A Face in the Crowd - 2023 MERCEDES-BENZ EQE SUV

The latest Mercedes-Benz EQ model, the EQE SUV, strives to blend in.

- JOE LORIO N

Should EVs make a statement? With its EQS and EQE sedans, Mercedes-Benz sure pushed the envelope. The EQE SUV, though, doesn't court controversy. 

The single-motor EQE350+ and dual-motor EQE350 and EQE500 4Matics mirror the sedan's lineup. Both EQE350s have 288 horsepower-less than most rivals. Torque outputs are more competitive: 417 and 564 pound-feet (rear-drive and 4Matic). The EQE500 has 402 horses and 633 pound-feet.

The EQE350+ is perky in town but rather languid at highway speeds; the EQE350 4Matic's extra torque wakes up response when passing on two-lanes or merging onto the freeway. The EQE500 can blur the scenery like a high-performance EV, but it still likely lacks the sprinting ability of the top Genesis GV60 (60 mph in 3.7 seconds) or the base BMW iX (4.0 seconds to 60). There are four Soundscapes, oddball soundtracks we sampled, then silenced, leaving just a faint whir from the powertrain. The car is quiet at highway speeds, with only some tire noise.