Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic AMG Line 2019 UK first drive

Having driven it abroad and now spent some time with it in the UK, I’m still not convinced that the EQC has the alternative design allure that is becoming associated with emergent luxury EVs. There’s a slightly contrived, affected look about the car – like it’s been made outwardly different from its Mercedes-Benz GLC-badged relation on a superficial level, and mostly for the sake of difference. That you end up wondering whether it looks like a Mercedes at all is perhaps the biggest failing, but given that this is the first of many EQ-branded models – and we’ll only get used to their design cues over time – now probably isn’t the best time to judge.

The EQC’s interior more successfully strikes that balance between new and interesting and also recognisably infused with Mercedes-brand familiarity. It’s usefully roomy in both rows, with more than enough space for two bigger adults or three kids across the second row. As we’re used to from Mercedes, there’s a particularly rich and lavish appearance to the dashboard materials used – and plenty of innovative tactile finishes and design motifs about them, too.

There is, perhaps, a marginally lesser feeling of integrity and solidity about some of the fittings than you might find in an Audi; just the odd ever-so-slightly wobbly moulding, and a few trims that creak when you press them. It doesn’t detract much from the aura of alternative, high-tech luxury that the car conjures, though.

The car’s driving position is slightly lower than in some SUVs, but still presents a good compromise of convenient accessibility and all-round visibility. Just as in other current Mercedes models, the car’s instrumentation and infotainment consoles are presented in one near-seamless sweep of digital display real estate, and you can engage with them via control consoles on the steering wheel, via touchscreen input, via voice control, or via a fingertip input console on the transmission tunnel.

As regards managing the driving experience, meanwhile, there’s Mercedes’ usual drive mode selector that allows you a choice of five programs (from ‘Sport’ to ‘Maximum Range’), and there’s also a pair of paddles on the back of the steering wheel with which you can adapt how strongly the car ‘regenerates’ battery charge on a lifted throttle through a further five settings.

Anyone ready to take the plunge with a luxury EV should certainly give the EQC some serious thought. It’s perhaps missing one outstanding selling point compared with its nearest rivals: it isn’t stunning to look at, isn’t exactly stunning to drive either, and nor is it quite the most luxurious, practical or usable car in its developing niche.

But there’s a completeness and breadth about its roster of qualities that is almost as convincing as that one knockout punch might have been, even allowing for how much is left to chance by that derivative styling. Whatever you’re looking for from electric motoring – be that excitement, refinement, relaxation, cutting-edge technological sophistication or just a car that you can really use, and that’s a fully formed alternative to the combustion-engined one you might have spent the money on – the EQC has got you covered.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic AMG Line Premium Plus specification

Where Milton Keynes, UK Price £74,530 On sale Now Engine One AC synchronous electric motor per axle Battery Lithium ion, 80kWh usable capacity Power 402bhp Torque 561lb ft Gearbox One per axle, planetary, single speed Kerb weight 2495kg Top speed 112mph 0-62mph 5.1sec Range 232-259 miles CO2 tbc Rivals Audi E-tron 55 Quattro, Tesla Model X Long Range