Road Test: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4matic

Midsize Fastback Luxury Electric Sedan

In Mercedes-Benz speak, anything going forward with an EQ on the badge means it is only powered by electricity. The significance is at some point everything with the three-pointed star, which will mean sedans, coupes, sports cars, vans, SUVs and possibly even trucks will run on electrons, leaving oil and gasoline behind.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE, compared to the EQS is smaller, lighter and a bit less powerful, none of which are a bad thing. While the EQS was the most technologically advanced car I have driven, it was at times overwhelming. The EQE’s systems were easier to figure out and much more user friendly. The EQE was more than sufficient to produce an elegant, luxury driving experience with impressive performance.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 4matic — **A side of luxury**

Silent Propulsion

Clean Feet Report drove the EQE 350 4matic, with dual motors (front and rear) that produce 288 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque. The EPA found the EQE 350’s all-electric driving range to be 280 miles, slightly less than the 350 Plus and 500 4matic. Stepping on the accelerator results in an instant and strong launch, which is the beauty of EV torque. The performance was impressive, with the 5,170-pound EQE returning 0-60 mph runs at 5.2 seconds.

If you miss the sounds of a gasoline engine, the AMG Sound Experience offer “Authentic and Performance” sound programs in three intensities—Balanced, Sport and Powerful.

The well-distributed weight gave the EQE a balanced and confident ride. The Pirelli P Zero 255/40 summer tires, mounted on optional ($850) 20-inch AMG multi-spoke aluminum wheels, provided ample grip, even when pushing corners to their limit. The 4matic all-wheel drive system automatically senses grip level and undetectably sends power front-to-rear and side-to-side, while the electronically controlled air suspension automatically controls the damping force of the suspension to provide for a smooth ride. The air suspension system automatically also adjusts the ride height when using the Dynamic Select wheel for the drive modes of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual.

The EQE comes standard with active steering assist, stability control, and ours had the optional ($1,300) 10-degree rear axle steering. This last feature helps the EQE be much more agile and maneuverable and nearly eliminates three-point turns.

The steering is light for around town and then is speed-dependent, so there is never a loss of road feel or the ability to accurately carve through mountains or traffic. Ride comfort was plush thanks to the air suspension. The EQE is easy to drive, easy to steer, and comfortable in every sense. It handled very well for being more than 16-feet long.

Charging and Regeneration

Using a 170 kW DC fast charger, the 90.6 kWh lithium-ion battery will replenish 10-to-80% in under 31 minutes using the on-board 9.6 kW charger. A 240 volt/32 amp home charger will take 9.25 hours for a 10-to-100% charge.

The first two years of owning an EQE comes with complimentary, unlimited 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America DC fast chargers.

Powerful motor regeneration is controlled by steering wheel mounted paddles. When coasting or braking it converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. One pedal driving, where the regeneration is set for highest levels, made it possible to do most driving without relying on the brakes.

Slippery Design

The very low 0.24 coefficient of drag (C_d) comes from the EQE fastback sedan design. We like that it has form and function, which makes it efficient and quiet to drive.

The EQE, the first midsize EV sedan from Mercedes-Benz, also comes as a SUV. The smooth exterior draws one long sweeping line from front to back, what

Mercedes calls a “one bow cab forward design.” Beginning with a rounded nose where the traditional grille area is replaced with a plastic lens containing a repeated three-point star pattern. The LED digital headlights have the ability to project images onto the road, such as warning symbols of road work, no-entry, stop and yield, driving guidelines on narrow roads and several others. The “Symbol and Animation” projection function is a $1,100 option.

The fastback sedan shape has smooth sides with flush door handles, and a curious rectangular door on the driver-side front fender. Too small for a charge port, so what is it? Mercedes does not want you opening the hood, so there is no visible hood release lever under the dash. This fender “door” is for refilling the windshield washer fluid. Curious indeed.

The sleek roofline peaks at the B pillar and continues on a gentle slope to an ever-so-small lip spoiler on the power trunk lid. The EQE 350 and 4matic badges frame the iconic tri-star Mercedes-Benz logo, sitting below the LED light bar that connects the tail lights (which feature a distinctive helix design).

