Mercedes-Benz has officially revealed the updated EQS, and it arrives with the longest electric range of any production sedan sold today. The headline number is 575 miles of WLTP range for the EQS 450+, backed by a 122 kWh battery and an 800V architecture that can accept up to 350 kW of DC charging. There is also a steer-by-wire yoke on the options list — which is either very cool or deeply unnecessary, depending on your patience for jet-fighter aesthetics in a parking garage.
Steer-By-Wire Yoke: Genuinely Useful or Just a Talking Point?
The yoke is the most divisive thing about this update. Mercedes is offering it as an alternative to the traditional round steering wheel, connected to the front axle via steer-by-wire — meaning no physical shaft, just signals sent from the yoke to electric motors that actually turn the wheels.
At low speeds, the ratio tightens to 4:1, so you can make a full U-turn with much less arm movement than a conventional wheel requires. On the highway, the ratio loosens up for stability. In theory, the system eliminates the need to shuffle your hands through a corner at all.
Whether that translates to a better driving experience in real-world traffic remains to be seen. If the yoke isn’t for you, a conventional steering wheel is still available — no judgment.
575 Miles of Range Is a Very Big Deal
The EQS 450+ leads the lineup with a 122 kWh battery and a 575-mile WLTP range rating. That figure puts it ahead of everything else on the market right now in the electric sedan segment. The base EQS 400 runs a slightly smaller 112 kWh pack and is rated at 508 miles — still excellent.
Mercedes expects most buyers to opt for the larger battery. Given the EQS’s positioning as a long-distance luxury car, that’s not a surprise.
350 kW Charging Adds 199 Miles in 10 Minutes
The 800V platform unlocks 350 kW DC fast charging on all but the base EQS 400, which caps at 320 kW. On a 350 kW charger, the 450+ can recover 199 miles in 10 minutes. Mercedes achieves this through a software trick that treats the battery as two parallel packs charging simultaneously, which keeps temperatures in check and allows the higher charge rate to hold for longer.
That 10-minute figure assumes you can actually find a 350 kW charger. They exist, but they’re not everywhere. Still, the hardware is there when the infrastructure catches up.
Four Variants, Two-Speed Transmission, One Shared Platform
All versions of the new EQS use a two-speed transmission — first gear for aggressive off-the-line acceleration, second for efficient high-speed cruising. It’s a setup that has become more common in performance EVs, and it works.
Here’s the full spec breakdown:
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | 400 | 450+ | 500 4MATIC | 580 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power (kW) | 270 | 300 | 350 | 430 |
| Torque | 505 Nm | 505 Nm | 750 Nm | 800 Nm |
| Battery | 112 kWh | 122 kWh | 122 kWh | 122 kWh |
| DC Charging | 320 kW | 350 kW | 350 kW | 350 kW |
| 10-Min Charge | 190 miles | 199 miles | 190 miles | 190 miles |
| Top Speed | 130 mph | 130 mph | 130 mph | 130 mph |
| 0–62 mph | 6.2 s | 5.9 s | 4.5 s | 4.1 s |
| WLTP Range | 508 miles | 575 miles | 544 miles | 544 miles |
| Price | $110,593 | $127,266 | $144,427 | $157,839 |
Subtle Exterior Changes, Updated Interior Tech
Visually, the EQS facelift is restrained. Mercedes added a new black grille panel covered in miniature three-pointed stars, and the daytime running lights now incorporate a star motif. It reads as a small but unmistakable upgrade on a body shape that has never won anyone over with its looks — the aerodynamic “blob” design was always more about range than road presence.
Inside, the full-width Hyperscreen dashboard carries over. Rear passengers now get their own dedicated displays for entertainment and navigation. The updated Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) introduces a conversational voice assistant capable of handling charger searches, climate adjustments, and navigation routing.
The air suspension system has also been recalibrated for a softer, more absorbent ride — notable on a car already known for exceptional comfort.
This Is Likely the Last Standalone EQS
Mercedes has confirmed that the EQS nameplate will eventually be folded into the S-Class lineup, with the electric version simply becoming an S-Class variant. This update buys the current platform a few more years while that transition takes shape.
It’s a reasonable end-of-life upgrade. The 575-mile range and 350 kW charging address the two legitimate complaints anyone had about the original EQS. The yoke and the star-studded grille are, admittedly, more optional enthusiasms.
Pricing starts at $110,593 for the EQS 400 and climbs to $157,839 for the EQS 580 4MATIC. The sweet spot — the 450+ with 575 miles of range — is priced at $127,266.
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