Michael SatterfieldThe 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS doesn’t announce itself as the future of luxury sedans; it simply exists as an option for those who want something different. Launched in 2021 under the looming shadow of government mandates, Mercedes-Benz produced an electric sedan worthy of the legendary S-Class designation. This latest update to its flagship EV doesn’t reinvent it, but refines the EQS. And yet, under the subtle restyling and the familiar silhouette, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is quietly rewriting the rulebook for what an electric grand tourer can be.
A Subtle Nod to Heritage
For 2025, the EQS earns a free-standing star on its hood, small in the grand scheme, but meaningful for a brand whose identity is built on status cues. Gone is the earlier models’ overly stylized black panel “grille”, replaced by elegant horizontal chrome slats that recall the S-Class of yesteryear. A new AMG Line front bumper is now standard, but it’s not shouting AMG; it is just a subtle upgrade that Mercedes-Benz loves and will appreciate. This isn’t a car begging for attention. It’s a car that assumes you know what it is. And that restraint is refreshing in the era of electric car peacocking.
More Range, Less Anxiety
While the silhouette remains largely unchanged, under the floor lies a key upgrade: the battery. Mercedes has increased usable capacity from 108.4 kWh to 118 kWh, thanks to improved battery chemistry. That translates to an estimated range of up to 390 miles in the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450+. In mixed real-world driving, it’s reasonable to expect somewhere between 370 and 380 miles, depending on your foot and the terrain.
Those numbers matter. Because the luxury EV space is as much about confidence as it is about comfort. Range anxiety doesn’t belong in a car with massaging seats and ambient lighting that rivals a boutique hotel.
The Interior: Luxe in Layers
Open the door and step into a cabin that seems curated more than designed. The enormous Hyperscreen stretches across the dashboard, seamlessly blending three OLED displays under a single pane of glass. It’s dramatic, yes, but also intuitive, with updated software that feels smoother and more natural than previous iterations.
Rear passengers now enjoy an elevated level of attention. Executive trims offer 38 degrees of seat recline, with deeper cushions, heated neck and shoulder zones, and even pneumatic leg support adjustment. Chrome accents on the B-pillars, new seat piping, and customizable ambient lighting in a full spectrum of hues help make the cabin feel like a mobile lounge.
Mercedes didn’t just electrify the S-Class experience; they distilled it. Electrification most benefits the luxury segment; the electric drivetrain just makes the S-Class smoother, quieter, and more refined.
The Drive: Effortless Power, Old-World Smoothness
The EQS 450+ delivers a brisk, composed 0–60 time of around 5.9 seconds. The EQS 580 shaves that to 4.2 seconds with its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup. But numbers aren’t the point. This isn’t a launch-control lunatic; it’s a continent-crosser, a serene highway cruiser with the poise of a high-speed train and the silence of a cathedral.
Steering is light but precise, and the optional rear-axle steering makes this nearly 17-foot-long car feel surprisingly maneuverable in tight quarters. The ride quality is sublime, thanks to adaptive air suspension that seems to read your mind, or at least the road beneath you.
Technology That Disappears
Yes, it’s loaded. There’s augmented reality in the head-up display, a Dolby Atmos sound system, and a 360-degree camera that stitches together a view better than most drone operators. Driver assistance features are thorough without being obtrusive, including Mercedes’ Level 3 Drive Pilot—though its use is currently limited to specific low-speed conditions.
Perhaps most impressive is how all this tech manages to fade into the background when not needed. In a lesser vehicle, these would be parlor tricks. Here, they’re just part of the atmosphere.
Should You Buy the Mercedes-Benz EQS?
Starting just over $104,000 and climbing to nearly $150,000 for the AMG variant, the EQS sits squarely in the stratosphere. But what it offers isn’t just luxury, it’s poise, presence, and peace of mind in a world that’s constantly trying to speed you up. With that, I would suggest leasing the EQS, as the depreciation is staggering on these on the used market, as YouTuber Tylor Hoover recently found out when he purchased a 2022 EQS for just over $30,000. So if you don’t plan on buying, the EQS would be an excellent option for your next lease.
The 2025 update is more about nuance than novelty. It doesn’t scream for your attention, but spend a day behind the wheel, and it earns your respect. For drivers seeking an electric flagship that honors tradition without being bound by it, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is quietly becoming the new gold standard.
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS at a Glance:
| Model | EQS 450+ / EQS 580 4MATIC / AMG EQS |
|---|---|
| Battery | 118 kWh usable capacity |
| Range (est.) | ~390 miles (EPA) |
| 0–60 mph | 5.9 sec (450+), 4.2 sec (580) |
| Price Range | $104,400–$148,700 |
| Interior | Hyperscreen, reclining executive seats, Dolby Atmos |
| Drive Tech | Rear-axle steering, Level 3 Drive Pilot |
| Best For | Long-distance luxury touring, tech-lovers, brand loyalists |
If the S-Class was once the world’s default luxury sedan, the EQS is Mercedes’ way of saying it still is, but now, with a plug.
Photos Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
Would daily drive it.
This is one EV I would consider.