2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC Sedan Review

I’d be lying if I said the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 4MATIC Sedan didn’t catch me off guard.

Honestly, when it first came out, I gawked at the priced tag - $150,000+ for an EV? You must be joking!

Yet again, after spending the week with the EQE350, I have been forced to eat my own words.

What changed my mind was driving through Melbourne’s dirty Burnley tunnel, in peak hour traffic, where I couldn’t hear anything outside of the car, the optional air-suspension was truly magic-carpet-esque, and the burmester sound system was blaring ‘hotel california’.

Yes, it’s as cliche as it sounds, but it was truly one of those ‘I finally get it’ moments.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But it’s a whole lot better than I expected. Let’s talk about why!

How much does the 2024 EQE 350 4MATIC Sedan cost?

Don’t expect a bargain with the entire EQE range.

The range kicks off with the less powerful and rear-wheel driven EQE300 at $134,900 before on-road costs.

On test today is the mid-spec EQE 350 4Matic, which adds a front motor in addition to the rear motor and more power for $154,900.

You can also go for the even more powerful AMG EQE 53, though that will set you back $214,900 which is a lotta coin no matter how you spin it.

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE pricing:

• 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 300: $134,900
• 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic: $154,900
• 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4Matic+: $214,900

Note, prices exclude on-road costs

As you would expect with a luxury car, you can option a few touches as well - though the EQE does come quite well equipped as standard.

As you’ll see later, we highly recommend the option of Airmatic adaptive air suspension comes for an additional $2900. 

Other upgrades include:

• Steering enhancement with rear-axle technology: $2900
• Premium 21-inch alloy rims: $1700 (but necessitates the Airmatic suspension)
• Authentic wood trim with an open-pore design: $1500
• Comprehensive Guard 360 security package: $1600
• For those wanting a faster 22kW AC charging rate, an increment of $1800 is applicable. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz is set to release their advanced Wallbox 2.0 mid-year, with a tag of $2475.

While most metallic paint shades come at no extra charge, the exclusive Manufaktur finishes are an exception, retailing at $2200.

What’s the exterior like of the EQE Sedan?

In all honesty, I struggled to like the look of the EQE when it first launched. To me, it looked like a big blob.

However in the flesh, it’s an incredibly good looker - especially here, finished in the optional MANUFAKTUR alpine grey solid colour.

No one will every forget you are driving a Mercedes-Benz with the sheer number of 3-pointed stars in the grille, but it makes for an absolutely stunning look.

The side is incredibly sleek, in-fact with a drag-coefficient of just 0.22 it is one of the slipperiest cars on the road in terms of aerodynamics.

It’s also surprisingly big; bigger than the current generation of E-Class (although the new one has it beat by just 3mm).

The rear though is my favourite angle, with the ribbon light-bar adding a large element of prestige. 

If you’re unconvinced about the looks as I was, I would recommend seeing it in the flesh - it has a lot of presence.

What’s the interior and tech like of the EQE 350?

Arguably the biggest improvement that Mercedes-Benz has made over the last 5 years has been its interiors, although there are definitely some things that I don’t love..

The amount of technology they cram into the space is quite mind blowing.

MBUX keeps getting bigger and bigger, and although we don’t have the hyperscreen option available for the EQE 350 - I would argue that would just be too much.

The almost square 12.8” infotainment display is incredibly customisable and intuitive to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless, and take up most screen real estate.

The climate controls have been mostly relegated to the screen, but because they are always there no matter what display you are on it’s okay (though still, physical controls will always win for me).

The 12.3” digital instrument cluster is fantastic though, again being extremely customisable; including the huge heads-up display in front of the driver.

Unlike Volkswagen who seem to have royally screwed their touch capacitive buttons, the thick leather steering wheel has a beautiful 4-spoke design allowing the driver to adjust essentially every metric of the car without the need to take hands off the steering wheel.

At first the system is rather overwhelming, but it took less than a day to intuitively know where every control was and what they do.

The overall design is also rather nice, with a very minimalist vibe about it. The wood on the dash (optional extra) feels really nice to the touch, with soft touch materials on most surfaces within the cabin.

