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I acquired a 2016 S550 with 10,010 miles on odo in April 2022. Was amazing entry into the Mercedes ownership and loved every bit of it. Drove about 5600 miles and sold it couple of days back and leased a 2023 EQS 450+. Pretty sweet leases going on right now. With high fuel costs, maintenance items due and difference in payments, it made sense to switch. Needless to say, I am loving it. Listed below are few positives and negatives that I noticed. Attached photos.
+ drives smaller than its length.
+ RWS is great. Makes turns easy.
+ Drives smoother than s550.
+ No engine, tire noises. Wind noise is more prominent. May be due to direction of travel.
+ interior has its ups and down. Less space, more storage
+ tech overloaded
+ Goes to 100 quicker than numbers wud suggest. I drive this much more freely than s550. That one I felt like pampering.
+ Isolation as good s550.
+ Nice wheel design.
+ The new Airmatic suspension has improved a lot compared to s550. This is much more button down. The body movement was higher in s550. There was lot of head toss in S550 even when equipped with air suspension.
+ Fingerprint profiles is good. A bit of delay but expected. Hope it gets better with updates.
+ Hatchback style cargo space. Looks bigger than sedan.
+ 2 yr free maintenance, 2 yr free charging. Absolutely one of the best things. Looking forward to saving those $300-$400 per month gas station trips.
+ Ambient lightening is amazing. The progress made in this is amazing compared to 2016 when it only had about 6 colors.
+ ACC better than before.
+ Love the massaging seats.
+ So far loving the electric range. Good enough for my use. Seems it stays true to its actual range unlike tesla which is higher on paper. May change once summer comes but so far so good.
- I don't like the front end design. From other angles its good. Love the grille design.
- Sun Visor is not leather and feels cheap quality compared to S550.
- Sunroof cover is semi transparent so even after closing cover, sun rays seeps in.
- some features missing. But may be higher end models has it? Like HUD, Soft close doors, rear seat heaters.
- Storage in door is smaller. Water bottle stayed upright in S550. Not so in EQS450+.
- Space is less overall.
- Camera feed feels weird. Its like fish eyed effect. May be some settings needs to be changed. But integrating into the logo will always be a problem.
- Coupe style takes away lot of headroom. As a 6 feet person, I am not comfortable in back. Good thing it will be used by kids.
- The dashboard design intrudes in the legroom for me.
- + Love the factory Android auto but connections had a bit of issues disconnecting frequently.
Nicely done Mercedes. Hopefully in next few years, its even better.
I acquired a 2016 S550 with 10,010 miles on odo in April 2022. Was amazing entry into the Mercedes ownership and loved every bit of it. Drove about 5600 miles and sold it couple of days back and leased a 2023 EQS 450+. Pretty sweet leases going on right now. With high fuel costs, maintenance items due and difference in payments, it made sense to switch. Needless to say, I am loving it. Listed below are few positives and negatives that I noticed. Attached photos.
+ drives smaller than its length.
+ RWS is great. Makes turns easy.
+ Drives smoother than s550.
+ No engine, tire noises. Wind noise is more prominent. May be due to direction of travel.
+ interior has its ups and down. Less space, more storage
+ tech overloaded
+ Goes to 100 quicker than numbers wud suggest. I drive this much more freely than s550. That one I felt like pampering.
+ Isolation as good s550.
+ Nice wheel design.
+ Don’t think this has leveling suspension but this is much more button down. The body movement was higher in s550. There was lot of head toss in S550 even when equipped with air suspension.
+ Fingerprint profiles is good. A bit of delay but expected. Hope it gets better with updates.
+ Hatchback style cargo space. Looks bigger than sedan.
+ 2 yr free maintenance, 2 yr free charging. Absolutely one of the best things. Looking forward to saving those $300-$400 per month gas station trips.
+ Ambient lightening is amazing. The progress made in this is amazing compared to 2016 when it only had about 6 colors.
+ ACC better than before.
+ Love the massaging seats.
+ So far loving the electric range. Good enough for my use. Seems it stays true to its actual range unlike tesla which is higher on paper. May change once summer comes but so far so good.
- I don't like the front end design. From other angles its good. Love the grille design.
- Sun Visor is not leather and feels cheap quality compared to S550.
- Sunroof cover is semi transparent so even after closing cover, sun rays seeps in.
- some features missing. But may be higher end models has it? Like HUD, Soft close doors, rear seat heaters.
- Storage in door is smaller. Water bottle stayed upright in S550. Not so in EQS450+.
- Space is less overall.
- Camera feed feels weird. Its like fish eyed effect. May be some settings needs to be changed. But integrating into the logo will always be a problem.
- Coupe style takes away lot of headroom. As a 6 feet person, I am not comfortable in back. Good thing it will be used by kids.
- The dashboard design intrudes in the legroom for me.
- + Love the factory Android auto but connections had a bit of issues disconnecting frequently.
Nicely done Mercedes. Hopefully in next few years, its even better.
Thanks for sharing your impressions, hope you enjoy your new car
My reaction to my similar move - from my '18 S560 to my '22 EQS450+ a year ago last December created very much the same reactions.
