Mercedes-Benz EQS

The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the brand's flagship all-electric luxury saloon, built on the dedicated EVA2 EV platform. Billed as the "S-Class of the electric era", the EQS made its global debut in 2021 as the halo model of Mercedes-Benz's electrification strategy. In April 2026, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a major facelift for the EQS, with the carmaker officially stating that over 25% of its components have been redeveloped or re-engineered—far exceeding the scope of a routine mid-cycle refresh and effectively making it an "all-new car under the same skin". In Germany, the refreshed model starts from RM94,403 (inclusive of tax). In Taiwan, the EQS 450+ Pioneer Edition is priced from RM5,740,000. Positioned as a full-size electric luxury saloon, the EQS primarily competes against the BMW i7, Tesla Model S, and Porsche Taycan.

Design Language

In terms of styling, the EQS adopts the Mercedes-EQ family's distinctive "One-Bow Design" philosophy. Shunning sharp character lines entirely, the silhouette flows like a falling water droplet to deliver a drag coefficient as low as 0.20 Cd, which once set the benchmark for series-production road-going EVs. The 2026 facelift brings noticeable revisions to the front end: the bonnet gains prominent Powerdomes ridges, while the daytime running lights incorporate three-pointed star motifs. Up front sits a closed-off illuminated star grille—standard variants feature broad chrome louvres, whereas AMG Line variants receive an exclusive illuminated star pattern. The headlights have been upgraded to DIGITAL LIGHT units with micro-LED technology, widening high-resolution illumination coverage by 40% and slashing energy consumption by 50%, with the ULTRA RANGE high beam reaching up to 600 metres. Along the flanks, flush pop-out door handles and the sleek fastback profile are retained, matched with full-width LED taillights at the rear. Dimensionally, the wheelbase spans 3,210 mm, making it longer than a standard petrol-powered S-Class. Inside, the cabin is headlined by the iconic MBUX Hyperscreen—a 141-cm-wide one-piece curved glass surface that seamlessly houses three displays (a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch front passenger screen). The 2026 update migrates the infotainment system to the proprietary MB.OS operating system, introducing a multi-agent AI virtual assistant. The cabin also offers extensive personalisation options, including open-pore poplar wood trim, laurel-leaf stitching, and MANUFAKTUR bespoke customisation (offering around 125 exterior paint finishes).

Powertrain Performance

The most significant upgrade for the 2026 EQS lies in its electric drive system, where the electrical architecture migrates from 400V to an 800V high-voltage platform. DC fast charging capability jumps from 200 kW to 350 kW, allowing it to recover 320 km of WLTP range in just 10 minutes. When hooked up to a 400V charger, the battery pack can split into two virtual sub-packs, each charging at up to 175 kW. In terms of battery packs, the EQS 450+ now carries a usable capacity of 122 kWh (up from 118 kWh), with volumetric energy density improved via a silicon oxide-graphite composite anode chemistry. For the first time, the primary rear electric drive unit is paired with a two-speed gearbox—first gear handles off-the-line launch acceleration, while second gear maximises high-speed cruising efficiency. Regenerative braking power has been bumped up by 33% to 385 kW. Four variants are available: a new entry-level EQS 400 with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup producing 270 kW (367 hp), equipped with a 112 kWh battery for a WLTP range of 817 km; the RWD EQS 450+ gets an uprated output of 408 hp (300 kW) and a 122 kWh battery, achieving a WLTP range of up to 926 km; the all-wheel-drive (AWD) EQS 500 4MATIC delivers a combined 476 hp (350 kW) with 876 km of range; and the AWD EQS 580 4MATIC puts out a system total of 585 hp (430 kW) with 876 km of range. Top speed across all variants is electronically capped at 210 km/h.

