Competition in the electric SUV segment is heating up. One of the, perhaps, lesser-known competitors in this segment is the Mercedes EQC. Universal-Sci borrowed one from Mercedes Benz Netherlands for a few days and checked to see what it does differently from its competitors.
By Stef Verhagen
Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Elon Musk recently complimented Daimler/Mercedes-Benz on its plans to abandon the development of the internal combustion engine in favor of EVs. A bold step that makes the EQC a very important car.
Contrary to popular belief, the Mercedes EQC is not the first EV Mercedes has ever produced. In fact, Mercedes produced several other EVs during its long history. We're not only talking about test vehicles like the rather unconventional 1977 Mercedes-Benz LE 306 electric van but also full-on production models like the 2013 SLS AMG Electric Drive and the 2014 B-class electric drive that were actually sold to consumers.
Nevertheless, the above-mentioned models never generated a lot of sales and weren't of significance in the Mercedes-Benz car lineup. The Mercedes EQC, however, promises to be the beginning of a much more substantial investment into electric cars from Mercedes.
According to Mercedes, the special 1886 edition marks Mercedes-Benz’s resolute dawn of a new era of electric mobility. It celebrates Mercedes’ invention of the car and entry in the automotive industry in 1886 - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Pricing, and specifications
Let's start with a look at the specs and pricing of the EQC 400 4MATIC. Looking at its starting price (€80.995 in the Netherlands) it becomes clear right off the bat that Mercedes has brought this car to the market to compete with the Jaguar I pace, Audi e-tron 55 quattro and the Tesla Model X Long Range which are all approximately priced between €80.000 and €95.000. Of course, prices differ in different areas of the world but expect them all to be approximately priced within 15% from each other.
Power
As to be expected, the total system power produced by the EQCs two electric motors amounts to 408 hp, which is roughly the same as most of its rivals (although slightly less than the 423 hp of the marginally more expensive Model X Long Range).
According to Mercedes, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0-60 mph) happens in 5.1 seconds with a (limited) top speed of 180 km/h (111 mph). We have no reason to doubt this claim as the car feels truly punchy and powerful. In fact, it is slightly faster than the Audi e-tron (5.7 seconds) and somewhat slower than the I-pace and Model X. But in all honesty, it is more than fast enough to overtake other vehicles rapidly, and we believe massive acceleration isn't really the point of this vehicle.
Battery capacity, range, and charging
Mercedes reports the average combined power usage per 100 kilometers (62 miles) to be 22,3 kWh. Our experience, however, is that it was somewhat more inefficient than that. In our test drives with a mix of different road types (city streets, some country roads, and highway), we came to an average power usage of 23.1 kWh per 100 km, which would give us a range of 346 kilometers (215 miles) on a single 100% charge. However, your mileage may vary as it all comes down to driving style and weather conditions. EV's, in general, perform better in warmer days and worse when it is cold. Notwithstanding, one thing we can conclude is that the range is similar to that of its competitors, excluding, of course, the Tesla Model X Long Range, which is still the undisputed king in this area with its approximate 440-kilometer real-world range.
There are plenty of fast-charging stations available in the Netherlands. The usability of the Mercedes EQC as a long-distance travel vehicle depends on the country you live in. Tesla still has an edge when it comes to fast charging network in most countries - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Charging the EQC on the road is incredibly fast, at least in the Netherlands, where plenty of fast-charging stations are available. If you find a DC charging point with enough power, the car can charge with up to 110 kW until it reaches 80%, after which it slows down a bit. We tested this at several high-speed Fastned charging stations and found that it easily reached charging speeds of over 100kW. According to Mercedes, charging the EQC should also go very well at Ionity charging points (a joint venture founded by the BMW group of which Daimler AG is a partner).
What's different about the EQC
The fact that the Mercedes EQC is based on the same platform on which the petrol-powered Mercedes GLC is built comes with a few downsides as it doesn't have its own dedicated platform built to accommodate optimal allocation of EV components like most of its competitors.
For starters, there is no room in the 'engine bay' for a front trunk. In addition, Mercedes had to make some modifications to ensure driver safety in case of a collision. Around the front motor, they added a sort of sturdy frame made out of aluminum beams that protect high voltage components and serves as a crumple zone.
Instead of a front trunk there is a large plastic cover that somewhat resembles an internal combustion engine - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
The front electric motor is attached to this frame with rubber bearings while the frame itself is attached to the car with rubber bearings as well. This, along with the extra sound isolation around the back motor, makes for improved noise reduction, which brings us to one of the main benefits of the EQC. It is incredibly silent.
Although we haven't objectively measured this with decibel meters, it becomes clear from the moment you drive off that the EQC is one of the most silent cars in the world. We are not the only ones who noticed, many other reviewers around the world made similar subjective observations (2) (3). It has to be noted that you can ever so slightly hear the rear motor kick in when accelerating at higher speeds on the highway.