Of course, the ambient lighting adds another level of ‘wow’ factor to the interior, and can be changed to dynamic lighting or static in essentially any colours you like.

Really the biggest drawbacks are just how quickly the interior gets dirty.

The heavy use of piano black plastics mean that dust and fingerprints are going to very quickly rear their ugly heads in a matter of minutes.

I found myself wiping the screen almost daily which is something I don’t feel compelled to do in pretty much any other car.

And unfortunately, you have to touch these surfaces if you want to access a large storage area in the centre with cool hidden cup holders, a wireless charger and two x USB-C ports.

In terms of other storage, it’s also quite good, with some more below the center console including a little strap to hold things down with some more USB ports, a large glovebox and centre armrest too.

The other thing we noticed over a week of testing was pushing and prodding some materials, you could hear a bit of creaking going on. To be fair, no one is really doing that to their cars, but as car journalists its one of the first things we do.

However, no squeeks or rattles occurred over our week of testing so whether this will be an issue down the road - who knows?

Back to what is really nice, and that is the seats. They are adjustable in more ways than you could possibly ever need, and provided plenty of support in both spirited driving and also long road trips.

It is a shame though that they are only heated, with cooling not available unless you purchase the AMG EQE 53.

Not to mention that Burmester sound system… wow. It is one of the best factory sounding-sound systems I’ve heard, never distorting and being well balanced across the treble, mids and bass.

To summarise, the interior space is really nice and certainly feels its price - though I’d be curious to see how it holds up over a 5-10 year period.

What about the back seats?

Again, the rear seats of the EQE 350 are very impressive.

At 5’11”, I have plenty of room sitting behind my driving position, and more importantly, my legs are at a good angle (which can be a real issue in EVs where the battery is in the floor).

Despite the sloping roofline, I have enough head-room too, and the double paned sunroof adds a lot of natural light within the cabin.

The fold-down centre armrest has a phone holder with one push, and a further half-push reveals dual cupholders.

There’s also two more USB-C fast chargers in the rear.

How much can it fit in the boot?

The EQE comes with a powered tailgate, which is one of those luxury features on a sedan you truly don’t need but I guess you get anyway.

With the EQE you get 430L of boot space, which in practice is quite plentiful.

You can also very easily drop the rear seats with a couple of buttons, and get even more room.

Still, up-front the bonnet is sealed - you can’t open it at all which is unusual - and so no storage is up front (which is a shame).

What’s under the bonnet?

Powering the EQE 350 is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, outputting 215kW of power and 765Nm of torque with a 90.5kWh battery.

That’s good for a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.3 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz.

Contrastingly, the EQE 300 is down on power, torque and battery size with 180kW and 550Nm with a 89kWh battery. Mercedes-Benz claims that it will do 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The WLTP range of the EQE 350 is 462km and consumption of 22.5kWh/100km. That is lower than the rear-wheel drive only EQE 300, which has a range of 508km range and 20.1kWh/100km.

Honestly, the real world range was quite good in the EQE 350 we tested - with our week of testing suggesting we would get approximately 420km of range from a full battery.

Curiously, to unlock the faster 22kW AC charging (standard is 11kW) it is an optional extra. Still, DC charging is standard at 170kW which is quite good.

How does the EQE 350 4MATIC drive?

I’ve driven A LOT of cars. Every year, I drive well over 100 cars from super cars to light commercial vehicles.

I cannot remember a car I have driven that was this comfortable.

The adaptive air suspension system can only be described as a ‘magic’ carpet experience, and it really is that good.

With an extensive use of sound deadening materials, acoustic treated glass and soft touch interior materials, the EQE 350 is also remarkably quiet. This makes for a truly relaxing experience.

That does mean, however, that even when you switch the EQE into sport mode, the suspension remains quite soft. Turn a corner hard, and it doesn’t do an amazing job at stopping body-roll - in fact, its quite evident.

However, its a trade off I am more than willing to make for a daily driver.

