Skip to main content
Open this photo in gallery:

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ SUV, shortly after being unveiled to media in Denver in October, 2022. It will accelerate to 100 kilometres an hour in 3.5 seconds.Mercedes-Benz AG, Communications & Marketing, photo by Deniz Calagan on behalf of Mercedes-Benz AG/Handout

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a new all-electric SUV that is smaller than the recently revealed EQS SUV and comes with a claimed range of 550 kilometres. The German luxury car maker hasn’t released pricing, but we expect it to be less than the $136,000 starting price for the EQS SUV.

The 2023 EQE SUV, which is based on the EQE electric sport sedan, will have five seats and initially come in two models in Canada: the EQE 350 4Matic and the more powerful EQE 500 4Matic.

In 2024, an AMG EQE 4Matic+ will join the lineup in the company’s performance division.

But what happens to AMG’s famous “one man, one engine” motto, where one technician works painstakingly on the same engine, signing it with pride as proof of its exclusivity, now that the engine is being replaced with dual electric motors?

“No more one man, one engine,” Jens Hueser, project leader for the all-electric EVA2 platform, responsible for the overall development of the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, said during the walk-around of the AMG EQE at an event in Denver. “But [gas-powered] engines at AMG will be around for a few more years, yet.”

So, what makes this SUV a “real” AMG? “We have our own AMG-specific electric motor in the front and in the rear,” Hueser said. “We have a different inverter and different cooling strategy for our electric motors to get the high output.”

As a result, this all-electric performance model will be able to accelerate to 100 kilometres an hour in 3.5 seconds, with the AMG Dynamic Plus package in Race mode and a boost function, which increases the horsepower to 677 from 617 and the torque to 738 lb-ft from 700.

We weren’t able to test drive the AMG EQE or the EQE, but side-by-side, the AMG is definitely the head-turner of the two.

Ironically, the AMG EQE has design cues reminiscent of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. At the front, it has an AMG-specific EQ black panel with sharp vertical struts in chrome and attractive air diffusers in high-gloss black that create an air curtain effect, which helps improve aerodynamics and reduce fuel consumption. On the hood, the three-pointed star is replaced with an exclusive AMG badge. From the side, its sharp lines, beefy 22-inch closed-design wheels and flush-fitting door handles intended to improve aerodynamics, give it an athletic stance. The display model’s solar light blue shade is stunning, too.

Inside, it’s clear this is no ordinary electric SUV. The AMG theme continues with a flat-bottomed performance steering wheel covered in leather, AMG sports pedals, floor mats, door sill trims and silver-toned aluminum paddle shifters. A cool feature is an analogue clock, which appears in the centre of the massive 56-inch screen that stretches nearly across the car. It’s designed for drivers to track their race times.

Sound is also key in this vehicle. Because electric motors are silent, AMG added sounds when accelerating and braking so it sounds like driving a vehicle with a V8 engine. The speakers are both inside and out, so pedestrians can hear the sound outside, too. “It’s not a combustion engine. It’s not a V8. It’s an electric vehicle, but it has its unique sound that gives you that feedback that helps when dynamic driving, so that you can fully feel and hear it with your ears,” Hueser said.

The AMG EQE will also have standard air suspension with rear-axle steering, AMG SUV-specific roll stabilization and five different driving modes: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. While many details, such as the electric range still aren’t available, the EQE 350 and 550 will have a claimed range of up to 550 kilometres, based on European ratings.

Open this photo in gallery:
Open this photo in gallery:

Top: The AMG theme continues with a flat-bottomed performance steering wheel covered in leather, AMG sports pedals, and silver-toned aluminum paddle shifters. Bottom: The interior retains familiar a AMG theme with its floor mats and door sill trims.Mercedes-Benz AG, Communications & Marketing, photo by Deniz Calagan on behalf of Mercedes-Benz AG/Handout

In the EQE SUV, the lithium-ion battery consists of ten modules. The battery management software, which was developed in-house, allows for over-the-air updates, too.

A standard heat pump is a welcome addition. It uses the wasted heat from the electric drive and high-voltage battery to heat the interior, which reduces the need for battery power and thereby increases the range.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ SUV will be available in Canada in 2024, while the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 and 500 4Matic SUVs will be available in the spring of 2023. Prices aren’t available yet. Production will begin in Tuscaloosa, Ala., this December with a nearby factory supplying the batteries.

Tech specs

2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ SUV

  • Base price: To be announced
  • Motors: Permanently excited synchronous motors, where the rotor is fitted with permanent magnets
  • Usable battery capacity: 90.6 kilowatt-hours
  • Charging time: To be announced
  • Power/torque: 626-687 horsepower; 700-738 lb-ft
  • Drive: All-wheel drive
  • On-board charger: 9.6 kilowatts
  • Claimed range: EQE is 550 kilometres to European standards; AMG range hasn’t been announced
  • Alternatives: Tesla Model Y, BMW iX, Audi Q4 e-tron, Cadillac Lyriq, Fisker Ocean, Genesis GV60, Lexus RZ
Open this photo in gallery:

The Mercedes-AMG EQE is available in with a AMG Dynamic Plus package in Race mode and a boost function that increases the horsepower to 687 from 626 and the torque to 738 lb-ft from 700.Mercedes-Benz AG, Communications & Marketing, photo by Deniz Calagan on behalf of Mercedes-Benz AG/Handout

The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.

Shopping for a new car? Check out the Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe