2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ SUV combines innovation with power

Article content

It is well known, at least to anyone who has recently driven an electric vehicle, that they can be absurdly quick in a straight line, zipping off in linear bursts and achieving acceleration times that could embarrass all manner of high-end, internal-combustion-powered sports cars. But, while the ability to take off like a bottle rocket is a recognized performance metric, it’s not the only one. The other thing about the battery-powered EVs is that, compared with their gasoline-fuelled counterparts, they are heavy. Witness the new, 830-hp Hummer EV SUV as an extreme example — it will hit 100 km/h in less than four seconds. It also breaks the scales at well over 9,000 pounds.

Article content

So, can you get an EV to drive and handle, if not like a sports car, at least with something approaching the sort of performance bona fides that will slap a goofy smile on your face? Let’s throw one other challenge into the mix. Can you find this in a sport-ute?

Mercedes-Benz, with a little help from its team in Affalterbach — you know, the AMG crew — thinks it can build just such a vehicle. Behold the five-seater, mid-sized Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, the first all-electric sport-ute to wear the AMG nameplate, and nothing less than what Mercedes says is a “milestone” in its electrification strategy, marrying the “innovation” of the EQ class with the power and performance for which AMG has made its bones.

Like the AMG EQS and EQE sedans, the AMG EQE SUV is based on the electric platform from Mercedes-EQ. The essentials are thus: Two butt-kicking electric motors pushing out 617 horsepower — 677 hp (505 kW) with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package with Boost function and in Race Start mode — fully variable all-wheel drive, AMG air suspension, rear-axle steering and AMG-specific roll bar stabilization. Running late getting the kids to soccer practice? Not in this bad boy!

Article content

More powertrain details

The AMG EQE SUV’s electric powertrain (eATS) features a motor at the front and rear axle, enabling fully variable all-wheel drive and transmitting power to the road in all driving conditions. Maximum torque ranges from 700 lb-ft to 738 lb-ft (Race Start). The SUV uses AMG-specific electric motors with adapted windings, different laminations, higher currents and adapted inverters. This, says the company, allows higher motor speeds and thus even more power, “which is particularly noticeable during acceleration and at top speed.” Talk about stating the obvious.

The AMG EQE SUV’s high-performance drive battery

Article content

The SUV is equipped with a 328-volt, lithium-ion high-performance drive battery, with a usable energy content of 90.6 kWh, and consists of 10 modules with a total of 360 pouch cells. The battery management system is tuned specifically for AMG. In the Sport and Sport+ drive programs, the focus is on performance; in Comfort, the focus is on operating range (while the U.S. EPA lists a 370-kilometre range for the AMG EQE SUV, that figure seems pessimistic — observed range over the drive would suggest at least 450 km). One cool feature mentioned by the company is the possibility to install updates for the battery management system over-the-air for continuous improvements over the life cycle.

How does the AMG EQE SUV drive?

Article content

Starting off in the surf town of Encinitas, California, the first portion of the drive consisted of heading north on Interstate 5 along the coastline. Mixing in with morning traffic, the AMG EQE was in its most comfortable element. The SUV is a tarmac ninja, literally humming along in near silence, with just a slight push of the pedal all that was necessary to switch lanes or merge, acceleration being immediate and linear. If necessary, the mid-sized five-seater will zip its way to 100 km/h in a mere 3.5 seconds, seemingly in defiance of its stout 2,690-kilogram avoirdupois.

Turning inland toward the much hillier terrain in and around Palomar Mountain revealed many of the benefits of the sport-ute’s AMG enhanced technologies — and one finite conclusion. Said technologies include the AMG Ride Control+ air suspension with adaptive damping system and rear-axle steering, plus Active Ride Control, an AMG-specific roll stabilization system. As for the AMG Performance 4Matic+ fully variable all-wheel-drive system, it continually distributes torque between the front and rear axles depending on the driving situation as well as the selected drive program. In Comfort the focus is on maximum efficiency, while in Sport and Sport+ torque is more rear biased for greater stability when cornering.

Article content

The AMG EQE’s biggest asset in the handling department comes from its active rear-axle steering. With a steering angle of up to nine degrees, the rear-axle steering allows tighter cornering with less steering effort. At speeds below 60 km/h, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the fronts, giving the 4,863-mm-long SUV a short turning circle of just 10.9 metres. At speeds above 60 km/h, the rear wheels steer in the same direction, increasing stability, especially if a sudden lane changes or similarly extreme maneuver is called for.

The tires — P275/35R22 Michelin Pilot Sport EV MO1 rubber on the tester — are designed to all-electric AMG Performance vehicle specifications and contribute to the EQE’s exceptional handling. The tires manage to combine low rolling resistance with limpet-like grip on wet and dry roads.

Article content

Yet, as much as the AMG EQE SUV is far nimbler for its size and weight than would be expected, it is impossible to ignore the latter. AMG has done yeoman work in giving the sport-ute superior road manners, but the laws of physics cannot be ignored, not with almost three tons shifting around. The tighter the turns — and, admittedly, at sporting speeds — the more pronounced the lateral weight transfer. For those used to driving lighter performance cars with lower centres of gravity, it’s going to take time to get used to this reality.