It doesn’t help that the EQE 350 Sedan weighs in at 2,465kg; this is no light weight.

That also translates into the sheer acceleration. Up to about 100km/h, the instant torque throws you back in the seat and it feels really quite fast. However, at higher speeds the lower than average power output of 215kW is noticeable and it can almost feel like the EQE begins to run out of puff.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not slow - just don’t expect a rocket ship. If you want one of those, the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 with 460kW and 950Nm will be the way to go for you.

Still, it has plenty of shove for 99% of people and the sheer comfort appeal will sell most prospective buyers.

I would, however, recommend going for the EQE 300. With almost as much performance despite being rear-wheel drive, and substantially better real-world range for less money, it’s a no brainer for me.

To summarise the driving experience, if you can accept the average cornering dynamics, you’ll love the way the EQE 350 drives.

What does the EQE come with?

Here's a breakdown of the features for the Mercedes-Benz EQE models:

EQE 300 Features:

Interior Features:

• 5-seater with Folding rear seat backrests (40:20:40 split)
• Flex bottleholder
• AMG Line Interior
• Front door sill panels with "Mercedes-Benz" lettering, illuminated
• AMG floor mats
• Heated front seats
• Multifunction sports steering wheel in nappa leather
• Interior Light package
• Sports seats
• Leather Black / Space Grey with Roof liner in black fabric
• Active ambient lighting
• Memory front seats & 4-way lumbar support
• Anthracite linestructure lime wood trim
• Stowage compartment beneath centre console
• Automatically dimming rear-view mirror
• THERMATIC automatic climate control
• Centre console in high-gloss black

Exterior Features:

• 20-inch AMG 5-spoke alloy wheels with aero elements in matt tantalite grey
• Exterior mirrors electrically adjustable, folding, and heated
• AMG Line Exterior
• DYNAMIC SELECT with drive programs
• AMG body styling
• Independent boot locking
• Radiator grille with Mercedes-Benz pattern
• KEYLESS-GO with flush-fitting door handles
• Boot lid convenience closing feature
• Metallic paint
• Comfort Suspension
• Panoramic sliding sunroof
• Dark-tinted privacy glass from B-pillar to rear
• Surround lighting in the two outside mirrors with projection of the brand logo
• DIGITAL LIGHT package with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus

Multimedia & Connectivity:

• MBUX Navigation Premium
• Mercedes-Me Connect
• MBUX augmented reality for navigation
• Remote and extended Charging Services Plus
• Burmester® 3D surround sound system
• Navigation (NTG7) - Live traffic, parked vehicle locator, on & off street parking
• Digital owners' manual
• Safety and Service - vehicle tracking, emergency call, maintenance management, and tele-diagnostics
• Digital radio
• Comfort - Vehicle status, remote door locking/unlocking, geofencing, speedfencing, valet parking & digital handover for vehicle key
• Display package
• Driver display with 12.3-inch screen diagonal
• MBUX multimedia system
• OLED central display
• Fingerprint scanner
• Head-up Display
• Smartphone integration Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™
• Wireless charging system for mobile devices in the front

Safety & Security:

• ADAPTIVE BRAKE with HOLD, brake drying, priming function, and Hill Start Assist
• Driving Assistance package PLUS with various features
• Airbags (10) - various types
• Acoustic presence indicator
• PRE-SAFE® PLUS & PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side
• Traffic Sign Assist
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• Fluorescent vest for driver
• Parking Package
• Active Parking Assist
• 360° camera
• Pedestrian protection
• TIREFIT tyre sealant with electric inflation compressor
• Tyre pressure monitor

Mercedes-EQ Specific Features:

• Plug 'Type 2 CCS' (up to AC 11kW / DC 170kW)
• Charging cable for wallbox and public charging station, 5 m, straight
• Charging cable for domestic socket

EQE 350 4MATIC Features (in addition to EQE 300):

• 4MATIC
• AMG spoiler lip

Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ Features (in addition to EQE 350 4MATIC):

Interior Features:

