WITH simply 15 coming to Australia, the Mercedes-Benz EQC Version One brings full electrical energy to a platform primarily based on the favored GLC SUV, bundled up in a bundle designed to have a good time the start of mainstream EV energy for the German automobile maker.
The fashionable EQC options its personal distinctive mild signatures on the entrance and rear, each sporting a full LED mild strip, with blue highlights designed to indicate its electrical car standing. It’s additionally the primary of what’s going to be a fleet of EQ mannequin choices.
It runs two electrical motors, with one offering energy to every axle. The EQC’s configuration is such that it it feeds energy as predominantly a front-wheel drive car when driving in regular circumstances, however faucet the pedal, and also you get hit with each barrels.
On the spot torque and a tonne of grunt mix for 300kW of energy and 760Nm of torque. In a nutshell, it’s delivering occasion efficiency at that time.
Not like say Tesla although, who’ve created a entrance trunk, or frunk, of their autos, Mercedes-Benze have selected to make use of the area to accommodate the entire related componentry and battery expertise underneath the hood, sustaining a extra conventional car really feel.
The EQC sits on 21-inch multi-spoke rims, with a chrome and gloss black design, which actually units it aside. The one down fall of those futuristic trying wheels is simply how painful they’re to scrub.
Trip is taken care of with a mixture of entrance springs and rear air suspension. We’re undecided whether or not not having air on the entrance is a misplaced alternative, as a result of the entrance finish does are likely to crash into potholes and over velocity bumps a bit.
An EV is a totally totally different driving expertise, should you’ve by no means had the chance although, and it could take some getting used to. Other than the very fact there’s no gears, you’ll additionally have to get used to regenerative braking.
That can see you freak out the primary few occasions you go to hit the cease pedal, and the primary inch or so of strain does nothing, as a result of it’s regenerative. You’ll then over compensate. When you get the dangle of it although, It does supply a flawless, easy drive.
Steering smart, it’s a wonderful automobile in a straight line. Choose up is unbelievable, with the 0-100km/h dash achieved in 5.1 seconds. Nevertheless, it’s slightly high heavy, and because of this, there’s a little bit of physique roll, so slowing down for corners is important, particularly at velocity.
There may be nevertheless the comfort of not needing petrol, and charging, though we’re not truly positive that’s a superb factor. It may result in vary nervousness, even with a claimed distance of 430km. That quantity clearly varies, relying in your driving model.
That results in a by no means ending quest to know the place each single quick charging station is situated, not matter how far into your journey. While you discover one, you possibly can cost to 80 per cent in round 40 minutes. A normal wall field takes as much as 13 hours.
That form of makes the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Version One a bit inconvenient to drive, particularly over distances. However sooner or later, we’re positive these points can be ironed out and there can be extra quick charging stations round.
For now although, there are a restricted quantity accessible, which suggests you actually should plan your longer journeys.
It’s a really household pleasant automobile although, with a one contact self-opening and shutting boot, and 500-litres of carbo area. You may in fact extract extra space from the boot space by decreasing the second row seats. There are ISOFIX and tether baby seat anchors too.
Inside styling is, in a phrase, gorgeous. The very first thing you discover is the double display screen MBUX infotainment and instrument models. The system is the center of the Mercedes-Benz person expertise, controlling all the things from drive modes to ambient lighting.
Two separate controls for the left and proper aspect are additionally supplied on the steering wheel, in addition to the addition of a monitor pad simply in entrance of the centre console that controls the left aspect of the display screen. You may in fact merely contact the display screen.
The EQC’s design is kind of distinctive, with the vents impressed by circuit boards, and their copper colouring matched to that {of electrical} wiring. Even the switches for the air-con really feel like they’ve been lifted from a airplane.
Among the many different goodies loaded into the landmark EV by the German automobile maker is the Hey Mercedes voice interplay platform. Consider it as Siri in your automobile. You may name on her (or him should you select), to vary songs, decrease the amount, and make calls.
You can even set the air-con temperature, amongst various different issues. She’s a bit temperamental, and solely will get it proper about 80 per cent of the time. Don’t say Mercedes in dialog both, or she’ll immediately interrupt the celebration.
We dare say the extra you employ it, the extra in tune along with your voice it should get, that means the fluency of all of it working will change into higher. However within the brief time we needed to try it out, this function received fairly irritating.
Another creature comforts of the Version One EQC embody push button begin, an automated electrical handbrake, and heated and vented (cooled) seats. There’s a correct head-up show too as a part of the spectacular security expertise suite.
It additionally comes with energetic distance help, adaptive cruise management, blind spot monitoring, lane protecting help and velocity restrict help. And since it’s an Version One, you recognize there are some further bits not discovered within the regular EQC electrical car.
This features a lovely white leather-based inside. We also needs to point out that its offered completely on-line, and is a set worth motorcar. You may leap into a typical EQC from $137,900 plus on-roads.
The Version One will set you again round $160,000 plus on-roads. It comes with a 5-year limitless kilometre guarantee.
Our 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Version One was bought from Mercedes-Benz of Sydney, and loaned to us by its beneficiant proprietor. To search out out extra concerning the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Version One, contact your native Mercedes-Benz supplier.
