Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 First Review

Goodbye rumbling V8s, hello full electrification. Mercedes-AMG is embracing the age of electrification like the rest of the Mercedes-Benz lineup and the result is this, the Mercedes-AMG EQS. It’s the first battery-electric AMG production model and we must say, it’s smart of AMG to have chosen the flagship EQS sedan for such an honor.
 
After all, this is essentially an electrified S-Class, so the emphasis on comfort and luxury may prevent awkward comparisons to red-hot and much-loved AMG sedans like the outgoing S63 and the current E63 S. But AMG will still be set out to prove that it can build an engaging and rapid sedan without the aid of a boisterous V8 or even a V6 lurking under the hood. Is this AMG worthy of its hallowed badge? Like you, we can’t wait to find out.
 

Exterior: A Subtler AMG
AMGs and fat tailpipes are like hamburgers and fries; they’ve simply always gone together. But the obvious absence of quad-exit pipes at the back is the first sign that this is a new sort of AMG. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a bolder prospect than the regular EQS sedan, however. In front, there’s an AMG-specific black panel grille with vertical chrome struts that mimics the usual Panamericana grille found on gas-powered AMGs. It’s got a front splitter in high-gloss black, AMG side sill panels, a rear spoiler, and AMG wheels measuring either 21 or 22 inches in size.
 
The rounded EQS shape still takes some getting used to, but at least a fair amount of effort has been put into differentiating this car from its non-AMG sibling.
 

Performance: Quick But Not Tesla Quick
The new AMG EQS is crushingly quick in any language. It’ll reach 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and will top out at 155 mph. As fast as it is, however, both versions of the Tesla Model S are quicker still, particularly the record-breaking Model S Plaid.
 
The AMG EQS has two electric motors that produce 649 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque normally but can generate up to 751 hp and 752 lb-ft in Race Start mode with the boost function. A fully-variable AMG performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system is standard. Rear-axle steering is standard which helps to aid maneuverability. Other performance goodies include the AMG Dynamic Select system with selectable driving modes and an AMG high-performance compound braking system with six-piston front calipers.
 
The 400-volt battery has a 107.8-kWh capacity. According to Mercedes, a 15-minute charge will yield a range of 186 miles based on the WLTP cycle.
 

Interior: The Spaceship Of Cars
There isn’t much out there that can match the EQS AMG’s MBUX Hyperscreen for its sheer wow factor. The 56-inch curved glass surface consists of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger display. The driver can call up their individual profile using a fingerprint sensor.
 
The stupendously advanced interior also gets standard equipment like an augmented reality head-up display, ambient lighting, a Burmester 3D sound system, massaging front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seats, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control.
 
AMG touches include carbon fiber trim and AMG Nappa leather upholstery.
 

Price And Verdict
Mercedes-AMG hasn’t yet revealed the price of the 2022 AMG EQS so we can’t make a call yet as to how it compares with the likes of the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S.
 
The Tesla starts at $89,990 for the Long Range and goes up to $129,990 for the Plaid, whereas the Taycan’s price ranges between $82,700 and $185,000. Compared with these rivals, the EQS has a more luxurious interior and a lengthier features list, but it doesn’t move the goalposts in terms of performance.
 
The final call will have to be made when we can get behind the wheel (Jay Leno seems to like it) of the first fully electric AMG to find out if it can thrill its driver in the same way that its gas-powered siblings have for so many years.