Say hello to…
…the Mercedes EQE an all-electric executive saloon that sits alongside the E-class. Three versions are available in the UK; an EQE 300 with a 245hp motor and an 89kWh battery, an EQE 350 with a 292hp motor and the same battery and an EQE 53 4Matic with an AMG badge, 625hp, all-wheel drive and a 91kWh battery. Official range for the 300 and 350 is 346 miles, while the 53 comes in at 289 miles.
FleetandLeasing.com has driven the 350 in AMG Line Premium Plus trim. The non-AMG cars are available in four trim levels:
- AMG Line
- AMG Line Premium
- AMG Line Premium Plus
- Exclusive Luxury
AMG Line specification includes 19-inch alloys, drive modes, AMG styling pack, auto LED headlights with hig beam assist, powered folding door mirrors, panoramic roof, privacy glass, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, traffic sign assist, powered boot, parking sensors, reversing camera, 12.3-inch digital dashboard, 12.8-inch infotainment screen, satnav, 6x USB-C ports, wireless phone integration and connected services.
AMG Line Premium adds 20-inch alloys, upgraded interior lighting, four-zone climate control, driver assistance package and keyless entry and start.
AMG Line Premium Plus adds adaptive suspension, upgraded headlights, 21-inch alloys, heated windscreen, head-up display and uprated sound system.
Exclusive Luxury trim adds 22-inch alloys, uprated styling kit, heated rear seats, uprated front seats, heated steering wheel and nappa leather trim.
Is The Mercedes EQE Suitable For My Fleet
There are few all-electric executive saloons, but it’s a vehicle that suits an electric powertrain. Almost all buyers in this segment are business users so welcome the low BIK tax position of an EV and they also welcome the refinement of a near-silent electric car. The Mercedes EQE has an official range of more than 350 miles, however, in a week of sub-zero temperatures this range was halved to what is probably a worst-case scenario of 178 miles. And, yes, we were using the heaters quite a lot, but then, what driver in this segment wouldn’t?
Thankfully, the maximum charging speed is a respectable 170kW which will help with rapid refills.
One area the EQE loses out to its conventionally powered E-class sister car is in boot space. The EQE boot is 430 litre, some 110 litres down on the ICE E-class.
Leasing A Mercedes EQE
Intelligent Car Leasing offers the EQE 350 in AMG Line Premium Plus trim for £1,331 a month on a 3+36 contract with 20,000 miles a year. That’s £300 a month more than the equivalent E-class diesel – however, the company car tax saving more than eclipses that increased cost.
The low BIK tax band also means a low Class 1A NIC figure. Gensen Reports record a £16 a month figure for this but a maintenance figure that’s on the higher side for a car of this type at £86 a month.
Driving A Mercedes EQE
Electrifying a large executive saloon makes a lot of sense from a fleet and business driver perspective. The EQE proves that point.
Mercedes has always excelled at refinement and ride comfort. With the EQE that refinement is taken to a new level simply because there isn’t an engine to introduce any noise or vibration to the equation. Ride comfort on the adaptive suspension is also first rate and coupled to supportive and comfortable seats the EQE cabin is a very relaxing place to be.
In fact, that refinement is so good that the car doesn’t feel as quick as the on-paper stats would suggest; the car has a 0-60mph figure of 6.4 seconds. However, watch the speedo closely and that figure is accurate, you just don’t feel it.
The refinement leads to an almost detached feeling the way the EQE drives, there’s little steering feedback and the brakes feel slightly wooden. Wafting around is very-much order of the day, rather than having an engaging drive.
Back in the cabin, the design has a proper wow-factor both thanks to the layout and the materials used. The large vertical infotainment screen is clear and relatively easy to use. It’s also fast to respond to inputs.
Quality doesn’t drop off in the rear seats either and there’s plenty of leg and head room in the back, despite the sloping roofline.
Overall the EQE makes an excellent case for the switch to a full EV in this sector.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Mercedes EQE
The EQE may not be the most engaging drive, but it is one of the most relaxed and highly suitable to fleet users.
Mercedes EQE
- Model: EQE 350+ AMG line Premium Plus
- Power: 292hp
- Torque: 565Nm
- Max speed: 130mph
- 0-62mph: 6.4 s
- Official range: 356 miles
- Test range: 178 miles *
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- BIK tax band 2022/23: 2%
* ambient temperature below 0degC
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