A Complete Guide To The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS

Some say the Mercedes-Benz EQS is just an electric S-Class, and doesn’t have a point to its existence. Glancing quickly at the current Mercedes lineup may make you inclined to believe this generalization. However, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan has quite a lot of uniqueness to offer. But even with all of this supposed one-of-a-kindness, the question still stands: what’s the point?

Seeing as there are quite a lot of moving parts to the EQS Sedan, it’s worth getting into the finer details surrounding the luxury EV. Thankfully, HotCars will do just that. In our guide, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS and all of its facets and foibles. We’ll be combing through aspects like pricing, styling, powertrain, economy, and we’ll also pit the EQS against two of its biggest rivals to see whether the Benz has the stuff, or if it’s not worth your money. Read on, and we’ll see what’s what with the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. HotCars sourced additional data for reliability (from J.D. Power), EPA gas mileage (Fueleconomy.gov), safety ratings (IIHS), and recalls (NHTSA). We evaluate five different metrics when determining a rating for each model. You can
read our Methodology page
for more information about how our rating system works.

What’s New For 2024?

The 2024 EQS certainly doesn’t look like an S-Class. The EQS takes on a very EV-like appearance, exemplified by its nearly unbroken slope beginning at the front end and finishing at the rear. The front fascia is largely shared with other models in the EQ line, sharing things like angled headlights and a large, star-patterned grille insert. It’s a very smooth front end without many angles or chiseled features. Its sides are similarly smooth and unremarkable, and you’d be hard-pressed to guess this car costs over $100,000 at base level. The rear spices the EV up a bit with a wide-hipped stance and a single, thin LED tail light. The 2024 Mercedes EQS comes with a choice between three trim levels: the base EQS 450+, mid-range EQS 450 4MATIC, and top-end EQS 580 4MATIC trims.

2024 Highlights

• Brand-new Regenerative Braking system
• Updated battery design, more density resulting in more power
• New Intelligent Disconnect 4MATIC AWD feature, allows for RWD-only use when AWD is not needed
• Battery heat pump now standard equipment
• More power across all three grades
• Standard MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system
• Standard rear heated seats

Exterior Dimensions

Specifications And Performance

To keep up with the Joneses (and their Tesla), the EQS needs to offer a good amount of electric oomph. While it comes up short when compared to other luxury EVs, it still offers enough ponies to get the job done. At base level, the 450+ grade will net you 355 horsepower and 417 lb-ft torque and is good for 0-60 MPH in 5.9 seconds. Moving into the 450 4MATIC grade will award you the same horsepower but ups the torque to 590 lb-ft. Finally, if you go all-in on the 580 4MATIC you’ll receive 536 horsepower and 631 lb-ft torque and can rocket the Merc from 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds.

Performance Specifications

All three EQS grades use a 108.4 kWh net battery pack and all three feature a limited top speed of 155 MPH. The 450+ trim uses just one rear-mounted electric motor, while the 4MATIC variants utilize a dual-motor powertrain. Range is adequate across all three as well, boasting 350 miles for the 450+ and 340 for all-wheel drive versions. Those with an affinity for power will be most interested in the 580 4MATIC grade, seeing as it’s amped up by almost 200 horsepower over the 450+ and 450 4MATIC.

Mercedes-Benz EQS Charging Time And Range

The 2024 EQS utilizes a 108.4 kWh net-power battery pack across its three trim levels. While the battery is the same, driving range differs slightly between them. Those who opt for the base 450+ trim will be able to drive about 350 miles on a single charge, whereas those who choose an all-wheel drive 4MATIOC grade will lose about 10 miles of overall range compared to the 450+.

While not one of the fastest charging EVs, Mercedes reports a 480-volt fast charge time of just over 30 minutes when charging from 10 percent to 80 percent. The most common EV charging type, Level 2, takes care of the EQS battery in just over 11 hours when charging from 10 percent to 80 percent battery life. If you have the time and the patience to wait for your EQS to charge using a Level 1 charger, getting the battery up from 10 percent to 100 percent will take about a day.

Mercedes includes one of their Wallbox home charging stations, which acts as a Level 2 charger, with every EV purchase. Benz EV owners will also have access to the Mercedes me Charge app, which grants you access to over 60,000 charging stations across the US and boasts an in-app payment feature.

