Atlanta doesn’t precisely have probably the most spectacular press fleet; whereas most of my colleagues repeatedly get press vehicles, my loans are usually a bit extra spotty. I knew that after I moved right here, however fortunately, Mercedes actually wished me to expertise the brand new charging hub that it not too long ago opened subsequent to its North American headquarters, so it supplied the one automobile within the Atlanta press fleet for me to test it out — an AMG EQE SUV.
Ideally, I might have taken it as much as my previous stomping grounds within the North Georgia mountains for a extra critical take a look at of the AMG a part of the crossover’s ridiculously lengthy identify. Sadly, I’m additionally utterly unfamiliar with the charging infrastructure up there, and the very last thing I need is to expire of juice surrounded by Marjorie Taylor Inexperienced acolytes in a socialist automobile.
The headline figures are the EQE’s 617 horsepower and 0-60 time of three.4 seconds, however the extra necessary one is its torque: 701 pound-feet. It’s not sufficient to do four-wheel burnouts, however when that factor goes, it goes. The acceleration could be virtually bodily disagreeable if it wasn’t so addictive — and virtually a little bit terrifying. Later acceleration runs felt much less tame, so both I discovered the precise proper pace to be driving for max Gs, or my physique adjusted.
In the event you’ve obtained the $110,000 earlier than choices and wish an extremely highly effective luxurious cruiser, you’ll most likely be very proud of the AMG model of the EQE SUV. At the very least, you may be in case your cruises are comparatively brief; 235 miles of vary isn’t lots, and in a automobile that encourages you to ground it only for enjoyable, good luck getting anyplace near that vary determine.
I’m very a lot not the goal demographic for a six-figure electrical luxurious SUV, however as a day by day driver and (albeit brief) freeway cruiser, it did its greatest to allure its technique to my coronary heart with its extremely snug and supportive seats, one-pedal-ish driving and its ridiculous quantity of torque. Man, I really like torque.
And whereas its non-AMG counterparts are most likely way more snug on Atlanta’s poorly maintained streets, with the suspension set in Consolation mode, I didn’t have any complaints. The largest draw back to the automobile that I observed was simply that it took for much longer than anticipated to get the seat adjusted excellent. Nicely, that and the vary. And the styling.
Truthfully, since I can cost at my condo, the vary isn’t actually that huge of a deal to me. If I wanted to go to my aunt in Charlotte, I might simply cease alongside the way in which and cost whereas I ate lunch. Something additional away than Charlotte, and I’m most likely flying. I don’t know if I’d need one thing with lower than 150 miles of vary, however virtually talking, I most likely don’t even want that. I do know most individuals received’t purchase an EV with a variety of lower than 300 miles, however personally, it’s not that huge of a deal to me.
The actual sticking level is the styling. Each time I’d get out of the EQE, I’d look again, hoping that with sufficient time behind the wheel, the design would abruptly click on for me. I wished to vary my thoughts on it, and I get that aerodynamics are necessary in an EV, nevertheless it simply didn’t occur. Which is okay. The styling isn’t for me, and I like vehicles that different folks don’t. It simply doesn’t really feel nice to get pleasure from driving a lot and nonetheless be delay by the styling.
And that’s actually the entire thing with Mercedes’ EQ lineup. I do know there are individuals who legitimately dig the styling and lots who don’t. Usually, I prefer it when automakers launch polarizing designs as a substitute of making an attempt to cater to everybody. I simply occur to fall on the incorrect aspect of that divide, and regardless of how pleasing the automobile was to drive, I simply couldn’t get previous the appears sufficient to need the EQE SUV even when I can’t afford it. Belief me, although. I wished to need the EQE.
In the event you’re one of many people who find themselves into the EQE’s design and come up with the money for to lease one — odds are, depreciation goes to hit these so exhausting, it’s best to undoubtedly lease, not purchase — as soon as you determine your seating place, a fast take a look at drive is all it would take to persuade you to go for it. Except you legitimately consider you want extra vary, that’s. Even in case you at present suppose you want extra vary, 701 lb-ft of torque does an important job of convincing you that you just really don’t, even because it burns by way of your battery like Sherman marching by way of Atlanta.
In the event you fall on the opposite aspect of the road and don’t like the way it appears, the dangerous information for you is that there’s a strong efficiency EV beneath there that you just’ll by no means get to expertise. In an ideal world, every thing could be made along with your likes and dislikes in thoughts, however the actuality is that typically one thing simply isn’t for you, and that’s OK. I hope the individuals who just like the look get pleasure from their AMG EQE SUV and its 701 lb-ft of torque. I’ll be over right here quietly jealous.
