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Price Range: Less Than
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Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2024 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Large suv & Overall

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV

Vehicle Type: Large suv Electric
104
 overall score
Category Ranking: 1

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $125,950
Price as Tested: $138,580

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Electricity
120V Charge Time: 3.4 miles per hour
240V Charge Time: 22.4 miles per hour
DC Fast Charger: 10% to 80% in 31 minutes
EPA City MPGe79
EPA Highway MPGe74
EPA Combined MPGe77
EPA-Est. Electric Range (mi): 285

Advanced Safety Features

  • Adaptive Cruise Control [S]
  • Advanced Headlights [S]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • Blind-Spot Warning [S]
  • Driver Monitoring [S]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [S]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [S]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [S]
  • Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional

Overall Observations

In 2022, Mercedes-Benz went big with its first EV, the EQS sedan, which is the electric equivalent of its gasoline-powered S-Class sedan. Mercedes-Benz followed that in 2023 with the midsize EQE sedan, EQE SUV, and the EQS SUV reviewed here. We tested the base-trim Premium version of the high-end EQS 580 4Matic, with dual motors (536 hp), all-wheel drive, and a range of 285 miles. The EQS has nearly everything you could ask for in a big SUV. Its drivetrain delivers an abundance of strong, smooth power, and its air suspension with adaptive damping provides an extremely comfortable ride. The roomy, quiet cabin exudes an ultra—luxurious ambience, with plenty of headroom and legroom for all passengers. As you’d expect, fit and finish are first-rate inside and out. All EQS SUVs come extremely well equipped, including rear—axle steering, air suspension, a power panoramic sunroof, DC fast—charging capability, a 12.8-inch infotainment touch screen, heated and ventilated front seats, a Burmester sound system, and much more. And unlike some other Mercedes models, the EQS SUV comes with a full complement of advanced safety features. A few negatives are worth noting: The infotainment system is complex and nonintuitive. The range—less than 300 miles—is low for a vehicle that costs much more than $100K. Finally, the rear roof pillars restrict visibility

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Lots of power and torque, smooth drivetrain
  • Comfortable ride quality, quiet cabin
  • Excellent headlight brightness and coverage
  • Plenty of room for all passengers

Cons

  • Steep infotainment learning curve; lacks knobs and hard keys
  • Less than 300 miles of range
  • Rear roof pillars compromise visibility

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2023
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/3
Curb weight (lbs): 6228.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 201.9 / 77.1 / 67.6
Wheelbase (in): 126.4
Number of air bags: 9
Warranty (months/miles): 48/50,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Goodyear Eagle F1 MO
Front and rear tire size: 275/45 R21
Max towing capacity (lbs): 3,500
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: Auto 1-speed
Drivetrain type: All wheel
Engine/motor: Dual electric motors
Electric motor horsepower: 536

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

10.00

Fuel Efficiency:

9.38

EPA Emissions Score:

10.00

Acceleration:

9.87

Braking:

8.94
Handling: 7.13
Quality and Drivability: 9.33

Ride Quality:

8.48

Interior Size:

5.54

Easy of Entry and Exit:

7.54

Visibility:

7.93

Interior Noise:

7.45

Cargo Capacity:

2.14
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