The AMG EQE SUV suspension system

Driven with greater moderation, the AMG EQE SUV is an exceedingly comfortable vehicle in which to spend time, with a very nice balance between a tight, sporting setup and one that leaves the passengers jostle-free — at least on California’s roads. A lot of credit goes to AMG’s Ride Control+ suspension with adaptive damping. The boffins from Affalterbach take the four-link front axle multi-link rear suspension setups and add AMG-specific wheel carriers, suspension links, and stiffer anti-roll bars. The rear axle carrier is connected to the bodyshell with 50 per cent stiffer bearings and reduced bearing clearance for more direct road contact. Meanwhile the adaptive damping system uses two pressure limiting valves that allow damping forces to be adjusted more precisely to different driving conditions and drive programs. AMG significantly increased the spread between sportiness and comfort by widening the spread between minimum and maximum damping. In the S and S+ drive programs, the SUV already adopts a lower suspension level (-15 mm) from startup. In Comfort, speed-dependent control takes place with lowering from 120 km/h and raising from 80 km/h.

Article content

Big brakes, too

With zippy acceleration despite its weight, the AMG EQE SUV needs equally high-performance brakes to haul it down. The sport-ute is standard fitted with six-piston brake calipers and 16.3-inch discs on the front axle and single-piston calipers and 14.9-inch discs on the rear. Optional AMG ceramic brakes are available, using even larger 17.3-inch discs at the front. An intelligent electromechanical booster ensures that the braking system efficiently combines electric recuperation with the hydraulic service brake.

Optional MBUX Hyperscreen highlights the cabin

There was once a time when Mercedes interiors were all black leather and highly polished zebrano wood — a design motif that fortunately died by the time the new millennium rolled around. The EQE tested sported a very stylish dark blue and light grey colour combo with known Mercedes elements such as the turbine air vents as well as AMG specific pieces as the sport pedals, performance steering wheel with the flattened bottom and silver aluminum paddles for adjusting various recuperation levels.

Article content

The key feature, however, is the massive (and optional) Hyperscreen, a large, curved screen unit extending from A-pillar to A-pillar. Three displays merge seamlessly into one another to create a screen band more than 55 inches wide. With adaptive software, MBUX adapts to the driver and offers personalized suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions, the most important applications always displayed on the top level in the field of vision. The front passenger has the option of a 12.3-inch OLED display with its own user interface. No sneaking a peek by the driver, though. The system uses an intelligent, camera-based blocking logic that recognizes if the driver is looking toward the front passenger display, automatically dimming the content for safety reasons.

Article content

Clever route planning

The Navigation with Electric Intelligence system plans the fastest and most convenient route – including charging stops for those worried about running out of juice. It also reacts dynamically to traffic jams or a change in driving style. Furthermore, the driver can edit the planned routes individually, adding preferred charging stations along the route or excluding proposed charging stations.

About the looks

Admittedly, over the past 30-plus years as SUVs ascended in popularity, automakers’ design studios have gotten ever more creative in knocking the edges off the inherent two-box shape. As subjective as looks are, the AMG EQE SUV is exceedingly pleasing to the eye. Rather drily, Mercedes allows that its electric sport-ute’s design “is characterized by generously modeled surfaces, reduced joints and seamless transitions.” In other words, it’s smooth, aerodynamic and clean of unnecessary character lines. And being an AMG model, it gets the requisite AMG-specific features, such as the black panel radiator grille with hot-stamped vertical struts in chrome, integrated Mercedes star and AMG lettering. The hood badge now sports the AMG emblem instead of the Mercedes star. The front-end also features an AMG-specific front fascia, painted in body colour. AMG-specific wheel arch claddings in body colour, integrated door handles and “aerodynamically optimized” 21 or 22-inch AMG alloy wheels add further visual accents.

Article content

What competes with the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ SUV?

With the overwhelming popularity of crossovers of all stripes, combined with auto manufacturers moving toward replacing their gasoline-powered product lineup with electric vehicles, it was inevitable the two segments would intersect. Which they have, and with increasing frequency. Not just family-type EV crossovers either, but more and more models wearing luxury badges. Which means the AMG EQE SUV has rivals to contend with.

Mercedes-Benz Canada hasn’t released official pricing for the AMG EQE SUV but suggests its retail price will be about $130,000. That puts several competitive EV sport-ute models in play, starting with BMW’s iX M60, a $129,000 rival that puts out 610 hp and has a range of 463 km. The Polestar 3 ($106,900) has a 515-hp motor with 334 km of range. Audi’s Q8 55 e-tron is less powerful (402 hp) but less expensive as well, starting at $96,000. Even less expensive is the Cadillac Lyriq — $92,088 for the topline AWD Sport 3 model, with 500 hp and 494 km between charges. If ultimate power is your primary goal, though, the king of the hill remains Tesla’s three-motor, 1,020-hp Model X Plaid ($148,990).

The AMG EQE SUV is scheduled to arrive in showrooms this fall.

 Pros

✔ It’s very stylish … and not just for an SUV
✔ It’s an AMG, which means it’s fast
✔ The Hyperscreen is impressive

Cons

✘ It’s a heavy beast, which affects handling performance
✘ Range (still waiting for final confirmation) looks to be middling at best
✘ You’ll need big bucks to buy one … and no rebate for you