With Mercedes-Benz Malaysia finally ready to locally assemble electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia, it is a good time to look back at the brand’s pilot EV – the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Available in Malaysia only in the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 guise that was launched in September 2022, this electric SUV costs RM388,888. Lucky enough to take this car for a spin, we took it up Genting Highlands, for some sightseeing and a quick photoshoot.
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Being an electric car, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty EV details first. The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 provides 437 km of range (WLTP) from an 80-kWh battery. The battery can be charged at a maximum rate of 11 kW with AC charging and 110 kW with DC fast charging. With 11-kW AC charging, the EQC 400 takes 7.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100%. With 110-kW DC charging, charging from 10% to 80% takes 40 minutes. Driving down Genting Highlands, we did manage to regain 4% of charge for the EQC through regenerative braking.
As for performance, this large (by Malaysian standards) electric SUV is capable of a 5.1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time and a regulated top speed of 180 km/h. This is thanks to its dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) 4MATIC powertrain that makes 408 hp and 760 Nm. The AWD system is front-biased.
The EQC 400 4MATIC in Malaysia gets the AMG Line package which includes AMG Line exterior kits and 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels. At the front of the EQC 400 are multibeam LED headlights. Unlike newer EQ models though, the EQC still has a ‘grille’ that feeds to air the area under the hood. The EQC possibly strikes the best balance between an upright imposing stance and the curvy flowing lines of the EQ series.
The EQ gene is evident in the EQC as it sports continuous lights at the front and rear, blue ‘EQC’ letterings on the front fenders, blue accents in the headlights, and a recognisable EQ front end.
On the inside, the EQC 400 4MATIC gets a twin 10.25-inch display with one dedicated as the digital instrument cluster and the other dedicated as the head unit. The EQC’s head unit supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, albeit only via a wired connection.
Built on an older ICE platform, the EQC doesn’t get the latest MBUX as you would find in the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Mercedes-Benz EQS. Sound is emitted via a Burmester sound system and the EQC comes with thermotronic automatic climate control.
GALLERY