Interior Technology, Luxury, And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS

• 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen standard
• Standard rear heated seats
• 63 cubic feet max cargo space
• Sculpted aluminum circular HVAC vents
• Standard Panoramic Roof

Mercedes designed the EQS cabin to mimic what they call “the interior design of modern living spaces.” You can see what they mean, as the inside of the EQS is a very nice place to sit, and the overall feel matches the exterior design nicely. What would a Mercedes be without a nice interior?

The 2024 EQS features the standard allotment of luxury features found within modern and upscale cars, such as front and rear heated seats, a standard panoramic roof, and leather upholstery. The EQS takes these points and goes a bit further with them, which you can easily see when you notice things like the center console and door panels featuring real, hand-finished wood and metal trim. The huge Hyperscreen is also well-blended into the dashboard design and manages to look like it belongs rather than just stuck on.

Passengers are treated to quite a bit of room as well. Even back-seat passengers exceeding six feet tall will find themselves comfortable and with plenty of room. Thanks to the EQS’s hatchback design, it boasts a respectable 22 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats deployed and an SUV-like 63 cubes with the back seats folded flat. This means you can throw your weekend ski trip supplies in the back with ease.

Technology

The star of the tech show inside the EQS is the standard 56-inch MBUX-powered Hyperscreen, which spans the entire width of the dashboard. The Hyperscreen is more powerful than some domestic computers, boasting specs like eight cores and 24 GB RAM. Artificial Intelligence is built into the EQS’s technological brain and quickly learns users to help better optimize the user experience much quicker.

Those with an affinity for audio will be happy to hear the EQS comes standard with a 710-watt, 15-speaker Burmester sound system with Surround Sound. On top of a good audio system, the EQS also has the ability to play ambient noise throughout the cabin to mimic engine sounds. Whether or not this feature will be well-liked is up for debate, however.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The 2024 EQS comes with a litany of safety and driver assistance features. A full complement of airbags is standard, including frontal, front-side, curtain, and knee airbags. The EQS also has what’s called the PRE-SAFE system, which detects impending collisions and will tighten seat belts, adjust headrests, and close the windows quickly.

As for reliability, J.D. Power has granted the 2024 EQS Sedan a projected reliability rating of 74 out of a possible 100 points, earning an “Average” rating. While this may seem low, it’s not an uncommon rating for luxury EVs.

Driver Assistance Features

The 2024 EQS comes with a myriad of standard driver assistance. Some features include Lane-Change Assist, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Pedestrian Detection. Those who spend a lot of time in traffic will be happy to hear about standard Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go capability, allowing for touch-free stop-and-go movement in traffic.

• Automatic High-Beam Headlights
• Parking Assist
• Surround-View Camera System
• Lane-Departure Warning
• Optional Augmented Reality Head-Up Display

A Head-Up Display is available as an option. Additionally, you can even opt for an Augmented Reality Head-Up Display, which can provide a wider image and a long-distance projection.

IIHS Crash Testing

*The Mercedes-Benz EQS has not been tested by the IIHS. Below is a recorded crash test provided by EuroNCAP, Europe’s leading safety testing authority.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

*The Mercedes-Benz EQS has not been tested by the IIHS.

• Recalls (NHTSA): 1
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: N/A

Warranties

The 2024 EQS follows a very straightforward warranty structure. Almost every component is covered for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, and Roadside assistance lasts for the duration of the full warranty. The straight-forwardness involves the full warranty acting as the sole warranty, with no other additional coverage, except for an EV-specific battery pack warranty covering the batteries and their associated components for eight years or 100,000 miles. Even though maintenance isn’t as much of a necessity on an EV, it can be had at an extra cost.

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS Versus Its Competitors

The 2024 Mercedes EQS belongs to the increasingly competitive luxury EV market, wherein it has a lot of competition to contend with. Brands like BMW, Tesla, and Audi come to mind and all have either dominated the EV market or are coming in hot. So, to fulfill our due diligence, we’re going to compare our EQS two rivals below: the Tesla Model S and the Audi e-tron GT. We’ll discuss how they stack up and see which is best.