The very silent front motor including the mentioned noise-reducing safety frame - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
All in all, we feel that an electric drive much better suits a non-AMG Mercedes car than a fossil-fuel-powered engine, mainly because the silence of an EV really adds to the feeling of elegance and luxury. We have to say Mercedes has clearly got this aspect nailed down.
Exterior
When it comes to exterior styling, it is evident that Mercedes went down a rather conservative road. Aside from the badging and the optional special aerodynamic rims, there is not much about the exterior of the EQC that screams EV. We can imagine that this choice was a strategic decision by Mercedes akin to that of Audi. Being traditional car companies, it is a delicate balance to strike when the car is not supposed to scare off current clientele while it should also lure in potential new customers. Although I personally and subjectively prefer the styling of the Audi e-tron, I think that in the end, Mercedes just about hit the sweet spot with a conservative exterior combined with a slightly more futuristic interior.
What's different about the EQC
One of the first things to catch your eye when looking at the EQC is the fact that it differentiates itself from the pack by being a fair bit smaller than its rivals. Even the seemingly small Jaguar I-pace has a longer wheelbase and is wider than the EQC. Consequently, its cargo volume is also slightly lower than that of its competitors. To Americans, this may seem like a significant downside, but Europeans are much less inclined to favor large SUVs. The smaller dimensions in combination with the optional automatic park assist mean that it is somewhat easier to maneuver in tight European city centers and cramp parking garages, so it's not all bad.
Due to its more modest exterior dimensions the Mercedes EQC is slightly more maneuverable in typical European city centers. - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Interior
Moving on to the interior of the car, you can clearly see traces of the C-class/GLC interior styling, which is not so weird as the EQC is produced in the same factory as the GLC. Using many of the same components is probably something that saves a significant amount of costs.
Even though, again, my personal preference goes towards the interior styling of the Audi E-tron, I think that the interior of the EQC is gorgeous, and so does the vast majority of people we showed the car.
The materials used feel robust and luxurious, all the while not being too showy. In a recent Drivetribe video introducing his newly purchased Tesla Model S, former Top Gear presenter James May declared that in his opinion, the S-class Mercedes interiors have become a bit 'Liberace.' I tend to agree that from the E-class and up, things tend to get 'a bit much' very quickly which makes those models lose a lot of their elegance.
The materials used in the interior of the Mercedes EQC are of very high quality. The interior looks sufficiently expensive while still remaining elegant. A quality that has sadly become rarer in some of the more high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles - Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Luckily Mercedes elected not to go down this road with the EQC, which is a very good thing. In my opinion, an over the top interior is not befitting an electric vehicle. The interior of an EV should be modern and fresh. I think Mercedes will be able to attract new customers as well as traditional customers with the rather elegant styling of the EQC. The only thing I would currently point at for improvement are the copper cooling fins which apparently can’t be optioned out. The color seems to be rather divisive among people and it would be a relatively simple component to change out for a different color.
What's different about the EQC
The similarities with the C-class vehicles end when looking at higher parts of the dashboard. These parts look more like a C-class / A-class hybrid as the EQC uses the more modern displays that are already used in the A-class/CLA class and others but not in the traditional C-class models.
The EQC interior sports the high end screens that can be found in the recently revised A-class model while implementing the same center console used in the C-class vehicles. - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Although not exclusive to the EQC, one significant benefit of using the newer screens and software aside from making the car look more modern is the fact that the EQC is able to use the latest version of Mercedes' critically acclaimed MBUX system. The system is incredibly fluent and intuitive to use. Depending on your preferences, you can either use the steering wheel, center console buttons, or the touch screen to control things on the dashboard.
Additionally, Mercedes added a rather excellent navigation system that makes use of the front view camera and adds an augmented reality layer to its video feed. It draws things like arrows and house numbers to help navigate you to your destination. In my opinion, this system really sets the EQC apart from the rest of the electric SUV's.
The new MBUX navigation with its augmented reality layer is nothing short of amazing - Image Credit: Universal-Sci - CC BY 4.0
Conclusion
All things considered, our opinion is that Mercedes has put a worthy competitor into the electric SUV segment. Although it doesn't quite compete with the very best when it comes to interior space, power, and range, it does have its place.
The keyword in all of this is 'elegance.' Its impressive silence, not only compared to ICE vehicles but also other EV's. Add to that its slightly more sensible exterior dimensions and fresh and elegant interior styling, and you have a competitive and robust entry, especially for the European markets.
Mercedes-Benz informed us that by 2022, it is planning to introduce six more consumer EV's into the market, one of which will be an all-electric S-class. Let's hope Mercedes can keep up the good work and build upon the EQC. One thing is certain; strong competition in the EV market is a good thing for consumers.
If you enjoy our selection of content please consider following Universal-Sci on social media:
