Hi all,

I'm just popping over from the E-class (w213) forum.

My lease ends at the end of the year and I'm hesitating to get an E-class again (hybrid) or an EQE.

I'd like to know if the EQE is more or less an electric E-class, when it comes to size / comfort / options / quality

I know this question can have a million answers, but i just like to get a general idea.

I live in France and so far hardly see them here, nor does my dealer have one.

Any EX E-class owners here that have 2 cents to spare ?

Cheers

 

Yes and no. I came over to EQE after driving a W212 and W213 E-class. The size and features are comparable. Trunk is smaller, but it's otherwise quite similar, though larger inside. Will post more comparisons later.

 

Extended post: I purchased my W212 E-class, an E250 BlueTEC, with the intention of it being my last combustion vehicle, and to drive it until said time when MB would release an E-class electric variant. Unfortunately, that car was involved in an accident, and although rebuilt, I was pressured by insurance to purchase a new car, so I got a W213, until, again an electric E-class variant would come out. We also had a GLE for my wife, so that our family of 5 could easily travel. After I switched to EQE sedan that I had ordered, we found a loaner EQE SUV a few months later to replace the GLE that had accumulated a fair bit of miles.

In terms of more detailed comparisons. The E-class sedan has a very nice interior. So does the EQE. The EQE has a bit more interior space, though I think both are somewhat comparable. But, I far prefer the electric drivetrain, and we are well set up for EV use anyway. The driver assists in the EQE were also a good step up from my W213 in many ways. Overall, we're thrilled to have switched to EQEs, and while there are some key differences (trunk space isn't as generous), I'm otherwise able to say that they are basically E-class equivalents with a slightly different character. They are unbeatable for cruising down long stretches of road, or for quick trips, whatever you might need to do. They are also extremely quiet and comfortable.

 

Thanks, much appreciated

Mt w213 hybrid has 370liters trunk space, with a ridiculous "step" in it
It's very small for such a big car. the normal E has 540 litres so quite a difference
I see tthe EQE has 430 litres, that's sort of in between.

I do find that the E has a much nicer design , the EQE is a bit too Japanese for my taste,
but that won't be a huge factor in my decision.

I really like to go electric cos they drive so smooth & quiet.

 

Yeah, the EQE design is perhaps not their prettiest one, but honestly it works well enough. I actually think the backside is gorgeous on it. I'd say the visual styling is similar in impact to the W210 - which I also never found beautiful up front. I didn't know that the hybrid E-class had such a huge trunk space loss. That's crazy. I will say that there are very few things that I just haven't been able to fit in the sedan's trunk. Even on long road trips with all five of us. Now we mostly use the SUV for that purpose, but it's nice to know either car will work. The added weight is definitely different than a base E-class, though I suspect the hybrid is heavier than the base. I say, go full EV, might as well get all the benefits. I personally have no regrets at all going full EV for both our daily drivers! I do have a W124 project car from 1995, but it very rarely is driven as of late - especially in the winter.

 

on longer trips how many miles do you get out of 1 charge on the road?
meaning the typical scenario:, charging till 80% , then driving till 10/15%

Oh, and for a good laugh: TRUNK E-CLASS HYBRID
Luckily my wife and i don't have kids ...

 

Typically we start a road trip with 100% charge just before we leave. That get us typically 250-260 miles before I like to charge. But doing stretches of 10-80% at 70MPH highway speeds gets you for sure close to 230+ miles if not a bit more. I'd say the 70MPH max range during mild temperatures is close to 332 miles. That's a lot of driving, and someone usually needs to pee by the time we need to charge.

 

You are falling into the the "range anxiety" trap. Think along these lines.
Consider the amount of time do you spend at a gas station and the conditions there vs plugging it in at home. Now bank that time and balance it against the occasional time spent at a charging station on a long drive. You may also be stopping for a restroom break, stretch, or a meal at that stop which may make the time immaterial.

However, the range will drop if you live in a cold region so more stops may be required.

In summer, at 100% I can do a 4 hour drive and only charge at the destination. In winter it is more like 2.5 hours on a 90% charge. Driving styles is also a factor.

 

For me, I had a 2015 (212) E class sedan, then an E Coupe (238) 2018. Then I moved to a 2023 EQE 350+ RWD. Great car, I simply wanted a bit more power, so now in an EQE 500. I LOVE the electric powertrain. For rear seat passengers, due to the sloping roofline (sedan), they may have to duck their heads while getting in/out of the car. They will also sit a bit higher than in an ICE E class. Otherwise the luxury is there, same as the ICE version, depending on how you equip it.

