2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV revealed, confirmed for Australia

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has been revealed, ahead of its Australian launch in the first half of next year.

The sixth model in Mercedes-Benz's family of EQ electric vehicles, the EQS SUV is (as its name suggests) the high-riding version of the EQS flagship sedan, and the seven-seat electric equivalent to the GLS upper large SUV.

Sharing its 'EVA' platform with the EQS and EQE sedans, the EQS SUV offers buyers three powertrains developing up to 400kW/858Nm – and the same array of advanced technologies, including Level 3 semi-autonomous driving and a 'Hyperscreen' tri-display dashboard.

For everything you need to know about the new Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, read on – or scroll to the subheading that's of most interest to you.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is yet to confirm which variants will be offered with the EQS SUV in Australia – with further details due closer to launch – however three power options are available overseas, all fed by a 107.8kWh battery pack.

Opening the range is the EQS450+, powered by a single 265kW/568Nm electric motor on the rear axle good for between 536km and 660km of driving range according to Europe's WLTP test cycle. No performance figures have been announced for any EQS SUV variant.

Buyers can opt for a dual-motor, all-wheel drive EQS450 4Matic model with 265kW and 800Nm – offering 507-613km of range – while the flagship all-paw EQS580 4Matic gets 400kW and 858Nm, and an identical 507-613km range claim.

For comparison, the EQS sedan launched with a choice of a rear-wheel-drive 245kW/568Nm EQS450+ (with a 107.8kWh battery and up to 780km of range), and an all-wheel-drive EQS580 4Matic with 385kW/858Nm and up to 676km of range.

All models are capable of 200kW DC charging (with 396-volt batteries). Mercedes-Benz quotes a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of as fast as 31 minutes, and the ability to add up to 250km of claimed WLTP range to the rear-drive EQS450 SUV in as little as 15 minutes.

In Europe, AC home charging at up to 11kW is standard, or 22kW as an option, capable of full battery charges in 10 and five hours respectively.

Helping to recuperate range are four stages of regenerative braking, including a 'one-pedal' mode that can bring the car to a standstill – with recuperation at up to 290kW in all-wheel-drive models.

All-wheel-drive variants also feature off-road modes for loose terrain, plus special tuning for snow and ice driving.

Measuring 5125mm long, 1959mm wide and 1718mm tall, the EQS SUV is 94mm shorter in overall length, 71mm narrower and 105mm lower than a seven-seat GLS – but its wheelbase is 75mm longer, maximising interior space.

With five seats optioned, there's 645 to 880 litres of boot space behind the second row (thanks to sliding seats), and 2100 litres with the rear seats folded.

Opt for seven seats and there's 195 litres behind the third row, 565 to 800 litres behind the second row, and 2020 litres with both folded.

Under the skin, buyers can choose between rear-wheel steering capable of rotating 4.5 or 10 degrees, which cut the turning circle to 11.9 and 11 metres respectively – the latter matching a Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback.

Adaptive air suspension is standard, which can raise by 25mm at speeds up to 80km/h, or automatically lower (from its standard height) by 15mm above to 110km/h to reduce drag on motorways.

Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual drive modes are available, plus Offroad in all-wheel-drive models, the latter of which increases the vehicle's height, alters the accelerator response, activates hill-descent control, and either enable or disable stability and traction control.

The EQS SUV's styling is (unsurprisingly) related to its EQS sedan sibling, with similar design cues in its closed-off front end (with a black grille panel, available with a hexagonal pattern), full-width front and rear light bars, and pop-out door handles.

An AMG Line package – with sportier exterior styling elements – can be optioned, as can alloy wheels between 20 and 22 inches in diameter, and the same Digital Light headlights as the EQS sedan, with 1.3 million micro-mirrors and 2.6 million 'pixels'.

Styling areas optimised for improved aerodynamics include specially-designed wheels, unique 'wheel spoilers' to manage airflow, specific bumper and side skirt designs, and "continuous seals in the front area, e.g. between [the] service flap, Black Panel [faux grille insert] and headlamps"

Fitted as standard in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen – shared with the S-Class limo – running Mercedes' MBUX software with a 'zero layer', which uses AI to place the most-used functions on the home screen.

The party piece is the optional MBUX Hyperscreen, which combines a 12.3-inch driver display, 17.7-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger display into one 141cm glass panel stretching across the entire dashboard, shared with the EQS sedan.

The central and passenger screens use OLED technology, and incorporate software home to bespoke in-car music streaming, a 'Hey Mercedes' voice assistant, up to seven driver profiles, and a mix of fingerprint, face and voice recognition technology.

Dig into the options list and buyers can get two 11.6-inch seatback screens for rear passengers (plus a centre tablet), a 15-speaker Burmester audio system with Dolby Atmos surround tech, two, four or five-zone automatic climate control, and an augmented-reality head-up display.

Also available is a Sound Experiences system which plays one of two synthesised soundtracks to fill the void left by a petrol engine's exhaust note, plus a HEPA cabin air filter, Air Balance interior fragrance system, and an array of "Energizing" cabin modes to calm occupants on long drives.

A range of safety and convenience features can be purchased and downloaded over the air after the vehicle is delivered, including trailer manoeuvring assist, traffic sign recognition, augmented-reality navigation, the "Energizing" programs, a dashcam, and a variety of new lighting animations.

Buyers can even upgrade the rear-wheel steering system over the air from 4.5 to 10 degrees of rotation – as all vehicles will include the required hardware regardless of whether the option box is ticked from the factory – plus a race track lap timer, and video games for the infotainment system.

EQS SUVs with the 'Electric Art' interior feature nubuck synthetic leather and "high-tech" neoprene for their 'luxury' seats – with aluminium, wood for 'plastic' inlays, as part of seven interior colour combinations – while AMG Line models upgrade to sports seats with unique headrests.

For rear passengers, a third row can be optioned in overseas markets, with two seats offering 290mm of backrest movement, optional seat heating, and the ability to fold flat into the vehicle's floor.

The second row of seats offers 130mm of electric slide adjustment, and electric backrest angle adjustment to the tune of 14 degrees forwards and four degrees backwards. This adjusts boot space from 645 to 880 litres – with the seats able to fold down in a 40:20:40 split for more space.

Up front, power adjustment, memory, four-way lumbar and seat heating are all standard in Europe, with seat ventilation and massage functionality available as options. Heating and a 'Rear Comfort' package are optional for the second row.

Available active safety features include adaptive cruise control with integrated navigation data, lane-keep assist (from 60-250km/h), lane centring (active from low speeds up to 210km/h), traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and autonomous emergency braking with intersection support.

Available auto parking systems range from traditional hands-free parking, to a feature allowing drivers to stand beside the car and manoeuvre it into a space from their phone, and a memory function that remembers and repeats tricky parking manoeuvres.

The EQS SUV will be capable of navigating itself autonomously through multi-storey car parks, and positioning itself in or removing itself from a space, all with the driver standing out of sight in a pre-determined drop-off/pick-up bay.

Mention is made of Mercedes' Drive Pilot 'Level 3' semi-autonomous system, which allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road on specific sections of freeways, at speeds below 60km/h – though the driver needs to retake control should an emergency system arise.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is due in Australian showrooms in the first half of next year – following the EQS sedan, due on sale in the coming months in AMG 53 guise.

Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed – along with the local model range – however given a petrol-powered GLS450 costs $164,151 before on-road costs, expect the EQS SUV to become Mercedes' most expensive vehicle in Australia without Maybach or AMG branding.

A Maybach version of the EQS SUV is in the works, however, with an overseas launch pencilled in for 2024.