Chassis and Handling

The EQS is built on the EVA2 dedicated electric architecture, with the battery pack packaged flat across the floorpan. Suspension duties are handled by an independent setup comprising front double-wishbones and a rear multi-link arrangement. AIRMATIC air suspension with continuously adaptive damping (ADS+) comes as standard across the range. The 2026 model adds cloud-based damping control—via Car-to-X communication, the car detects upcoming road hazards in advance and adjusts damper firmness in real time before driving over speed humps. The steering system represents the most revolutionary engineering breakthrough in this refresh: the EQS is the first German production model to be equipped with steer-by-wire technology. The mechanical steering column between the steering wheel and front wheels has been completely eliminated, replaced by electronic actuators and signals. The steering ratio adapts dynamically, while harsh road vibrations are isolated from the driver's hands. Working in tandem with up to 10 degrees of rear-axle steering, the EQS achieves an ultra-tight turning circle of just 5.7 metres despite measuring over 3.2 metres between the wheels. The system incorporates fail-safe redundancy; even if electronic control fails entirely, directional stability can still be maintained via rear-wheel steering and selective ESP brake intervention. For markets or buyers requiring it, conventional electromechanical steering remains available as an alternative.

Cabin and Equipment

The EQS cabin revolves around the MBUX Hyperscreen as its core hardware. Infotainment is driven by the MB.OS architecture—heralded by Mercedes-Benz as the vehicle's "central supercomputer"—which natively supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The MBUX Virtual Assistant incorporates Microsoft AI technology, enabling complex multi-turn natural conversations and offering three distinct interactive avatars. The revised Zero Layer interface supports smartphone-style customisable home screen folders. A new MBUX Surround Navigation feature leverages onboard cameras and sensors to render a dynamic, real-time 3D environment map on the instrument cluster. The rear-seat entertainment displays have grown from 11.6 inches to 13.1 inches and come with dual remote controllers. Video conferencing apps including Microsoft Teams and Zoom are supported. Acoustic performance is delivered via a Burmester 3D surround sound system with Dolby Atmos. Comfort appointments include: first-in-class heated front seat belts (reaching 44°C rapidly), a medical-grade HEPA filter (capturing over 99.65% of fine particulates), and four-zone automatic climate control. Bi-directional charging (V2G and V2H) is confirmed on a hardware level, to be activated via a future OTA update. Towing capacities have also been upgraded, rated at 1,600 kg for RWD models and 1,700 kg for AWD versions.

Safety and ADAS

The EQS is fitted with 10 cameras and 27 sensors all around the vehicle. Its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have been upgraded to Level 2+, supporting full-speed adaptive cruise control, active lane change assist, evasive steering assist, and full-scenario automated parking. A 360-degree surround-view monitor with a "transparent bonnet" function enhances low-speed manoeuvring safety. On the passive safety front, the 2026 update adds rear passenger side airbags. The comprehensive PRE-SAFE suite includes PRE-SAFE PLUS rear-end collision protection, Active Blind Spot Assist (with exit warning), and Active Lane Keeping Assist. In the lighting department, the DIGITAL LIGHT micro-LED headlights feature dynamic curve illumination and adaptive high-beam assist functions.

Market Performance and Verdict

Since its launch in 2021, the EQS has consistently underperformed against expectations, with global deliveries falling short of one-third of the petrol-powered S-Class. In China, despite massive dealer discounts slashing its sticker price from RM881,000, cumulative sales over its three-year tenure failed to breach the 20,000-unit mark. Between January and May 2025, cumulative sales barely scraped past 200 units. Industry analysts attribute the model's struggle to several core factors: an overly radical design philosophy, where the One-Bow profile and rounded curves discarded Mercedes-Benz's classic three-box silhouette, long bonnet, and upright grille, alienating traditional S-Class buyers who expect the presence of a "land yacht"; rear cabin quarters that failed to deliver the regal headroom and legroom expected of an S-Class tier flagship; and an in-car software experience that trailed domestic EV challengers in fluidity and third-party app integration. Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener candidly acknowledged that the EQS "might have arrived 10 years too early". In response to these headwinds, Mercedes-Benz has swiftly pivoted its product strategy—the next-generation all-electric flagship will be folded back into the S-Class family, sharing a unified platform with the ICE-powered S-Class and fully reinstating classic luxury styling cues. The phasing out of the standalone EQS is regarded across the industry as an expensive lesson paid in arrogance and complacency during a legacy marque's electric transition. While the 2026 major overhaul brings genuine technical leaps—such as the 800V architecture, a 926 km range, and steer-by-wire capability—whether it can single-handedly turn the tide in showrooms remains to be seen.