The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has been speculated to be the brand’s next model to be launched in the Malaysian market. To celebrate the upcoming National Day, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched a marketing campaign, inviting the public to spot its soon-to-be-launched Mercedes-Benz EQ model at the 2023 Merdeka Day Parade in Putrajaya this August 31.
The brand has also released a picture of the car, showing a portion of it wrapped in a Merdeka-themed livery. As per our speculation, the car in the picture is indeed wearing similar wheels to the one worn by the Meredes-Benz EQS SUV with the AMG Line trim. However, it is unsure which variant of the luxury SUV the Malaysian market will be getting just yet.
To further cement our speculation, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV was spotted at a local shopping mall’s car park very recently. As per the picture released by the luxury carmaker, the car was indeed wearing a full-on Merdeka theme, along with AMG Line wheels.
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To recap, the luxury SUV originally made its global debut back in April last year. It sits on the same EVA (Electric Vehicle Architecture) platform as the EQS sedan, but is shorter by 91mm, due to the lack of a boot compartment at the back.
On the outside, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV features the general design of the EQS sedan, and is easily recognisable as an EQ model, as it carries the brand’s EV lineup’s family design. The EQS SUV also sports a gloss black front grille, LED headlights, and chrome faux skid plate elements.
The AMG Line, which is the trim the Malaysian market will most likely receive comes with upgrades such as the signature bone-shaped wide air intakes up front, larger two-tone aerodynamic wheels, faux exhaust tips at the back, and a series of extra gloss black elements.
Powertrain-wise, there is no information regarding which variant(s) we will be getting just yet with the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. However, at its global launch, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV was offered with three powertrain options, just like its sedan sibling.
First off, we have the EQS 450+, which features a single electric motor that powers its rear wheels, resulting in a total of 360 hp and 568 Nm. The EQS 450 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) is also available, which adds on another electric drivetrain (eATS as the brand calls it) on the front axle, boosting the SUV’s torque figure to 800 Nm, with its horsepower figure unchanged.
Topping the lineup is the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4matic. This variant also features a dual-motor set-up, which is capable of churning out 544 hp and 858 Nm.
Powering all three variants’ electric motors is the 107.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is capable of carrying you as far as 660 km (WLTP) with the EQS 450+, and 613 km with the higher-end AWD variants. The luxury SUV can be charged using the on-board 11 kW AC charger, which will take approximately 10 hours to charge from flat to full. Customers can also opt for the 22 kW charger which can do the same faster at only five hours.
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When commuting outside, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV can also support DC fast charging of up to 200 kW. Juicing the car up from 10-80% takes around 31 minutes.
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV features an interior design that is pretty much similar to its sedan sibling. This translates into the inclusion of kits such as the huge MBUX Hyperscreen which consists of three individual displays housed in a single pane of glass that expands from door to door.
The Hyperscreen is fitted as standard for the top-of-the-line EQS 580 4matic but is an optional item for the remaining variants. Still, the screens the remaining variants get are no slouch either. This includes a 12.8-inch portrait-oriented central display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display.
Customers can also opt for the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment Plus package which adds two 11.6-inch touchscreens for the second-row passengers. There is also a dedicated removable tablet in the centre.
Seating configurations-wise, the EQS SUV is available in either a five- (2-3 layout) or seven-seater (2-3-2 layout) configuration. According to Mercedes-Benz, the five-seater variant configuration can fit up to four golf bags with a total of 880 litres of boot space, with its second-row seats moved to the most forward position.
In the safety department, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is equipped with advanced driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping and steering assist, as well as autonomous emergency braking with cross-traffic function. The brand’s intelligent park pilot package can also be opted as an option.
What do you think of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV? Are you excited for its arrival in the Malaysian market? Let us know in the comments.
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