Mercedes EQE saloon - Range, charging & running costs

For years, the Mercedes E-Class has always had a traditional three-box saloon shape. Contrastingly, Mercedes has given the EQE much sleeker styling, with a fared-in grille, aerodynamic alloy wheels and a long, curved roofline. That’s all in pursuit of efficiency, and the result is an impressive electric range for the EQE.

Mercedes EQE range and charging

At the moment, there are only three models to pick from. The entry-level car is badged EQE 300 and is available in four trim levels, with each one having a slightly different maximum range figure, while there’s also a slightly more powerful but no less efficient EQE 350 as well. The cheapest model is the Sport, with its comparatively small 19-inch wheels – this officially achieves up to 380 miles on a full charge. AMG Line sits on a different set of 19-inch alloys and gets a similar range of up to 376 miles. AMG Line Premium models sit on 20-inch wheels and return 365, while the 21-inch wheels on AMG Line Premium Plus trim don’t help efficiency; this model achieves up to 337 miles on a charge (336 with the Hyperscreen package). Exclusive Luxury with and without the Hyperscreen Package sit somewhere in between, with up to 342 miles to a charge.

The mid-range EQE 350’s range figures are roughly the same as those of the 300, though this motor and battery setup is not offered on the entry-level Sport trim, so the farthest range belongs to the EQE 350 AMG Line model at 376 miles.

Then there’s the range-topping AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ model which sacrifices even more range in favour of speed. Both the Night Edition and Touring models will need to be plugged in after roughly 280 miles of driving – significantly sooner than the entry-level EQE 300, though adding the AMG Performance Package increases this figure by 10 miles.

In contrast, the Tesla Model S manages around 400 miles on a charge, and has the extra benefit of the largely seamless Tesla Supercharger network for when you’re out and about. The Tesla has a slight edge on charging speed, too, being able to charge at 200kW compared to the Mercedes’ 170kW.

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At a 110kW charger, the Mercedes’ battery can be topped up to 80% in 32 minutes; a 22kW charger will take a little over four hours to reach 80%. The EQE has a large 90kWh battery, so a 7kW home wallbox will take 14.5 hours to fully recharge it.

The EQE comes with the Mercedes me Charge system, which gives you access to a range of different chargepoint providers with one card and app. It includes discounted Ionity charging if you pay a monthly fee (there’s also a free option without discounted charging for drivers who aren’t planning to recharge in public regularly). As part of the Mercedes me Charge programme, the brand also pledges to provide enough renewable energy to offset your electricity usage.

Insurance groups

Even the cheapest Mercedes EQE sits in the highest insurance group in the UK, meaning you’ll face expensive premiums. Its high price, upmarket badge, performance and all its technology are to blame. The Tesla Model S is also in group 50, mind.

Warranty

Like every Mercedes, the EQE features a three-year warranty with no mileage cap. You can extend it for extra cost, and there’s the option of up to 30 years’ pan-European roadside assistance. Meanwhile, the battery is covered for up to 10 years or 155,000 miles, suggesting that Mercedes has confidence in the longevity of its electric powertrains.

Servicing

Your car will tell you when it’s time for a service, and Mercedes offers service plans to spread maintenance costs into monthly payments. Speak to your dealer for full pricing information, but the EQE should cost less to service than a petrol or diesel-powered Mercedes.