He looks quite unspectacular, but – if the driver wants it – is a real jack of all trades on long distances. The Mercedes AMG EQE 53 4matic is the electric spearhead in the AMG portfolio.
It used to be much easier to distinguish an AMG model from its tamer brothers. Apart from the sportier rims and the small spoiler lip on the trunk lid – the EQE 53er doesn’t look much different from an EQE 350. Fat aprons, flared fenders or the thick tailpipes – nothing can be found on the most powerful electric model from Affalterbach. With its indicated slatted front and the faithful LED look, it is a powerhouse – and what a powerhouse. Surprisingly, the untamed horsepower bolt-on at Mercedes / AMG is not completely followed. Sporty and AMG – of course, they have belonged together for more than 50 years. But while many a competitor in this electric luxury class league is on the road with 800, 1,000 or even more hp, AMG is holding back without disappointing in the slightest. After all, the Mercedes AMG EQS 53 4matic with 460 kW / 625 PS / 950 Nm even clearly beats the current AMG E 63. In boost, the new electric star carrier from the Ländle even offers 505 kW / 687 hp and a gigantic 1,000 Nm maximum torque – only briefly, but always impressive when the driver steps on the electric gas.
Therefore, it is always a sensible solution to give the electric E-Class with its length of an impressive 4.94 meters three all-important details: all-wheel drive, air suspension and variable all-wheel steering. Fine extras that are pleasantly noticeable both when cruising in comfort and when flying low on country roads and motorways. As harmless as the AMG 53 looks – its boost is powerful, no, enormous. On the all too playful cluster of instruments, the digits just fly past during a sprint and the driver, like the other occupants, is violently pressed into the seat. The seats are good, but despite the high-priced offer structure, they are only covered with fine leather on request – too bad. The chassis is also tight in comfort mode and you notice the tight body structure of the Mercedes AMG EQE 53 with every meter, which has its reason not least in the battery pack in the underbody. The 90.6 kWh battery pack is an integral part of the body structure, lowers the center of gravity and streamlines the overall package impressively. The gigantic 2.5-tonne electric sedan springs particularly tightly on the front axle – regardless of the selected driving mode. The steering – just as good as precise, but not a reference class.
The driving performance is what the driver of a sports sedan would want. From a standing start, the electric all-wheel drive vehicle accelerates to 100 km/h in a spectacular 3.5 seconds. Only with the optional plus package is the limited top speed of 210 km/h extended to 240 km/h all too soon. Others can do that better and the question remains as to why a 687 hp powerhouse shouldn’t sprint faster on the autobahn. Admittedly, this should not play a particularly important role for many of the customers. In addition to the basic price of a stately 109,777 euros, you are particularly interested in the range – depending on the corresponding consumption. Mercedes promises a power flow of 20.2 kWh per 100 kilometers, which would mean that the charging station would be back after 525 kilometers at the latest.
When it comes to fast charging, however, the Swabians have some catching up to do, because the DC charging speed of 170 kilowatts is impressive in everything else. Porsche and Audi achieve 270 kW with an empty battery pack and that is a huge difference – particularly due to the 800 volt system. The situation is similar with the models from Tesla or Kia / Hyundai – here, too, the current flows noticeably faster into the well-tempered battery pack, which ensures that it sits a little higher than you would expect. Because even if the batteries are now flat – they are not invisible and are also noticeable in the interior. The space inside the luxury sedan is still generous. You have long since gotten used to the oversized screen and it is hardly worse to sit in the back than in the front row. And with the trunk volume of 430 liters, most customers should also be able to get there – no matter what speed they are traveling at.
