Dear reader, are you considering an electric luxury SUV and wondering whether to splurge on Mercedes‘ flagship EQS or opt for the more affordable EQB? As vehicles created for two very different budgets, directly comparing these electric SUV cousins can prove tricky. Never fear – our comprehensive guide examines every key metric, test driving impression, and ownership consideration to determine whether the innovative EQS or practical EQB makes the best luxe EV match for your needs…
Mercedes Charges Toward an Electric Future
Before weighing the pros and cons of Mercedes’ exciting new electric models, let’s first understand the brand’s overall electrification game plan. Mercedes-Benz seeks to lead the luxury EV market much as its gasoline-powered vehicles have dominated premium segments for decades. The company is investing over $85 billion to launch at least 10 all-electric models by 2025 under the new EQ sub-brand, shifting to a fully electric lineup by the end of this decade.
The EQS sport utility vehicle serves as the technological flagship of this future lineup – an electric vehicle built from the wheels up to demonstrate the heights of refinement and innovation Mercedes can achieve in an EV package. Meanwhile, the EQB fills in as a more accessible entry point to lure mainstream luxury buyers to electrification using familiar design in a more affordable package.
So while they compete for some of the same customers, make no mistake – the EQS prioritizes advancing EV capabilities to new extremes as Mercedes’ halo model, while the EQB focuses more on value and approachability. Let’s examine the hows and whys…
EQS vs EQB: How Do These Electric SUVs Compare on Paper?
First, how do these two EQ models stack up across essential SUV metrics like pricing, range, performance and charging? Our visual spec comparison chart should illustrate a pattern emerging – the EQS consistently outmatches its little sibling by sizable margins indicative of its flagship status:
| EQS 450+ | EQB 250 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $104,400 | $52,400 |
| Driving Range | 340 miles | 260 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 4.5 sec | 6.2 sec |
| Horsepower | 355 hp | 225 hp |
| Battery Size | 108 kWh | 66 kWh |
| Top Speed | 130 mph | 100 mph |
| Charger Type | 200 kW Max | 100 kW Max |
The EQS clearly surpasses the EQB by every measurable statistic. Over a $50,000 price premium buys you an extra 80 horsepower, faster acceleration by 1.7 seconds to 60 mph, an additional 80 miles of driving range and cutting-edge recharge capabilities. And we’ve yet to detail the EQS’ enhanced interior luxury and superior tech…but more on that later.
However, stats never tell the whole story when it comes to real-world vehicle enjoyment. Let’s examine how these electric SUVs feel to pilot over long, winding country byways or down cramped city streets…
Driving Experience: The EQS Handles Surprisingly Well For Its Size
Slide behind the steering wheel of the Mercedes EQS, and you may be shocked by its agility belying its full-size dimensions. Equipped with standard rear-wheel steering, the EQS pivots with unexpected grace into tight parking spots, helped by a turning circle over 6 feet tighter than a typical S-Class sedan. Engineered to pivot the rear wheels opposite the front wheels by up to 10 degrees at high speeds, the EQS proves remarkably stable and surefooted in evasive maneuvers.
Let‘s take a moment to understand why the EQS handles so exceptionally well despite its size and mass. You see, Mercedes built this model on a dedicated EV architecture allowing engineers to lower the battery pack between the axles, dropping the center of gravity far below gas-powered SUVs. The 113 kWh battery model weighs over 5,500 lbs yet avoids feeling ponderous or unwieldy on twisty roads.
Do you prioritize a nimble, athletic driving feel in your luxury vehicles? If so, the EQS rewards keen drivers with Sports Car maneuverability wrapped in a practical SUV package.
Conversely, the entry-level EQB derives from Mercedes’ gas-powered GLB small crossover chassis. While its boxy, upright profile lends a commanding view of the road, handling proves less nimble than the lower-slung EQS. Still, a tight turning radius aids city maneuvering, and squat proportions deliver a sure-footed stance. Available 4MATIC all-wheel drive grapples well on slick surfaces, although the rear-drive EQB tends to understeer in aggressive cornering.
Prefer ride comfort and ease of driving over sports car reflexes? The straightforward EQB chassis tuned for space efficiency over performance may suit you better.