• Mercedes-AMG Interior
• AMG illuminated front door sills with "AMG lettering"
• AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather
• AMG steering wheel buttons
• Climatised front seats
• Leather nappa AMG - Black / Space Grey
• THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control
• USB package Plus

Exterior Features:

• 21-inch AMG Y-spoke alloy wheels, matt black with high-sheen finish rim flange
• Mercedes-AMG Exterior
• AIRMATIC air-suspension
• Red-painted brake callipers
• Rear-axle steering (3.6° steering angle)
• AMG Night package

Safety & Security:

• GUARD 360 ° Vehicle protection Plus
• Includes the following Mercedes-Me connect functions: Collision Detection, Stolen Vehicle Help & Emergency Key Deactivation

Option Packages:

AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package (AMG only):

• Boost for RACE START by briefly increasing maximum power and torque (At the appropriate temperature and charge level, +45kW, +50Nm, 0-100km/h 3.3 sec.)
• AMG Driver's Package for a maximum top speed increased to 240 km/h
• AMG Track Pace
• AMG Sound Experience Performance, in three versions "Balanced", "Sport" and "Powerful"

GUARD 360 ° Vehicle protection Plus:

• Alarm system with tow-away protection
• Includes the following Mercedes-Me connect functions: Collision Detection, Stolen Vehicle Help & Emergency Key Deactivation

Individual Options:

Rear-axle steering (4.5°, 3.6° for EQE 53):

• Available for EQE 300 and EQE 350 4MATIC
• Standard for EQE 53 4MATIC+

AIRMATIC air suspension:

• Available for EQE 300 and EQE 350 4MATIC
• Standard for EQE 53 4MATIC+

Alternating current charging system (up to 22kW AC charging):

• Charging cable for wallbox and public charging station, 5 m, straight
• Available for all models

AMG high-performance ceramic composite braking system (front):

• AMG red-painted brake callipers (U70) removed by default
• Available for EQE 53 4MATIC+

Mercedes-Benz Wallbox Gen 2:

• Accessory available for all models

Is the Mercedes-Benz EQE Safe?

The Mercedes-Benz EQE is safe.

It scored a 5-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022, scoring 95% adult occupant protection, 92% child occupant protection, 83% vulnerable road user protection and 82% safety assist score.

It comes with a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment:

Airbags:

• Dual frontal airbags
• Side chest-protecting airbags
• Side head-protecting (curtain) airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Center airbag: Provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB):

• Car-to-Car AEB
• Vulnerable Road User AEB
• Junction Assist AEB
• Backover AEB

Lane Support System (LSS):

• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)

Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS)

Active Bonnet: Sensors detect when a pedestrian is struck, and actuators lift the bonnet to provide greater clearance to stiff components in the engine bay.

AEB for Pedestrians:

• Capable of recognizing and reacting to pedestrians.
• Tested for good performance in pedestrian scenarios, including AEB Backover.
• Good performance in cyclist test scenarios.

Active Brake Assist: Autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning that functions in both daytime and nighttime.

Lane Support System (LSS):

• Functions at highway speeds
• Includes Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) functionality.

Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)

Rescue Sheet: Provides information for first responders in the event of a crash.

Multi-Collision Braking System

Child Safety:

• Lower ISOFix anchorages on the rear outboard seats.
• Top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions.

How much does the EQE cost to run?

The EQE comes with a 5-year, unlimited kilometer warranty.

The high-voltage battery comes with a 10-year, 250,000km warranty.

Servicing is yearly or 15,000 km.

Servicing costs are:

• Three year servicing plan - $1,700
• Four year servicing plan - $2,500
• Five year servicing plan - $2,950\

CarSauce’s take on the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350?

If you’re looking for the final word in luxury electric sedans, it’s really, really hard to look past the EQE 350.

Despite spending time in cars even far more expensive than the EQE 350, I still think back to just how good the ride comfort was.

It does have some interior drawbacks, but with good performance, fantastic comfort and premium looks, it should definitely be a consideration on your luxury EV list.

However, you should also keep an eye on the BMW i5, which will be making it’s Australian debut sometime early 2024.