Clean Fleet Report’s EQE 350 4matic was painted in Selenite Grey Metallic, which is one of 11 exterior colors that range from Polar White and Obsidian Black Metallic to Patagonia Red Metallic. The ever-so-minimum use of chrome around the windows, along the lower doors and just a taste on the front and rear lower fascia, gives the EQE a classy look.

Augmented Reality

The 12.3-inch digital instrument display, with augmented reality for displaying navigation and other very cool graphics, complements the 12.8-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) infotainment touchscreen. This display has beautiful, deep, clear colors as you page through controls for setting-up a smartphone, the 64-color ambient lighting and, of course, the great sounding audio system.

An OLED display works without a backlight as it emits its own visible light. The benefits are it produces deep black levels, offers higher contrast than a LED system and uses 30-percent less energy. Make sure to visit the Mercedes-Benz dealership in the evening to get the full impact of the touchscreen.

The center screen is home to an augmented reality navigation system and the 710-watt Burmester 3D surround audio system. The 15 separate amplifier channels and 15 speakers deliver a combination of mid-range, bass, tweeter and surround sound for SiriusXM, AM/FM HD radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth voice commands for the radio and the telephone are part of the MBUX assistant system. There are multiple USB-C ports through the cabin.

The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel has capacitive touch controls for audio, telephone and the smart cruise control. The radio can be controlled by voice commands (“Hey Mercedes”) and the touchscreen has a learning curve that isn’t too difficult and is well worth mastering to get the most from the excellent sound quality and vast array of cabin comfort features.

The augmented reality head-up display (HUD) is probably the best we have seen, with the AR allowing the driver to see the HUD information from any angle so, when the driver’s head moves, so does the HUD.

Sumptuous Interior

All materials were top notch quality. Clean Fleet Report’s EQE had natural grain Anthracite Linden wood trim and Sable Brown and Neva Grey Nappa leather, a

$2,900 option that was elegant. The Nappa leather multi-contour front heated and ventilated ($450 option) power seats had memory and massage. The cabin has a four-zone climate control with energizing air control and the $450 optional HEPA filter. Seating comfort front and rear is as to be expected with 18-way power seat adjustments. Our EQE 350 4matic had the optional $1,500 Winter Package that included the heated steering wheel, rear seats, windshield and windshield washers.

Other interior features are a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a dashcam, heated and power side mirrors with turn signals, a power tilt and sliding panorama roof and wireless phone charging. That 64-color ambient lighting is soothing and fun to play with.

Safety and Warranty

The 2023 EQE 350 sedan is a new model and has not been safety rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), but does comes with standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). There is a full list of the standard safety systems at the end of this story.

The $1,250 optional Driver Assist package has a semi-autonomous driving system, Drive Pilot, that utilizes lidar, radar, cameras, moisture sensors, ultra-sonic sensors and an antenna. Upon setting the system, the EQE will stop, accelerate from a stop, adjust speed to the cars in front, and when applying the turn signal, change lanes.

Drive Pilot is not a completely hands-free system, but on your test drive experiment by removing your hands for up-to 15 seconds while on the highway. Under the right conditions, the EQE will follow the lanes and turn gentle corners, hands-free. It is a wonderful feeling, giving a sense of where true autonomous driving will be sometime in the future.

The EQE comes with these warranties.

New Vehicle – Four years/50,000 miles
Battery – 10 years/155,000 miles
Scheduled Maintenance – Two years/20,000 miles

Pricing

The base price for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4matic, including the mandatory destination and delivery charge, is $79,050. The test model Clean Fleet Report drove had a final MSRP, including options and the destination and delivery charge, of $92,990. The EQE 350 4matic may qualify for federal and state credits, and in some states, is eligible for a HOV sticker.

Observations: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4matic Sedan

The evolution from gasoline powered cars, SUVs, vans and trucks to those propelled by electricity has begun in earnest at Mercedes-Benz. The 2023 EQE 350 4matic is its first midsize sedan EV, joining the full-size EQS, which Clean Fleet Report reviewed earlier.

Mercedes-Benz is not planning on taking a back seat to any auto manufacturer in the luxury EV space, and if the EQS and EQE are any indication, the other car companies better be on their game. Has the gauntlet been dropped loud enough at the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart to be heard in America, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom and Italy?

Stay tuned. The roll-out of luxury electric vehicles over the next few years is going to be exciting.

Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.

Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner

EQE Safety Features (some standard, some optional or in packages)