The all-electric Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV redefines the market for ultimate luxury SUV limos. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Background

For plutocrats wanting the ultimate electric luxury SUV who really can't wait until JLR gets around to bringing out an electric Range Rover, Mercedes has created this car; the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. Or, to give it its full name, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV. Even the badgework's fully loaded. As Mercedes-Maybach models always are. We've already had them based on the S-Class and, more pertinently here, on the brand's big GLS SUV. This though, is the first electric Maybach, which makes it quite significant. After all, one day quite soon, even exotic large luxury SUVs will be full-electric but at this Maybach model's launch in 2023, this was the only one that was. Which might make it a slam-dunk choice for rich and famous folk who want to be chauffeur-driven into the kind of city centres that not long into the future will start banning combustion-powered limos entirely. Let's take a closer look at what's on offer here.

Driving Experience

Without giving details, Mercedes insists that the weight of this car is 'under three tonnes', but it can't be that much under. And given that, perhaps we should be impressed that if escape from the paparazzi is needed, it can spirit its occupants from rest to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds. Goodness knows how fast the twin electric 4MOTION motors would take this Maybach if it wasn't so prodigiously weighed down. As it is, there's 658hp and 950Nm of torque (the same powertrain as the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC saloon). And the enormous 118kWh (usable capacity) battery pack will take you up to 369 miles between lengthy charges. There's the latest Mercedes chassis technology too, which includes a rear wheel steering system (standard 4.5-degrees or optional 10-degrees) to aid manoeuvrability, reducing the turning circle from 11.9m to just 11.0m (about the same as a compact hatch). There's also continuously adaptable ADS+ damping which can raise the air suspension's ground clearance by up to 35mm. Unique to this car is a special 'Maybach' drive mode, which replaces the normal 'Comfort' setting in the Mercedes 'Dynamic Select' system. This default setting is designed specifically for rear passenger comfort, ensuring that there are only minimal body movements under the rear seats. The other drive settings are 'Eco', 'Sport', 'Off-Road' and 'Individual'. Refinement of course is absolutely peerless.

Design and Build

As prospective celebrity and well-heeled customers will want, this top EQS SUV is clearly identifiable as a Mercedes-Maybach. The vertical strake front grille design identifies the Stuttgart maker's luxury sub-brand, as do the unique Maybach polished wheels, available in either 21 or 22-inch sizes. For extroverts, the usual Maybach two-tone paint option's available too. And there's extended polished brightwork on the sills, the tailgate and the B-pillars. What really matters here though, are the changes made inside. Not so much at the front, though that's impressive enough with the brand's enormous Hyperscreen dominating the cockpit. This sees a 17.7-inch central touchscreen flanked by further passenger and driver 12.3-inch information displays. And you get unique Maybach chrome touches on the dash and the doors. Those doors can close automatically, though there's no button to activate them like on a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. But what will sell this car to its exclusive clientele is the rear seat experience. The usual EQS SUV third seating row has been dispensed with and the ordinary roller cover over the cargo area replaced by a rigid parcel shelf (to isolate boot noise). As you'd expect from a Maybach, the rear seating is taken care of by two opulent high-end recliners with Maybach-branded pillows and a full-recline function on the passenger side that shoves the front passenger seat forward for maximum stretch-out-ability. A custom sandalwood scent wafts through the cabin and the seats are split by a gloss black centre tunnel with pinstriping and hidden amenities like fold-out tables, champagne flutes and even a mini fridge. Back seat folk have two 11.6-inch touchscreens attached to the seatbacks and a removable Samsung tablet in the centre console. Plus there's a Burmester 4D sound system and the seats have heating, cooling and massage functions.

Market and Model

According to its maker, this car represents 'the transformation of Mercedes-Maybach from a tradition-rich luxury brand into a more progressive electric future'. You'd expect to have to pay for that - and of course you do. Think of a starting figure of just over £200,000 - or closer to £250,000 with all your favoured extras fitted - and you won't be far out. At the time of this review, this very top model was priced from just over £200,000 in standard 'First Class' form - or from around £240,000 in top 'First Class Night Series' guise. Your first decision as a customer will be to decide whether you want larger 22-inch wheels or the two-tone paintwork. Inside, the cabin comes as standard with Maybach Exclusive Nappa leather in 'espresso brown/balao brown pearl'. An alternative 'Macchiato beige/bronze brown pearl' finish is optionally available. For an even more sophisticated look, Maybach MANUFAKTUR Exclusive Nappa leather is available as an option in crystal white/silver grey pearl. The leather in all interior colours comes from sustainable processing. Natural woods are available as decorative parts: MANUFAKTUR brown open-pore birch wood and brown open-pore MANUFAKTUR walnut wood, as well as MANUFAKTUR piano lacquer black flowing lines. The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is the first model from Mercedes-Benz AG to be fitted with vegetable-tanned leather. Coffee bean shells are used as tanning agents. On request, the centre console can include two folding tables, a cooling compartment and silver-plated champagne goblets. Standard is a 15-speaker Burmester 4D sound system and 'Energising Air Control' to keep pollutants outside. And there's Active Ambient Lighting with 253 individually controllable LEDs and 64 individually selectable colours.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the range between battery replenishment in our 'Driving' section - up to 369 miles. This Maybach comes fitted with a 'DCU' or 'Disconnect Unit' which, depending on the driving situation and the power required, will automatically decouple the electric motor on the front axle to increase the range. At low loads, the DCU switches to 4x2 driving mode. Then the electric motor and the transmission on the front axle stand still. The EQS SUV, like its saloon and EQE counterparts, hasn't adopted the 800V electronic architecture that top Audi, Porsche and Genesis EVs use to charge at up to 350kW. Instead, there's an older-tech 400V system that offers up to 200kW DC rapid charge capability. Still, at the current time when chargers capable of working at up to 350kW are rarer than unicorns, the EQS stats look just fine and you can add up to 136 miles of range just a quarter of an hour. A 10-80% charge will take only 31 minutes. As standard, you get an 11kW AC on-board charger, though a future option will allow customers to pay extra for a more powerful 22kW unit. Using an AC charging point, the 22kW on-board charger tops up the car from 0-100% in 6 hours 15 minutes. If you use a 7.4kW wallbox, you'll be looking at 18 hours and 30 minutes for a complete AC charge; so full replenishment will need a couple of nights of sleep then.

Summary

Apparently, Mercedes-Maybach customers 'expect the extraordinary'. Is that what the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is? You may well feel that the idea of an eco-conscious luxury SUV crossover weighing nearly three tonnes and requiring mini-power station levels of regular charging is somewhat extraordinary. But for super-rich folk not wanting the ecological embarrassment of exhaust smoke or the inconvenience of inner-city combustion restrictions, this car is tailor-made. And unique for EVs in terms of its rear seat luxury - until competing Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Range Rover models arrive. It's the quietest possible way to be chauffeur-driven and arguably, only Maybach combustion models can rival the reclining rear seat comfort offered here. There still a slight whiff of contradiction in a car this big and heavy being promoted ecologically, but if you can live with that, there's nothing quite like this Maybach.