2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE53

Overview

The EQE53 EV SUV is where fancy and fast intersect. While Mercedes prepares to fully electrify its lineup of cars and SUVs, it hasn’t neglected to give its freshest offerings a splash of AMG performance. Built from the bones of the newly debuted Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, reviewed separately, the AMG EQE53 is the first EV SUV to wear Affalterbach’s performance badge. The EQE53 uses more powerful motors with output cranked as high as 677 horsepower; the power gets to the ground through all-wheel drive. There’s also rear-axle steering and the AMG Ride Control air suspension found on the most lavish S-class sedans. The EQE53 is dripping with a suite of luxurious accents and features from the embossed AMG emblems on the headrests to the vanes and fins on the front that help influence air around the car for maximum driving performance and range. The EQE53 is one of only a handful of fully electric high-performance SUVs currently on the market. Its closest competitors are the 610-hp BMW iX M60 and the uber-quick Tesla Model X Plaid.

What’s New for 2023?

The Mercedes-Benz lineup has quickly filled with EQ-branded electric vehicles, and the AMG-badged EQE53 is the hottest of the company’s SUVs. It shares its platform, styling cues, and interior features with the EQE sedan, but it comes with the tall-in-the-saddle seating position that Americans crave. Plus, it has a 141-horsepower surplus over the standard EQE SUV model.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

For now, the AMG EQE53 is offered as a single high-performance model. An optional AMG Dynamic Plus package offers an overboost function that pumps up the motors’ output from 617 to 677 horsepower. We’ll wait until we’ve tested the EQE53 with and without the Dynamic Plus package to form a recommendation about which setup to buy. But either way, there’s no doubt the EQE53 is here to fill an AMG-sized hole in the EV performance SUV market.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

The EQE53 may be a single model but it comes in two intensities. All EQE53s sport 4Matic all-wheel drive and dual motors. Standard output doesn’t disappoint: at 617 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque, the EQE53 has more power than both the BMW iX M60 and the base Rivian R1S SUV. When equipped with the AMG Dynamic Plus package, horsepower and torque are boosted to 677 and 738 pound-feet, respectively. Mercedes says power output is variable and dependent on drive modes. For example, in Slippery mode, power is cut by as much as 50% (to 308 horsepower); Comfort dials it back to 493 horsepower; and the maximum of 677 horsepower is unleashed only in models with the Dynamic Plus performance package—and then only when you’re in Race Start mode. The EQE53 wears Michelin Pilot Sport EV M01 tires fitted to either 21- or 22-inch wheels. Mercedes estimates the EQE can sprint to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, but we can’t say for certain until we’ve tested one.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The EQE53 comes with a 90.6-kWh battery pack, which should provide a driving range of about 292 miles calculated on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WHLVTP). EPA range estimates haven’t been announced yet. Typically, EPA range for EVs is roughly 10 percent lower than the WHLVTP ratings. When hooked up to a DC fast charging station, Mercedes-Benz says the battery can be charged up to 170 kW. Mercedes claims that the EQE53 can gain 100 miles or range in just 15 minutes, thanks to a 9.6 kW onboard charger.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The EPA hasn’t released fuel-economy estimates yet for the EQE53, but we’re expecting it to be slightly less efficient than the less-powerful EQE SUV. When we get a chance, we’ll take the EQE53 SUV on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route and update this story with real-world results. For more information about the EQE SUV’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Like the EQE SUV, the EQE53’s cabin looks rich, and has passenger space for adults to comfortably sit in both the front and rear seats. All models are five-seaters as there is no third-row option here. The cockpit is fitted with many finely tuned details. The instrument cluster and doors have red topstitching. There are AMG emblems embossed on the front headrests and spread throughout on the foot pedals, floor mats, and even illuminated on the door sills. You’d be hard-pressed to mistake it for a normal Benz. The MBUX Hyperscreen is available and offers a massive digital display stretching from A-pillar to A-pillar. The EQE53 can also be had with Dolby Atmos, for a 360 degree-like audio experience.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

A large 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard and runs Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX software interface which can also recognize voice commands. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard features and all models also come with a wireless smartphone charging pad. The optional MBUX Hyperscreen spans the width of the dashboard and incorporates three screens of information under one huge sweeping pane of glass. The EQE53 has exclusive designs for both its instrument cluster and head-up display.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

All models come with basic driver-assistance features as standard, including automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, but Mercedes requires the addition of the optional Driver Assistance package to unlock more advanced tech such as an adaptive cruise control system with a lane-centering feature. For more information about the EQ53’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes warranty coverages for its current production models align with most rival luxury automakers. However, unlike BMW and Jaguar, the company doesn’t provide any complimentary maintenance.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance