Last report: We couldn’t let Merc’s electrical SUV go with out a final drive as much as Mahabaleshwar. How did it fare on the battery-sapping Ambenali ghat and past?
The factor about EVs is that you simply don’t are likely to stray too removed from a house charger – or, in my case, the workplace charger. The Mercedes EQE SUV, which was a part of our long-term fleet for a number of months, hardly ever left city. Aside from a fast sprint to Pune, it’s been just about city-bound, gently gliding over Mumbai’s clogged and bumpy roads. More often than not, I’ve been behind the wheel, having fun with its clean drive. On events when parking is a battle, I’ve needed to swap to being chauffeur-driven. Even then, I discover myself preferring the entrance passenger seat as a result of the rear seat, whereas spacious, doesn’t hit the mark when it comes to consolation. The dearth of underthigh help and a backrest that may be a contact too upright severely compromise the last word consolation you need and anticipate from a Merc. The opposite situation is that the almost 3-metre-long wheelbase (and the absence of rear-wheel steering) makes manoeuvring by tight spots difficult – or so it appears at first. Nonetheless, the sunshine controls and surprisingly responsive nature of this 2.7-tonne electrical SUV take a lot of the sting out of navigating confined areas.
The rear seat lacks Merc ranges of consolation and plushness.
It’s confined areas I’m completely satisfied to depart behind as I hit the Atal Setu and head to, sure, you guessed proper, Mahabaleshwar. The drive to Mahabaleshwar is my go-to testing floor for vehicles. The combo of six-lane expressways, single-lane stretches, and the twisty ghat roads that result in the hill station is an ideal exercise for any automotive.
The EQE SUV aced the primary leg of this journey, sucking simply 55 % of the battery for the 190km drive (from the workplace) to Poladpur on the foot of the ghats. The effectivity translated to 4.7km/kWh, which may be very spectacular for such a giant and heavy automotive.
One of many causes for this outstanding effectivity is the EQE SUV’s aerodynamics. With a low drag coefficient (Cd) of simply 0.26, the EQE SUV slices by the air much more effectively than most autos in its class. Mercedes’ engineers have targeted closely on decreasing drag, and it reveals – not simply within the numbers however within the automotive’s rounded, much less conventional SUV-like design.
Mumbai-Mahab run drained battery’s SOC to 22 %.
This aerodynamic philosophy mirrors what we skilled with the EQS sedan, which performed a vital function in our Guinness World Data title for the longest distance travelled on a single cost. Whereas the EQE SUV’s form has delay traditionalists on the lookout for a boxy, rugged silhouette – like its ICE-equivalent GLE – it’s arduous to argue with the outcomes if you’re protecting lengthy distances with minimal vitality consumption.
With sufficient vary in my pocket, or fairly the battery, I threw vary anxiousness out of the window for the final 40km up the Ambenali ghat, which, as all the time, was a blast. The tarmac, which is ripped aside after each monsoon, was in surprisingly good condition this yr.
Mahabaleshwar to Mumbai run drained battery’s SOC to 43 %.
The colossal 858Nm of immediate torque from twin electrical motors and their near-silent operation made for an exhilarating drive.
The EQE SUV’s experience high quality is a little bit of a blended bag. On NH66, it managed the numerous velocity bumps with aplomb, flitting over them in a approach that made the journey extremely comfy. Nonetheless, at velocity, the suspension felt a bit floaty and issues didn’t enhance a lot on the Ambenali ghat. Even in its stiffest setting, Sport, the suspension couldn’t fairly rein within the automotive’s physique actions. The EQE SUV felt a bit roly-poly leaning into corners. Whereas it’s not a deal breaker for every day use, spirited drivers will discover this delicate setup a bit disappointing.
Gravity and a heavy proper foot took their toll on the vary, which plummeted by the point I reached the highest. Nonetheless, I arrived in Mahabaleshwar with a good buffer of twenty-two % cost remaining. Contemplating I accomplished the drive in a brisk 4 hours flat, that’s fairly environment friendly. Below regular circumstances, a leisurely freeway cruise with no vital elevation adjustments would translate to a real-world vary of round 400km.
The HUD has crystal-clear graphics and is unobtrusive.
To place the impact of gravity or an uphill climb into perspective, the drive again on the identical route, protecting the identical distance in the identical time, resulted in a a lot more healthy 42 % cost remaining!
No Mahabaleshwar journey of mine is full with out the boot packed to the brim. Whether or not it’s weekend baggage, shifting books to inventory my library within the hills, or a few crates of strawberries on the best way again, the EQE SUV’s 520-litre boot proved sufficient, regardless of the spare tyre sitting on the flat and huge loading space consuming into area.
Gentle-coloured trim will get soiled very simply.
Charging? All the time tough if you’re out of city. The general public charger on the Taj in Mahabaleshwar, which I had deliberate to make use of, was out of order – an all-too-common situation in India’s fledgling EV ecosystem. Because of this, I relied on my residence 3kW gradual charger, which, although dependable, is painfully gradual and took over a day to high up the massive 90.6kWh battery.
Residing with the EQE SUV, it’s arduous to not be wowed by the cabin. The supplies, the design, and the sheer tech on supply make it really feel actually particular. The Hyperscreen, which stretches throughout the dashboard, is the star of the present. Not solely is it extremely practical, however it additionally transforms the cabin right into a futuristic lounge, particularly at evening when the ambient lighting provides to the drama.
The Hyperscreen with massive icons is simple to learn and use.
These few months with the EQE SUV gave me a pleasant style of the way forward for electrical luxurious.
Additionally see:
Mercedes EQE SUV long run evaluation, 11,000km report
Mercedes EQE SUV vs BMW iX50 comparability
Mercedes Maybach SL 680 India debut on March 17