 

If you haven't driven one, give an EQE 500 a test drive. You won't want an E class anymore.

 

I will possibly want to buy the EQE’s eventual replacement.
Are there any news about when the Electric E-Class will replace the EQE ?

 

Not yet, but stay tuned. TBH, this generation EQE is so good I'm personally not worried or anxious about what they're coming out with next. Even if they shave say, 10 minutes off charging, that will affect so little of our yearly use case, it wouldn't be worth the money for an upgrade. The only possible thing that could sway me in the long run to not keep our current crop for a very long time (7+ years) is if there is a significant change in ADAS that includes LiDAR capable of operating Level 3 at full highway speeds. But even then, current Distronic is so good I'm not really that worried about it. The battery degradation is so minimal on these cars, they'll just keep going. And as they are, they're super comfortable and great to daily-drive or road-trip, so we're pretty happy with them.

 

I suppose if I had to sum up my EQE vs E-class experience, it's "I love driving the EQEs more and more every day of the ownership experience." The E-class was always exceptional, but they started showing their age and familiarity over time. The drivetrain performance of the EQs is so much better compared to say, a base combustion E-class that it's just a joy to drive every day. It doesn't feel "ordinary", so to say.

 

Thanks everyone for your input, very helpful
visting the dealer tomorrow, for a 1st chat about my new car
i'll keep you updated

 

If one is to believe some of the discussions about Mercede's plans, the EQ platform was to be a transitional first experience EV platform which would be replaced by a second generation platform relatively quickly. However, it seems that the EQ platform has done well enough that the second generation platform previously under development has been shelved for now, meaning that the Electric E-Class will be also based on the EQ platform. So the EQE to Electric E-class is largely a naming change more than anything else.

 

Not quite, Mercedes invested to develop a dedicated platform for EV - EVA2 which used 1st party OEM platforms but dedicated to EVs since they wanted to seriously compete with Tesla and other Chinese automakers. But given that rest of the german automakers are going with a ICE converted platform and still making money and marketing betting on selling Mercedes Brand image rather than Engineering first company they traditionally were, we are now gonna get cut rate cheap to make and compromised platforms like with the new CLA and going forth.

EVA2 refresh is still a backup plan for MB incase everyone suddenly gets serious about EVs and Goverments make MB and rest of the auto industry compete seriously.

 

Thank you for your interesting comment, but I’m so happy with my 2018 E-Class that I feel no real hurry to « upgrade » to an electric car, which is why I’m thinking of waiting for the next version of the EQE.

 

One more comment about the EQE 500...we have a EQS and an EQB, so we're deep into the EQ series. My dad who lives down the street from me has an EQE 500 that I also drive on occasion. That car is just goldilocks...smaller and more nimble than the EQS, but way fast. The EQS is nicer on the road, but the EQE is just perfect around town or a metro. The EQE is so comfortable, and has a similar interior to the EQS. There is a lot to like, imho.

 

Well, even though the EQE is about the same price as a diesel, it's more expensive to lease and does not meet my budget.
Pity, but maybe in a few years...

 

As soon as the '26 EQE models are orderable in the US, I'll be ordering an EQE500 to replace my '18 E300 w/26k miles. With the options it builds out to $94k.

 

with the options i wanted, it came to about 85.000 euros, which is 1300 euro per month (insurance included) lease

 

It is a bit of a mindset. Once I was decided that on EV I could not wait to get it. If you really want an EV, but the price is too high, then do some research for a CPO as this may bring the cost down to your target budget.

 

it's a work Lease, so not much i can do

 

I assume you have done a full operating cost analysis, not just the initial price tag. Then there are all the pro and cons of an EV, such as:
- convenience of at home or work charging (cannot emphasize this enough if it fits your driving requirements)
- lower cost for electricity per mile than gas/diesel
- lower annual maintenance cost (none for 1st 2 years)
There is the range consideration if you do regular long distance driving that may alter your normal routes or stops for public charging.

 

The monthly payment on a 4 year lease may be less costly than a 3 year lease. I don't really know because I always purchase a car outright and keep it for about 8 years. Long gone are the days when I bought cars for the entire family.