi-function setup with a head-up display instrument cluster.

Matched with Black fabric headliner and Velour floor mats, the seats’ upholstery comes in Black/Space Grey Nappa leather.

It features Comfort front seats with multicontour seats, electronic adjustments, luxury head restraints, seat climate control and memory functions.

Whereas, the back gets a Rear Seat Package Plus that comes with electronic adjustments, luxury head restraints, seat climate control and comfort armrests.

Front and rear occupants have no issues with space as it has generous headroom, leg room and shoulder room.

It has practical spaces like a centre console storage box with a stowage compartment beneath, medium sized glove box, front seatback pockets, and front and rear door storage.

There are two flex bottle holders in the front centre console.

Equipped with the USB Package Plus, it features six USB-C ports placed around the cabin. It also has a 12-V power socket up front, and a wireless charger up front and in the back.

The boot comes with the EASY-PACK tailgate feature, providing a contactless tailgate function that opens up to 610-Litres of load space.

Weighing in at 2,615 KG, the new EQS500 stands at 5,216 MM long, 1,926 MM wide, 1,512 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,210 MM.

Its seamless ‘One-Bow’ design gets the Mercedes Electric Art Line exterior kit, fitted with a Mercedes-Benz Black Panel radiator grille, for an overall rounded appeal front-end.

Then, paired with the softly-shaped large (fake) air intakes, it exudes an elegant demeanour compared to the more aggressive EQS450+.

Matching the front’s short-overhang, its rear blends a coupe-esque shape, and further provides a dynamic accent with clean, smooth, and rounded yet angled lines.

Complementing the whole layout, the lower section of the bumper is added with a little bit of chrome trimming, matching the Mercedes insignia.

A Digital Light headlamp setup with Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus active, they are full LED units equipped with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL). They are angularly-shaped, slim and pointed, giving an overall focused outlook.

The tail lamps are also full LED units featuring a lightbar design, stretching from left to right, across the tailgate.

It is power adjusted and power folded with turn- and blind spot-indicators, as well as an automatic dimming function.

Completing the outlook, equipped is a set of 20-Inch five-spoke light-alloy rims, wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 tyres.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS500 features the Driving Assistance Plus package, which comes with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Extended automatic Re-start in traffic jams, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive manoeuvre support, PRE-SAFE impulse side, Rear sensors for the lane departure assistant, and URBAN GUARD vehicle protection, plus a Parking Package which includes a 360-degree camera and Active Parking Assist. Others include blind spot monitoring, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop and go, and lane centering assist with Level two semi-autonomous driving.

Passive safety includes Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus, front and rear parking sensors, ISOFIX, door ajar warning, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), auto-dimming interior and exterior rear-view mirrors, side and front impact beams, seat belt detection with graphical indicator for all seats, window and knee airbags, airbag disable function, PRE-SAFE system, TIREFIT, engine immobiliser, anti-theft alarm system, and interior monitoring system.

Drive modes available via DYNAMIC SELECT are Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual. Whereas, via Recuperative Braking are D+, D, D-, Gliding (Shift Pedals), DAuto, and Eco Assist (One-Pedal-Driving).

Featuring 2/3-individually of the MBUX Hyperscreen, it is equipped with a 17.7-Inch central display and another 12.3-Inch passenger display OLED touchscreens. Plus, it also has a rear MBUX High-End entertainment system with its own MBUX tablet.

The unit provides Mercedes me connect services, over-the-air software update, augmented reality navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, MBUX Interior Assistant, fingerprint scanner, voice/gesture/steering controls, and two wireless headsets.

The Driving Assistance Plus package and the Parking Package will make driving less fatigue and much safer. Plus, with the other supporting systems, long-distance travels will be less of a burden for the driver as well as ensuring the safety of the occupants on board.

It comes with a Burmester 3D Surround sound system.

The EQS500 harbours a dual electric motor setup, front and rear axle-mounted, generating a total system output of 443 HP/330-KW and 828 NM of torque.

It gets a single-speed fixed ratio automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels (4WD) via the fully variable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

It accelerates from zero to 100 KM/H in 4.8 seconds and has a 210 KM/H top speed.

Powering the e-motors is a 396-V Lithium-Ion battery with usable energy capacity of 108.4-KWH, providing up to 696 KM (WLTP) of driving range on a single charge.

Charging via AC (Type 2 connection) at 11-KW from a 10 to 100% state of charge (SoC) takes 10 hours.

Meanwhile, charging via DC (CCS2 connection) at 200-KW from 10 to 80% SoC takes only 31 minutes.

Other charging necessities included, is a straight five-metre charging cable, for use at both home-wallbox and public charging station setups.

Standard kit on the Mercedes-Benz EQS500 includes KEYLESS-GO Comfort package (keyless go/hand-free access), Easy-Pack tailgate (contactless), Comfort front seats with multicontour seats, electronic adjustments, luxury head restraints, seat climate control and memory functions, Rear Seat Package Plus with electronic adjustments, luxury head restraints, seat climate control and comfort armrests, THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, multi-function steering wheel, steering tilt and telescopic functions, 64-colour active ambient lighting, MBUX Hyperscreen, MBUX High-End Rear entertainment with individual MBUX rear tablet, wireless charging system (front/rear), USB package (multiple ports all-around the cabin), Acoustic Comfort package, adaptive rear compartment lighting, automatic sliding panoramic sunroof, pull-out sun visor, heat-, noise-insulating and infrared-reflecting laminated glass, fingerprint scanner, auto-dimming interior and exterior rear-view mirrors, rain sensing wipers and headlamps, surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and auto high-beam.

Ultimately, it has superior roadholding, greater handling stability and increased agility at high speeds.

Thanks to the Mercedes AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) air suspension installed, it provides an outstanding ride even on rough asphalt.

Also, it controls the level of the vehicle to vary in line with the speed, which in turn increases the range when driving fast.

The vehicle delivers a high-power density, high efficiency and high-power reliability. The overall drive has been tuned to provide complete stability and grip to the driver.

It is well equipped to offer a high level of NVH comfort (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Part of the aeroacoustic measures used at reducing wind, tyre and road noise includes the installation of heat-, noise-insulating and infrared-reflecting acoustic laminated glass.

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, in most of the day-to-day driving environment.

The new Mercedes-Benz EQS500 4Matic exudes an all-around sophisticated outlook. Its smooth and seamless Electric Art Line silhouette is simply electrifying.

Stepping inside is like stepping into the future, with its high-tech cockpit design and interface (MBUX Hyperscreen), and the overall avant-garde premium-designed cabin.

Exterior and interior, the build quality is excellent. With its energising powertrain, the new Mercedes-Benz EQS500 4Matic is really well suited for the luxury executive segment.