The Schwarzer Grat in the Allgäu Alps is the kind of place where legends are either forged or forgotten. Long and sinuous forest roads climb slowly through old pine groves, then dart through misty ridgelines before flaring open into panoramic stretches where the sky seems within reach. It’s where I chose to test the Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC, a spaceship on wheels. And it proved to be not just a marvel of engineering, but something close to magic.
This wasn’t about gunning it through corners or squeezing lap times from tarmac. No, the EQS doesn’t beg to be driven hard. It whispers, cruises, and hovers. Up on the Schwarzer Grat, it turned the whisper into a full symphony of silence, power, and sublime ease. Let’s dive into what makes this electric leviathan such a compelling force in the EV world.
The EQS is Exceptionally Economical
Cruising the steady climb to the Schwarzer Grat, I expected to see the energy meter plummet. After all, we’re talking about a 2.6-ton electric sedan with dual motors and a curb appeal that shouts “luxury liner.” But no. The EQS 580 4MATIC seemed to sip power. Even under load and gradient, it never felt strained, and the consumption display rarely climbed past 23 kWh/100 km.
On standardized Ecotest, the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450+ returned a phenomenal 21.5 kWh/100 km, while the all-wheel-drive 580 hovered at 23.3 kWh/100 km. Those figures include charging losses, making them even more impressive. Urban crawling, country road coasting, or highway loping, the EQS proved to be astonishingly frugal.
What’s wild is how calm it feels while doing so. No whining motors. No clutchy regen. Just smooth, seamless electric propulsion.
575 and 530 km Range in the Test
Let’s talk real-world range. The EQS doesn’t just impress in lab conditions. In Ecotest, the EQS 450+ returned 575 km, while the 580 4MATIC clocked 530 km. That’s not brochure fantasy, it’s tested performance. And with temperatures hovering around 22°C on the Schwarzer Grat day, those numbers felt believable.
During my time with the EQS 580, I easily managed over 500 km on a single charge, mixing slow climbs with rapid descents and some highway stints. It helps that the EQS preheats its battery when a DC charger is set in the nav, maximizing its 208 kW charging peak, averaging 166 kW from 10 to 80%. My fast charge stop took about 33 minutes.
Even in winter, 350 km on the Autobahn should be doable. That’s impressive, especially for a five-meter luxury vehicle.
Efficiency is No Coincidence
There’s no magic here, just good old engineering discipline. Mercedes has eked out efficiency in every corner of the EQS. Start with the 0.20 drag coefficient. It’s the slipperiest car you can buy today. Then add optimized wheel bearings, low rolling resistance tires, and an intelligent thermal management system that harvests energy from every warm component.
But the real wizardry? Regenerative braking. I coasted silently down the Schwarzer Grat with no foot on the brake, watching up to 290 kW of energy flow back into the battery. You feel it, not like a jolt, but as a gravitational cushion. It’s braking by suggestion.
Spaceship with Great Ride Comfort
If the Schwarzer Grat is a road of whispers, the EQS is a perfect companion. It doesn’t just absorb bumps, it erases them. The standard air suspension gives it the grace of a magic carpet. Potholes, expansion joints, loose gravel, none of it disturbs the serenity.
And then there’s the silence. With active sound cancelling, thick glass, and a HEPA filtration system under the frunk, it’s like being sealed inside a leather-lined bank vault. No joke: I recorded 55 dB at 120 km/h.
Passenger space? Front legroom is abundant, but it’s the rear executive seats that shine. With my 1.88-meter frame, I could stretch out like I was in a private jet. The tailgate opens wide, and the 610-1770 liters of cargo capacity mean it’s as practical as a wagon, minus the dog smell.
Rear-axle steering is the icing. At low speeds, the EQS can rotate almost like a compact hatchback. Up on narrow mountain passes, that’s not a party trick, it’s a necessity. Never once did I fear tight switchbacks.
“Hyperscreen”: The High-Tech Cockpit in the EQS
Slip into the cabin and you’re greeted by the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen, a monolithic glass panel that stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar. It’s three screens behind a single curved surface: driver display, central touchscreen, and a passenger screen with its own functionality.
It’s not just a gimmick. The MBUX system is fast, intuitive, and can be controlled by touch, voice, gesture, or haptic feedback. Whether you’re setting adaptive recuperation levels, activating seat massage, or plotting a charging route to Zurich, it’s all seamless.
At first, it’s overwhelming. But after an hour, it’s second nature. The EQS doesn’t just drive itself, it teaches you how to command it.
Mercedes EQS with Quality Defects
But no electric dream is perfect. After a few days, small flaws began to whisper back. The door handles don’t always extend cleanly, especially after rain. There were minor rattles from the dashboard on rough pavement, unforgivable in a six-figure car.
Also, the cabin materials below eye level don’t always match the luxury price tag. And the software occasionally lags, particularly when switching driver profiles. These aren’t dealbreakers, but they dent the otherwise flawless spaceship illusion.
Price for the Mercedes EQS: from 109,551 Euros
Yes, it’s expensive. The base EQS 450+ starts at 109,551 euros, and my test model, the EQS 580 4MATIC with every luxury and tech box ticked, crept well past 140,000 euros. But it’s not just a car. It’s a statement. A flagship. A promise.
You don’t buy an EQS for the price. You buy it because you want the future, today, and you want it draped in leather, silence, and unmatched presence.
Technical Specifications (Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC)
To keep things accurate, we use only the official Mercedes website for technical details.
| Specification | Details |
| Drive Type | Dual-motor All-Wheel Drive (4MATIC) |
| Power Output | 544 hp (400 kW) |
| Torque | 858 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h (electronically limited) |
| Battery Capacity (net) | 108.4 kWh (pre-facelift), 118 kWh (new) |
| WLTP Range | Up to 717 km (580), 822 km (450+) |
| Range (Ecotest) | 530 km (580), 575 km (450+) |
| Consumption (Ecotest) | 23.3 kWh/100 km (580), 21.5 kWh (450+) |
| Charging (DC, 10–80%) | ~30–33 minutes |
| Max DC Charging Power | 208 kW |
| Luggage Capacity (measured) | 475–1550 liters |
| Towing Capacity | 1,700 kg |
| Length / Width / Height | 5.22 m / 1.93 m / 1.51 m |
| Wheelbase | 3.21 m |
| Weight | 2,632 kg (measured) |
Conclusion
The Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC doesn’t feel like the future. It feels like the endgame. Where other electric cars still compromise, range, ride, luxury, practicality, the EQS simply doesn’t. On the Schwarzer Grat, its smoothness, silence, and poise made the road feel like a river, and the car a vessel flowing through it.
Yes, it has flaws. Yes, it’s pricey. But no other EV I’ve driven so completely eliminates the idea of sacrifice. If this is the electric revolution Mercedes promised, consider it well and truly delivered.
Is the Mercedes EQS suitable for long-distance travel?
Absolutely. With over 500 km of real-world range, lightning-fast charging, and near-silent ride comfort, the EQS is built for covering serious ground in serenity.
How practical is the EQS for daily use?
Despite its luxury image, the EQS is highly usable. Rear-axle steering makes it easy to maneuver in town, and the large boot with a hatchback opening boosts everyday practicality.
Does the EQS justify its high price?
If you’re looking for the pinnacle of electric comfort, technology, and efficiency, then yes. It’s not cheap, but it offers an experience that’s unmatched in today’s EV landscape.