How The Mercedes-Benz EQS Compares To The Tesla Model S

• 	2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS	2024 Tesla Model S
  Engine/Motor	Rear-Mounted Permanently Synchronous Electric Motor / Dual Permanently Synchronous Electric Motors	Dual Electric Motors
  Horsepower	355 HP – 536 HP	670 HP – 1,020 HP
  Torque	417 LB-FT / 590 LB-FT / 633 LB-FT	N/A – 1,050 LB-FT
  Drivetrain	RWD / AWD	AWD
  Transmission	Single Stage Automatic	Single-Speed Direct Drive
  Range	340 Miles – 350 Miles	396 Miles – 405 Miles
  MSRP	$105,550 – $128,500	From $74,990
  0-60 MPH	5.9 Seconds – 4.0 Seconds	2.4 Seconds – 3.1 Seconds
  Power Output	108.4 kWh Net	100 kWh

Our first competitor comes from America in the Tesla Model S. Tesla has been synonymous with EVs for well over a decade now, and the company constitutes over half of all EVs sold globally. The EQS has seriously got its work cut out for it here. Straight away, we can see the Tesla is much cheaper, but what else is there to these two?

The Tesla is miles more powerful than the Mercedes, that much is apparent. At base level, the Model S produces almost 300 more horsepower and a shocking 484 horsepower when both higher-powered grades are compared. You can argue the Tesla’s case for exterior styling as well, itself possessing a more handsome and grown-up countenance. The interiors of both EVs boast impressive tech, but the Mercedes is definitely a nicer place to sit. You also have command of that 56-inch Hyperscreen inside the EQS. However, for what you pay for, the Tesla Model S is the clear choice between these two.

How The Mercedes-Benz EQS Compares To The Audi e-tron GT

• 	2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS	2024 Audi e-tron GT
  Engine/Motor	Rear-Mounted Permanently Synchronous Electric Motor / Dual Permanently Synchronous Electric Motors	Dual Permanent Magnet Motors
  Horsepower	355 HP – 536 HP	522 HP – 637 HP
  Torque	417 LB-FT / 590 LB-FT / 633 LB-FT	472 LB-FT – 612 LB-FT
  Drivetrain	RWD / AWD	AWD
  Transmission	Single Stage Automatic	Front Single-Speed/Rear Dual-Speed
  Range	340 Miles – 350 Miles	232 Miles – 238 Miles
  MSRP	$105,550 – $128,500	From $106,500
  0-60 MPH	5.9 Seconds – 4.0 Seconds	3.1 Seconds – 3.9 Seconds
  Power Output	108.4 kWh Net	93.4 kWh

Our next competitor is a domestic threat: the 2024 Audi e-tron GT. Being that both of these EVs are part of one of the three big German automakers, it’s no surprise they’re neck-and-neck in many respects. But there are differences regardless.

The Audi scores early, having much more power at base level than the Mercedes. It also boasts standard all-wheel drive with a more lively powertrain as opposed to the EQS’s base rear-wheel drive configuration. Much like the Tesla we discussed previously, the Audi also seems to bear a more striking and attractive appearance, while the Mercedes lacks the exterior styling you’d expect from a car that costs over $100,000. However, the Audi does poorly with a range estimation of over 100 miles less than the Mercedes. That fact alone severely hinders Audi’s desirability, meaning the choice between these two comes down to what you need a car for in general, long journeys or bounding about town.

How Much Does A 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS Cost?

The 2024 EQS comes with a choice between three grades: the base, rear-wheel drive 450+ coming in at $105,550. Then we move to the mid-range 450 4MATIC at $108,550. Finally, the top-end 580 4MATIC trim will cost you about $128,500. This being Mercedes, there aren’t many options to add, so pricing stays similar.

Efficiency

EVs

Is It Worth Buying Mercedes-Benz EQS?

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS has a lot to offer prospective buyers, and it also has a huge amount of pressure to overcome the existing competition. While it boasts an impressive interior and great range, there are inherent downfalls to it as well.

After going through all the details, it’s hard to argue the case for the 2024 EQS. As we’ve said, the EQS has a sumptuous interior, great range, and it’s backed by a great name like Mercedes-Benz. However, compared to its rivals, it’s slow, not as good-looking, and lacks soul regarding exterior styling. If you’re set on a Mercedes, the 2024 S-Class is your better bet.