Both models coddle occupants in near silence – active noise cancelling and sound-deadening materials reduce interior noise levels to library readings at highway speeds. Self-leveling air suspension delivers cloud-like cruising without floaty handling. Given their hushed cabins and unstrained acceleration, you may glance down in surprise at the speedometer cresting triple digits!
Interior Experience: Enter a New Era of Automotive Luxury
If the EQS Rewrites the Rules for electric vehicle ride and handling, its spaceship cockpit utterly redefines expectations of luxury appointments and bleeding-edge technology. The moment the electronic door latch clicks open, the EQS cabin makes a striking first impression with its gentle arc spanning the entire dashboard.
This integrated digital display combines three separate high-resolution touchscreen panels behind a single seamless pane of glass. Dubbed the Hyperscreen by Mercedes engineers, this curved screen array houses a colossal 55-inch infotainment display networked with both the instrument panel and front passenger display. Operable by touch, gestures or voice commands, the vivid Hyperscreen brings critical driving data, navigation prompts, climate controls and streaming entertainment together under an elegantly integrated surface.
Do you relish the idea of living behind the helm of a sleek spacecraft while running errands about town? Order your EQS with the game-changing Hyperscreen for the ultimate first-adopter flex.
And the innovation doesn’t stop there – the EQS debuts several automotive firsts for interior luxury. Standard power-adjustable rear seats recline 43 degrees with extendable leg rests for bonafide business class comfort. An available augmented reality head-up display beams animated navigation prompts seemingly floating atop the actual roadway. The premium Burmester audio system plays crisp concert hall-quality sound. And capacitive touch buttons reducing surface contamination illuminate intelligently as your hand draws near.
From the driver‘s seat, both models provide a commanding, elevated view of your surroundings, although the taller EQS provides slightly better sightlines. Available panoramic sunroofs enhance natural light, lending an airier ambiance. However, the EQB offers far fewer leading-edge tech capabilities – think 10 inches of shared dashboard touchscreens versus 55 dazzling inches of OLED displays. And the EQS cradles occupants in more sumptuous Nappa leather across greater adjustability – even massaging away fatigue.
Simply put, if you seek to pamper both driver and passenger with every extravagance Mercedes can possibly provide, the cabin of dreams EQS delivers in ways its smaller sibling cannot hope to match. But families may still appreciate the EQB’s space-efficient seven seats and user-friendly controls all the same.
Range and Charging: Can Either Electric SUV Road Trip?
For environmentally conscious buyers debating between the EQS and EQB, projected driving range and charging capabilities often weigh heavily in their decisions. Here again the advantage goes to the EQS, which can cover up to 340 miles between charging stops in its longest range RWD trim. Compare that to a maximum 243 miles for rear-wheel drive EQB models – still ample for most commuters but limiting for extended road trips far from chargers.
Both SUVs replenish batteries rapidly at public DC fast charging stations, with the EQS accepting up to 200 kW and the EQB up to 100 kW. What does that translate to in real-world charging times? Our handy chart tells the tale:
| EQS 450+ | EQB 250 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Mins Charging Adds | 168 miles | 93 miles |
| 20 Mins Charging Adds | 237 miles | 140 miles |
As you can observe, the EQS can recover range nearly twice as quickly as the EQB given its more advanced battery chemistry and thermal management. Cranking the climate control to minimize discomfort remains a trickier proposition in the EQB on long journeys.
Are you someone who logs long daily commutes or wants to set out on nationwide road trips without planning stops? Opt for the EQS’ extra buffer of driving range and charging capacity for absolute confidence you’ll reach destinations swiftly.
For most drivers sticking closer to home, either SUV should easily recharge from empty overnight using 240-volt AC wall connectors. Mercedes me connect apps make trip planning easier by factoring in weather, traffic, terrain and driving habits into projected range estimates along your route. Overall, the EQS brings the promise of long-distance electric travel more squarely into reality today for anxious adopters. But even modest itinerary EQB owners can road trip with just a bit more forethought and care.
Safety & Drivers Assistance: Piloting the EQS Feels Like the Future
As the vanguard of Mercedes’ electric evolution, the EQS debuts multiple intelligent driving aids outpacing those of internal combustion predecessors. Chief among these is an upgraded second-generation Drive Pilot system capable of automatically following routes, braking, accelerating and centering lanes for extended periods with minimal driver input.
