With the production of EVs on the rise, automakers can now shift their focus to something more exciting: creating self-driving EVs, the kind that encourage you to make the long drive home. Mercedes-Benz is putting its best people to work.
For more than 50 years, AMG has turned classic Mercedes cars into supercars and hot rods—and the division is now working its magic on EVs. We’ve already got the AMG version of the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BITE sedans, but AMG is now raising the bar with an electric SUV.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is based on the AMG pa The price of the EQE SUV which was launched earlier this year. In addition to finding a replacement for internal combustion engines, AMG had to contend with a higher towing area and more weight to make this SUV sporty. With so many electric SUVs on the market, the AMG EQE SUV could go down as a mere experiment, or a sign of impending fatigue.
Design and interior
Pictures of AMG it has not been shiny. Aside from subtle changes that are visible to keen-eyed car enthusiasts, they mostly resemble the Mercedes cars they rely on. Stealth is part of the fun, and AMG hasn’t changed on the electric models.
The AMG model looks like an EQE SUV that is ready to ask questions. Everything is very similar, mature and integrated. The black band means that the grille has sprouted vertical bars like the ones you’d see on an AMG petrol model, the wheels have a sleeker look, and the front and rear fasciae get some pretty aerodynamic additions.
The AMG model looks like an EQE SUV that is ready to ask questions.
The overall look is still the same, though. Mercedes rounded the edges of the SUV’s design in the same way to reduce aerodynamic drag, which is a key factor in developing an EV model. It doesn’t make the EQE SUV any more interesting to look at, although it would be easy to tell the AMG EQE SUV apart from the larger EQS SUV, which doesn’t get the AMG treatment.
The interior is also carried over from the original EQE SUV, but this is a good thing. Mercedes has come up with an interior design theme that is modern and luxurious. And even though this is a sports car, you still get plenty of goodies, including leather seats that are perfect for long road drives.
Tech, infotainment, and driver support
The AMG EQE SUV gets it Hyperscreen mode previously seen on other Mercedes EQ models, with a digital instrument cluster, a center console, and a front passenger view under a single glass dashboard. The screens are 56 inches tall, although the three screens work independently. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included.
Also here is a good Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, which provides an experience similar to other recent Mercedes models. The main screen, which has a “Zero Layer” concept that covers large functions such as tiles on the map, is easy to navigate. Or you can use a reliable voice recognition system, which remains the gold standard for such automotive technology.
You can install various displays to analyze the work of the car.
In this AMG model, you can also install various monitors to monitor the car’s performance. The instrument panel can display a G-meter, so you can see how close you are to making your passengers vomit. Any rider with a strong stomach can monitor the flow of energy between the two electric motors, or use the IWC display to watch the driving time.
Moving to the AMG model doesn’t mean giving up on driver assistance technology. The AMG EQE SUV includes expected features such as cruise control and emergency braking, as well as a vehicle connectivity function that allows for advanced stop-and-go traffic. Apart from the route change operation which seems to have a mind of its own, making unexpected route changes, everything goes as expected.
Driving a car
AMG puts a lot of its energy into the suspension and powertrain. In the AMG EQE SUV, that means a single electric motor driving each axle, with a total of 617 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque, compared to 402 hp and 633 lb-ft of maximum power for the dual-motor, non-AMG model. the EQE SUV model.
Output can be boosted with Race Start mode, which temporarily delivers 677 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque for a quick getaway. With Race Start mode, Mercedes estimates that the AMG EQE SUV will do zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, compared to 4.6 seconds for the fastest non-AMG model. Top speed also increased from 130 mph to 149 mph, while the battery pack has the same 90.6-kilowatt-hour capacity as other EQE SUV models.
Instead of the familiar sound of an engine, you hear the moaning of a stressed out robot.
Other updates include an AMG air suspension system with adaptive gear, rear axle steering, and an electromechanical anti-roll bar system that automatically adjusts to smooth or shock the chassis for firmer handling, as needed. Upgraded brakes and selectable drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual mode that allows you to mix and match), along with a music system that is supposed to replace the sound of the engine. Instead of the familiar sound of an engine, you hear the moaning of a stressed out robot.
Strange noise aside (it can be turned off), the AMG EQE SUV was definitely a revolutionary change. Fast acceleration backed by instantly available torque is now an EV cliché, but in this AMG EV you can feel the speed. The AMG model also felt more angular, not to mention the standard model’s ride.
Yet while this is a better EQE SUV, it’s not the most fun EV to drive. On narrow roads – as the kind Mercedes sent us on the test session – the width of the car and the lack of steering will help you look at the markings with fear. And while the AMG EQE SUV can maneuver itself through corners with excellent performance, it’s a point-and-shoot car where the driver is most of the time on board.
It may not be entirely in keeping with AMG’s ethos, but the AMG EQE SUV is much better at blasting down highways than attacking twisty roads. It’s as comfortable as you’d expect a Mercedes to be, and you can put extra power to get the most out of half a car.
Range, charge, and defense
Mercedes hasn’t released a range estimate for the AMG EQE SUV, but the most powerful version of the model can’t beat the non-AMG models. Official specs haven’t been published for these models, though Mercedes doesn’t expect any of them to exceed 300 miles.
Like other EQE SUV models, the AMG EQE SUV can quickly charge up to 170 kilowatts, which should be good for charging from 10% to 80% within 40 minutes. That, together with the specified Level 2 AC power of 9.6 kw, is not a game changer. Mercedes owners will soon have access to a network of dedicated service stations, which the automaker says will provide a better experience than the other stations they currently rely on.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have not published crash-test ratings for the EQE SUV, but if they are rated they should be used for the AMG model. Expect it to get the same warranty as other Mercedes models, including a four-year, 50,000-mile, new car warranty and a 10-year, 155,000-mile, battery warranty.
How DT can fix this car
It may not be a supercar, but this AMG model is a better EQE SUV. Its increased power and controlled handling enhance the driving experience, and you still get a well-designed interior and infotainment system such as. standard EQE SUV. So this is the EQE SUV to have, even if it costs more than the regular model, which tops out at $96,400.
If you’re looking for a high-performance EV, it may be worth checking out some of the electric cars currently on offer. The Mercedes EQE sedan it is also available in AMG form, and although it does not have as much interior space as its SUV counterpart, its low center of gravity and driving position make it close to a driving car. Ditto the Ultra Quick Lucid Air and the Tesla Model S, as well as the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan, which leverage chassis technology honed in internal combustion engines for fun driving.
Among the top electric SUVs, the AMG EQE SUV is faster than the SUVs BMW iX M60 it is the basis of the Tesla Model X, while Audi has not yet launched the RS version of its Q8 e-tron. But more competition is on the way in the form of the all-electric Porsche Cayenne and, possibly, the Lotus Eletre electric SUV that just debuted in Europe. So the big success of Mercedes and AMG EQE SUV may be selling at the right time.
Editor’s Note