2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS hits UK dealerships at £99,995

The production EQS stays largely true to the 2019 EQS Vision concept, with an uncharacteristic cab-forward profile. Its appearance is dominated by what Mercedes describes as a “one-bow roofline” that stretches back to form a heavily angled liftback-style tailgate. Other key styling elements include a black grille panel bookended by a pair of angular headlights - themselves joined by a horizontal light bar. The fully enclosed light unit can be ordered with an optional three-dimensional star pattern.

The aluminium-bodied EQS also features a fixed clamshell bonnet, which wraps around the side to form the top of the front wheel arches. Rather than enclosing a front storage area, it is designed to be opened only during servicing. The filler bottle for the windscreen washer is integrated into a flap within the front left-hand-side wing, which swivels out when pressed.  

The doors are frameless and feature the same flush handles as those available as an option on the S-Class, while the generously dimensioned wheel arches can accommodate alloys ranging from a standard 19in to 22in in diameter.

The EQS measures 5216mm long, 1926mm wide and 1512mm tall and receives a lengthy, 3210mm wheelbase - 106mm longer than the S-Class's - which provides it with relatively short overhangs. 

Despite the car's generous dimensions, Mercedes claims the EQS betters the facelifted Tesla Model S for aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of 0.20.

The Hyperscreen is controlled by the latest generation of MBUX – an operating system that supports touch and conversational speech input as standard as well as over-the-air software capability that will allow owners to update various features, including a larger steering angle of 10.0deg for the EQS’s rear-wheel steer system, which gives a claimed 10.9m turning circle, together with subscriptions, temporary feature activations and what Mercedes calls “free software test phases”.

A high-set centre console divides the front seats, while a near-flat floor helps to liberate greater rear-seat accommodation than that of the S-Class.

Although the EQS does without a front storage compartment like many rivals, its claimed 610 litres of boot space is 60 litres more than that offered by the S-Class and it extends to 1770 litres when the split folding rear seats are stowed.

In the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450, a rear-mounted asynchronous electric motor delivers 329bhp and 338lb ft of torque, while the initial range-topping EQS 580 - which will not be sold in the UK - puts a motor on each axle for a combined 516bhp and 631lb ft.

Both cars get a 107.8kWh (net) lithium ion battery, with energy content described as being up to 26% higher than that used by the Mercedes-Benz EQC and an official range of up to 453 miles on the WLTP test cycle.