While true autonomous self-driving remains on the horizon pending further testing and regulations, Drive Pilot eases the burden of traffic jams and long stretches of highway considerably. Intelligent speed limit assist, adaptive cruise control with route-based speed adaptation, lane change assist and front cross-traffic warnings integrate smoothly to enable safe semi-automated driving. The EQS may ultimately pilot itself door-to-door once solve challenging urban navigate challenges ahead.
Do you relish playing passenger while your vehicle shoulders the tedium of daily commuting? Spec your EQS with every available driving aid for a taste of autonomy today.
The EQB also offers a full complement of standard active safety equipment, including attention assist, active braking, blind spot monitoring and parking sensors. However, absent the flagship EQS’ cutting-edge semiautonomous driving capabilities, piloting the EQB proves the more hands-on and traditional driving experience between the two.
For those less focused on ultimate automation, rest assured that both electric SUVs feature extremely rigid passenger shells and the latest collision avoidance tech to provide maximal protection. The EQS in particular uses aluminum alloys and hot-formed steel to divert impact forces around occupants. So despite their differing levels of driving assistance, both EVs deliver reassuring security for you and your passengers.
Cost Breakdown: Lower Sticker Price Just the Start for EQB
If by now the EQS appears the runaway winner by most measures, why might a shopper still opt for the EQB? One word: price. While the EQS commands six-figure sums before options, the EQB sticker starts just above $50,000 – far more attainable for younger first-time Mercedes buyers, second households adding practical electrified transportation, or those unwilling to pay flagship premiums for the S-Class experience.
In fact, when comparing similarly equipped mid-grade models, the EQB retains nearly a $40,000 price advantage over its stablemate:
2023 Mercedes EQB 300 4Matic
- Base price: $55,500
- Mid-Grade as equipped: $57,750
(adds heated front seats/steering wheel, panoramic roof)
2023 Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic
- Base price: $125,900
- Mid-Grade as equipped: $96,500
(adds executive rear seating package, heated/cooled/massaging front seats)
That nearly $40,000 savings can buy a lot of family vacations and college tuition. And the value keeps building over years of ownership – Edmunds data shows the EQB will save buyers an extra $8,700 in maintenance and repair costs compared to the EQS over 5 years of operation.
If you balk at costs approaching a quarter-million dollars for a vehicle, rest easier knowing the EQB retains a Mercedes pedigree of refinement, quality engineering and prestige at a more manageable price.
Even sweeter, federal tax incentives of up to $7,500 plus state rebates slice EV prices substantially. And electric running costs prove far lower with fewer mechanical components to repair and no gasoline expense. While resale values remain difficult to forecast for newly launched EVs, conventional Mercedes SUVs hold value exceptionally well.
So once you pencil out all ownership costs both upfront and down the road, the EQB warrants consideration as the smarter financial play using one’s head instead of heart. Albeit without the flashy concept car theatrics of the six-figure EQS, of course.
EQS vs EQB: Which Electric SUV Is the Smarter Choice?
Dear reader, while we arrived at the finish line of this comparison, have we truly decided between the leading-edge 2023 Mercedes EQS versus its junior counterpart, the EQB? Each SUV offers alluring yet divergent takes on electric luxury mobility tailored to different priorities and budgets.
The rakish EQS sedan symbolizes the apex of innovation Mercedes-Benz can achieve in an EV package unencumbered by internal combustion traditions. Engineers took liberties adapting race-bred chassis components and avant-garde interfaces to create their vision of future mobility. If you relish exclusive ownership of the world’s most advanced vehicle brimming with sensory delights, the EQS rewards your investment many times over.
Alternatively, seek Mercedes refinement and versatility encased in a tidier, more approachable package? The EQB checks those boxes admirably while saving tens of thousands over its senior platform-mate. You’ll forgo the extroverted concept car theatrics but keep most core Mercedes strengths around comfort, cabin design and infotainment functionality firmly intact.
Ultimately, there are no wrong answers here with two stellar electric SUVs tailored to different priorities and budgets. Both EQS and EQB owners can revel in the dawning of a new electric age while rocketing toward the horizon in signature three-pointed-star style. Hopefully our in-depth examination helped illuminate which model resonates strongest as your luxury EV traveling companion for years ahead!
