AMG has been cranking out spicy versions of Mercedes vehicles for decades, and now the shop has turned its sights to the brand’s all-electric offerings. Following the mighty AMG EQS sedan, AMG got its hands on Mercedes’ newest electric vehicle (EV), the EQE SUV. The AMG EQE SUV (we love three-letter acronyms) is the first Mercedes-AMG electric performance SUV and features massive output from its dual-electric-motor setup.
The standard EQE SUV is coming in 2023, but Mercedes-AMG won’t trot out its EQE until the 2024 model year. Though it’s a quick, sporty SUV, the AMG EQE gets all the luxury trappings of its “normal” counterpart. That includes the massive touchscreens, updated tech and safety features, and a load of posh features.
The AMG-tuned EQE SUV gets several exterior touches that differentiate it from the standard SUV. They include a black grille cover with stamped chrome grates and an AMG badge. Mercedes replaced its hood badge with an AMG roundel, and the SUV’s front fascia is unique to the AMG model. Gloss black exterior trim comes standard, and AMG installs air diffusers on the front sides for better aerodynamics. The standard LED matrix-style lights show an AMG lighting animation when entering and exiting the vehicle.
The 5-seat AMG EQE comes standard with synthetic leather and microfiber upholstery. Nappa leather and other AMG upholstery options are available. The front seats get AMG badging and unique stitching. The AMG EQE SUV also brings a unique steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls and customizable layouts. Mercedes says there are more than 15 options for configuring steering wheel controls. Other interior features, such as folding rear seats, ambient interior lighting, and more, carry over from the standard EQE SUV.
The AMG EQE SUV gets two AMG-tuned electric motors that combine to produce 617 horsepower in standard form and up to 677 hp when equipped with the AMG Dynamic Plus package. AMG revised the motors to enable higher speeds and says that the rear axle motor relies on a six-phase design that is based on two windings and three phases to produce impressive horsepower.
All-wheel drive comes standard, but AMG fiddled with the system to provide torque distribution between the front and rear axles. The system also responds to drive-mode input to alter the SUV’s behavior and handling. Interestingly, the drive modes also impact powertrain output, modulating horsepower delivery to maintain traction and control. Slippery mode cuts power by 50 percent to 308 hp, while Comfort enables 80-percent output. Sport reaches 90 percent, and Sport+ delivers 100 percent of available power. If the SUV has the AMG Dynamic Plus package, selecting Race Start boosts total output by 10 percent to 677 hp.
Mercedes equips several driver aids as standard and offers several more in option packages. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, LED headlights, and a surround-view camera system come standard. Mercedes offers a Driver Assistance package with active lane-keeping, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and a Pre Safe system with side coverage. A head-up display is also available.
The AMG EQE SUV is available with Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen, which turns the entire dash into a display stretching from pillar to pillar. The interface received an update with what Mercedes calls zero-layer, which reduces the number of inputs required to accomplish tasks or change settings. Simplifying the system makes it less distracting and means that it takes less time with the driver’s eyes off the road. The system also brings AMG-specific functions, such as lap timers, drive-mode selection, and more.
Dolby Atmos comes standard, and the SUV gets a unique sound-generation system that responds to drive modes. The AMG Sound Experience, as it’s called, pipes different “drive” sounds into the cabin depending on the drive mode. It also handles sounds for functions such as turn signal indicators and vehicle startup.
There aren’t a ton of high-performance luxury electric SUVs, but the few there are present big-time competition for the AMG. The Audi E-tron S offers a somewhat disappointing range figure but delivers on performance and style. Audi also figured out that the best way for it to succeed was to “out-interior” everyone else, so the cabin of the E-tron S is opulent and packed with great tech. The BMW iX M60 is larger and less powerful but delivers a decent range and a fantastic cabin design.
Mercedes-Benz is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of October 17, 2022, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
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