Mercedes-Benz EQS Road Trip Review

By Oliver Fereday, 8/13/24

Gearing up to take my second ever long-range EV road trip was easier than I thought, after having a great experience with the BMW iX over the July 4th weekend. I’d found range anxiety to be less of a problem than expected and discovered the smooth, torque-y driving pleasure of EVs. Finding a strong EV SUV competitor to the iX was easy with the every-growing luxury electric SUV market and I wanted to step it up a notch and jump in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. 

The EQS is supposed to have more range than the iX but it’s heavier and has more luxury features – can I make it from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe without charging? Read-on to find out and for my Mercedes-Benz EQS road trip review!

Range Test: San Francisco to Lake Tahoe ~200 miles, 7000 ft Elevation Gain

Car: Mercedes EQS 450 4Matic SUV with 330 miles of EPA range

The Drive Up

After charging to 100% before the trip, the EQS SUV had 286 miles of reported range on the dash. This set off a few alarm bells, especially since the EPA range was 330 miles and last time the BMW iX had reported 350 miles of range at 100%. Determined to not be worried, I soldiered on and got under way, wondering a little whether I’d be stranded halfway up the hill to Tahoe.

Turns out, I needn’t have. 

Driving out from San Francisco in a bit of afternoon traffic, I’d driven 40 miles before I checked the dash again. I was too distracted learning about all the new features of the EQS SUV to think about how my range was going. Luckily mile-for-mile, we were accurately counting down range and there were no surprises. Yet.

I quickly became obsessed with the Hands-free driving that Mercedes has equipped all their latest premium vehicles with. Unlike the BMW iX, the EQS’s automated driving experience was quite confidence-inspiring and I found it easy to trust, even in bumper-to-bumper traffic and high-speed turns. 

Spending less time focused on paying attention to the traffic around me, gave me some time to play around with the EQS’s infotainment features. There are a lot. The massaging seats were my favorite, though switching between driving modes was fun too. Comfort mode is definitely the EQS’s sweet spot for those wondering. Distracting myself for the next 50 miles was easy and, happily, the reported range on the dash was ticking down slower than the real miles – even at 75mph on the highway! 

With 90 miles of driving to go and 200 miles of range, normally you’d be comfortable knowing you’ll easily make your destination, the problem with driving up to Tahoe, is the range-bashing 7000 ft climb up to Donner Pass. Even a gas car uses half its tank climbing the hill – an EV is no different. 

Past Sacramento, the traffic thinned and the drive became easier. I kept Hands-free driving on most of the time, although some tight, fast turns made me second guess the car’s automated capabilities. It’s not full-self-driving after all. As I settled into the drive, I started noticing how incredibly quiet and comfortable the cabin experience was, not to mention my lack of fatigue. I was content taking in the view and letting the car do the work. It’s a really beautiful drive that I never really get to see.

Passing Truckee and making my way to Carnelian Bay, where I was staying, I somehow forgot to worry about the range and I landed safely with 75 miles left. Happy days!

Time in Tahoe

What happens in Tahoe, stays in Tahoe. Is that the saying? Maybe it makes sense, since I was there for a bachelor party of a close friend. But other than specifics: I continued using the car without charging for 3 more days, driving to the lake, to the golf course, out to Truckee for lunch and all the rest. The EQS SUV proved itself a comfortable, functional, every day luxury car that I’d be happy owning. 

The night before driving back, I charged the EQS from 27% to 87% in 25 minutes flat, while shopping for last minute groceries. Too easy!

Well that was until the drive back at least…

The Drive Back

Let’s just say I was lucky to be in the quiet comfort of the EQS SUV for the drive down to San Francisco. Otherwise it would have been a true nightmare.

Setting off mid-morning with plenty of range, I had zero worries about the drive ahead and making it back. Mercedes had proven to me the accuracy of their range estimates and I didn’t give it a second thought. Until… shortly after leaving, Google Maps’ estimated time of arrival on the wireless Apple CarPlay started turning shades of orange, then red as it increased suddenly. Turns out there was a fire off highway 80 and they’d closed the road to all southbound traffic.

What happened over the next few hours remains a frustrating blur of start, stop, start, stop driving between 1 and 17 mph. It was horrible. And those of you who have done the Tahoe drive before have probably had a similar experience, usually during winter, of road closures and being stuck in multiple-hour stand-still traffic. It’s not fun! 

Though there was one saving grace.

It turns out, after hours of waiting, running the A/C (keep in mind it was near 100 degrees out) and driving minimal miles, the EV range didn’t diminish. I thought finally Mercedes’ system was confused and once I’d get moving I’d be at 10% range, but the truth is, it held firm. Driving gas my entire life, I’d learnt to turn off the car in heavy traffic to save fuel and would always worry about making it home. Apparently that isn’t a thing with electric! It’s a benefit I never considered, though it makes sense when you think about it. What I now know is EV range only diminishes with range, not your time driving, something to consider when juggling EV vs Gas options.

Traffic eased up after 5hrs and I made it home in 6, with 100 miles left in the tank. The end!

Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV Review  

Like the BMW iX, and other EV SUVs, I’m not convinced of the EQS’s design. There is some beauty, especially within the fit and finish of the exterior but I’m excited to see what updates they make in the future. The interior is beautiful, comfortable and extremely high quality. It’s the best interior I’ve seen at this level of vehicle and the 56” Hyperscreen makes for an amazing allround experience.

Mercedes’ hands-free driving is excellent, though not up to Tesla’s full-self driving capabilities and I’m excited for progress here too. Honestly this is still one of my favorite things about the car and something that significantly reduces driver fatigue on long trips. 

The EQS SUV has an off road mode, though I really don’t know who will ever use it – I guess if it’s super slippery in snow or they’ve ended up being peer pressured into visiting Pismo Beach.

The other driving modes are fine, but I expect most owners will keep it in Comfort mode or some personally-adjusted version of it. 

I’m obsessed with the EQS’ cabin experience: the ambience, the quietness, the firm-but-soft seats, the dynamic interior mood lighting. Those who care at all about the interior experience will love the EQS SUV.

My verdict: Highly Recommended (but lease it, don’t buy it)

Who should buy an EQS SUV? 

Whether you’re looking for a gas, plug-in hybrid or electric SUV, you should consider the EQS. I’d choose the 450 4Matic for driving flexibility but if you’re only commuting in snow-less areas of California, the 450+ RWD will serve you well. 

With the current EV SUV market-share wars, the lease deals on these, like the BMW iX, make the EQS far more affordable than their gas counterparts at a similar MSRP. Cartelligent also has access to some incredible deals on these, which you can take advantage of.

Competitive Specs (from August 2024):

*All new cars arranged for sale are subject to price and availability from the selling franchised new car dealer.

Ready to purchase your next vehicle?

Buying or leasing a car with Cartelligent is the most enjoyable way to purchase a new car. We do the research, the negotiation and provide a white-glove delivery experience.

Choose Cartelligent for a seamless and stress-free car buying or leasing experience in California. Our expert team provides personalized support, ensuring you find a vehicle that perfectly fits your needs. Here’s why:

• Expert Advice: Receive guidance tailored to your preferences from our knowledgeable advisors.
• Leasing/Financing Assistance: Simplify the complex financing process with our experienced support.
• Statewide Vehicle Search: Save time and money as we locate your ideal car across California.
• High Value Trade-In: Get a competitive offer for your current vehicle, ensuring a hassle-free transition.