Mercedes-Benz EQS400 SUV Tested: More for Less

First glance: Is this really the "beggar version"? I almost didn't recognize it.

To be honest, when I got this EQS 400 SUV, I went with the evil taste of "how shabby can a low-profile car be?" Result? The slap in the face comes too quickly. Looking from a distance, the enclosed "Dark Night Star Array" grille is still there, the through-going daytime running lights are still there, and even the exaggerated arched roof arc has not shrunk at all. When I got closer and took a closer look, the wheel hub had been reduced from 21 inches to 20 inches, but the shape was still quite sporty. If it wasn't for the "400" on the trailer reminding me that this was an entry version, I would almost have thought it was a 580. This wave of Mercedes-Benz operation really means to "pretend to be a pig and eat a tiger"-on the outside, it does not make you lose your head in front of your neighbors. On the contrary, I think this kind of "low-key wealth" is more eye-catching than the top-notch chrome maniac.

Sit in: Luxury? No, there is a discount on "Luxury", but the discount is touching

When I opened the car door, I frowned for the first second-huh? The shocking Hyperscreen triple screen was gone and replaced with two separate screens (12.3-inch instrument panel +12.8-inch central control). It would be a lie to say "lost". After all, who wouldn't want that 1.41-meter-wide screen? But after sitting in for three minutes, I started to smell so good. The response speed, UI design, and functional levels of this central control panel are still as smooth as the industry ceiling. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz has sneakily retained most of the comfort features: seat heating, front seat massage, Berlin Sound sound (although it is a basic version), 64-color atmosphere lights... If you insist on saying something is missing, it may be the cool feature that automatically pops up the cup holder. But considering that this car is nearly 400,000 yuan (about more than 50,000 US dollars) cheaper than the 580, this compromise is not worth crying. By the way, the rear space is as wide as ever, and the cushion length is in place, making it absolutely comfortable to lie down for a long time.

Open it up: I am not wronged, even a little happy

Press the start button (although there is actually no such thing as an "engine start" on electric cars) and you immediately realize one thing: this EQS400 is not the kind of straight-line beast that pursues instant vertigo. The book data of 355 horsepower and 590 Nm is not a burst in today's era of rampant "three-second clubs". 0-96 The acceleration in kilometers per hour is 5.2 seconds, which is nearly 1 second slower than 580. But, please! Who really drives the foot to the end every day? In daily driving, this power response is actually very consistent, and the smooth and quiet power of the motor, combined with the advanced flexibility of the air suspension to resolve bumps, makes you feel like you are sitting on a floating piece of silk. What surprised me the most was its energy recovery logic-you can infinitely adjust the recovery power through the steering wheel paddle. If it is adjusted to the weakest point, it is almost exactly the same as a fuel car sliding. For those who drive an electric car for the first time, this is simply a "terminator of motion sickness."

Battery life: Digital games? No, it's sincere magic

According to official data given by Mercedes-Benz, the EPA range of the EQS400 SUV is approximately 305 miles (approximately 491 kilometers). Oh, you might say,"That's it? Many domestic trams can run 600 kilometers." But please note-this is the EPA, not the inflated CLTC. After running all day on high-speed and urban congested roads, I found that my actual battery life could be nearly 80%, and the apparent power consumption remained stable at around 3.0-3.2 miles/kWh. This means that as long as it is not the extremely cold weather of minus 20 degrees, this car can fully meet your week-long commuting + weekend outing needs. Moreover, its charging power can reach up to 200kW, and it only takes 31 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. You are right-with complete supporting facilities, it can replenish energy faster than if you go to the service area to buy a cup of coffee and add a toilet. This feeling of "not anxious" is the background color that luxury electric vehicles should have.

Wait, is it really "more and less"?

Here I must be sincerely sarcastic: Mercedes-Benz is not hard enough in "subtraction". For example, some plastic parts of the interior still feel a little crispy and cheap when knocked (compared to this price point), and the position of the wireless charging pad is still anti-human (you can't take it out if you can take it out, and you can't put it firmly). The lack of a separate dual-zone air conditioning control panel in the back also made my mother-in-law, who likes to adjust the temperature, very critical. But think about it the other way around-you spend nearly a quarter less than the EQS580 SUV, but you get the same excellent chassis, almost the same appearance, enough battery life and still beat the EA888 series fuel vehicle's power performance. Isn't this the essence of "more for less"? It doesn't try to use fancy gimmicks to get you to pay IQ taxes, but makes reservations at the core and cuts at the periphery. To put it bluntly, you may never use the dazzling features on the 580 again after three days of being fresh. And what 400 gives you is the comfort you can use every day.

The final comment: BMW iX, are you panicking?

After test-driving this EQS400 SUV, I posted a message in my circle of friends: "Mercedes-Benz has finally figured it out-instead of using its flagship show muscles, it's better to use the people-friendly version to grab the market." The comment section below exploded. Some people say that the BMW iX has a firmer driving experience, and some people say that the Cadillac Reaco is more cost-effective. But what I want to say is-the interior of the iX is like a designer drinking too much poison from Nordic minimalism, and the EQS 400 at least gives you an atmosphere cabin where you can party at any time. More importantly, Mercedes-Benz dealers are now frantically discounting (they are even willing to give extra discounts on the EQ series due to pressure on fuel vehicle inventory). If you talk now, you are likely to get a landing price much lower than the guidance price. So, if you want a luxury electric SUV that can take you from A to B and make passers-by mistakenly think you are rich, the EQS400 may be the most "unethical" rational choice in this era.