Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will introduce the EQE SUV in India on September 15, making it the company’s third EV after the EQB SUV and the EQS sedan. It’s built on the brand’s EVA (electric vehicle architecture) platform and has a sedan brother in the form of the EQE sedan around the world. Mercedes had previously stated that it intended to bring four new EVs to India by March 2024. The EQE SUV is the first to arrive in the country, and it will most likely be followed by the EQS SUV.

The powertrain, battery, and range of the Mercedes EQE SUV

The EQE SUV is offered in a variety of configurations and trim lines around the world, but all models are powered by a 90.6kWh battery that supports up to 170kW of DC fast charging speeds. The entry-level EQE 350+ has a single-motor, rear-wheel drive arrangement that produces 292hp and 565Nm of torque, with a WLTP-certified range of up to 590km. The EQE 350 4Matic sits above this, producing 292hp but with 765Nm of torque and a WLTP range of up to 538km.

The EQE 500 4Matic, the top model in the non-AMG trim, has 408hp, 858Nm, and a WLTP range of up to 521km.The EQE 350 4Matic and EQE 500 4Matic come standard with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system.

The AMG SUV comes in two trim levels: EQE 43 4Matic and EQE 53 4Matic+, both with dual-motor all-wheel drive systems. The EQE 43 produces 476hp and 858Nm and has a WLTP range of up to 488km. It claims to be able to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 210kph.

The top-of-the-line AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ has 617hp and 950Nm of torque, with a claimed range of 490km. It claims a 0-100kph acceleration time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 240kp. Mercedes, on the other hand, hasn’t specified which models will be available in India, so we’ll find out during the launch.

Interior and Exterior Features

Stylistically, it follows in the footsteps of previous EQ models, with sweeping surfaces, sleek lines, and EV-specific style elements including aero-optimised wheels and a sealed-off grille. AMG cars get their own distinct stylistic cues, such as a new Panamerica-style grille, restyled bumpers, and distinctive wheel designs.

The five-seat SUV comes with two distinct dashboard layouts; an optional ‘Hyperscreen’ arrangement, which allows up to three independent screens in a single 1,410mm-wide front panel, is offered. Regular variants have an S-Class-like layout with a vertical touchscreen running down the centre of the dashboard and a floating standalone digital instrument cluster.

The screens work in tandem with Mercedes-Benz’s proprietary MBUX operating system, which supports conversational speech commands via a “Hey Mercedes” prompt as well as over-the-air software updates via an implanted SIM card.

Price of Mercedes EQE SUV

The Mercedes EQE will compete in India against the Audi Q8 e-tron SUV (Rs 1.14 crore-1.26 crore) and the BMW iX (Rs 1.21 crore). It remains to be seen whether Mercedes will import the EQE SUV to India or construct it locally. The EQS 580 is locally produced, however the EQS 53 4Matic and EQB SUVs are CBU imports.