Unfortunately, in early Feb this year, I totaled the 450, so am back in the S560. Not going to get into that -it's over and done with. For several reasons, I decided not to replace the 450, and am very much once again enjoying my S 560.
HUD and Heated back seats are options that you must not have, same with a bunch of other things. Soft Close Doors are not currently available, they were supposed to be available as part of an automatic door package but that package was dropped just before regualr production started and has not come back.
Last edited by BenjaminKohl; Apr 11, 2023 at 08:08 PM.
HUD and Heated back seats are optins that you must not have, same with a bunch of other things. Soft Close Doors are not currently available, they were supposed to be available as part of an automatic door package but that package was dropped just before regualr production started and has not come back.
I respectfully disagree on the heated back seats and HUD (especially with AI). Whenever I have passengers in the back, they love the heated seats when it’s cold.
I respectfully disagree on the heated back seats and HUD (especially with AI). Whenever I have passengers in the back, they love the heated seats when it’s cold.
Sorry if my comment wasn't clear - I agree. HUD (especially the AR one on hyperscreen cars) and heated back seats (especially when paired with ventillated back seats) are two of my favorite features. I was replying to the OP, who had commented on the dissapointment of their car not having those features and wondering if their particular car just didn't have them, to which I was simply trying to say that yes, in fact those two things along with a whole host of other features are in fact options. that their car does not have.
Thank you so much for this comparison. Considering a used S Class and wondering if I should skip it and go for an EQS. Would appreciate any other forum members who have / have had both weighing in on the pros and cons.
Just get a pair of non-polarized sunglass - I think it is well worth the change.
Certainly possible, but not always feasible - I've been wearing Polaroid tri-focal sunglasses for decades. The switch, just to get HUD, simply would not work for me, and probably for others as well.
Thank you so much for this comparison. Considering a used S Class and wondering if I should skip it and go for an EQS. Would appreciate any other forum members who have / have had both weighing in on the pros and cons.
They both have their pros and cons. What car do you have currently?
They both have their pros and cons. What car do you have currently?
W212 E Class.
Have long admired the W222 chassis in no small part for the beauty of it's design. Been wanting to experience owning one for my perception of improved refinement over my current car. The OP's comparison indicates that the EQS takes that refinement a step further as have other reviews.
Recently moved to an EV for my wife's commuter car and we are quite happy with it.
The trades for me are the stately, elegant design of the W222 vs potentially improved driving experience, potential reduced cost of ownership, utility of the hatchback design and RWS of the EQS. A downside I see to the EQS is the winter efficiency and the resultant hit to it's range.
The reason I asked of current / past owners of both is for example I prefer the aesthetics of dash layout of the W222 vs EQS but wonder if the owners of both would say that you would get over that.
So wondering if one should skip the W222 and go to the EQS.
Truth of the matter is that they are both bigger that I would like but that might be the price of attaining that level of refinement.
An '18 S560 and an '22 EQS450+ were my drivers from late December,'22 until early February of this year.
It all comes down to personal needs and tastes.- I think both are great cars to own and drive, and only went back to the S class due to irrelevant circumstances.
My wife told me repeatedly the EQS was the best car we've had in over 40 years, for what that's worth.
I can only suggest you give both cars a good and serious test drive in order to help you make a decision.
An '18 S560 and an '22 EQS450+ were my drivers from late December,'22 until early February of this year.
It all comes down to personal needs and tastes.- I think both are great cars to own and drive, and only went back to the S class due to irrelevant circumstances.
My wife told me repeatedly the EQS was the best car we've had in over 40 years, for what that's worth.
I can only suggest you give both cars a good and serious test drive in order to help you make a decision.
An '18 S560 and an '22 EQS450+ were my drivers from late December,'22 until early February of this year.
It all comes down to personal needs and tastes.- I think both are great cars to own and drive, and only went back to the S class due to irrelevant circumstances.
My wife told me repeatedly the EQS was the best car we've had in over 40 years, for what that's worth.
I can only suggest you give both cars a good and serious test drive in order to help you make a decision.
Truth of the matter is that they are both bigger that I would like but that might be the price of attaining that level of refinement.
Did you think about the EQE possibly? Similar size to an E-Class/CLS and essentially a mini-me EQS. With the airmatic and EV motor, the ride should be plenty smooth while also being incredibly refined thanks to no need to shift or rev.
Did you think about the EQE possibly? Similar size to an E-Class/CLS and essentially a mini-me EQS. With the airmatic and EV motor, the ride should be plenty smooth while also being incredibly refined thanks to no need to shift or rev.
Great question and I would have assumed that the EQE would be preferable as well. I sat in both back to back at our local car show and found the EQE to be somewhat confining in the front and honestly can't make sense of that reaction. It was as though you are somewhat forced to sit closer to the dash. For sure my E feels more open. The EQS felt better to sit in, I think that it looks better and I like the hatchback.
I'm in a similar boat. Had a 212, moved to a 238 since it's just my wife and me. Car looks fantastic, but steel suspension with 19" wheels can ride rough with the road conditions here in SoCal. I'm looking at either an EQS or a used 223. I don't necessarily want the increased size, and my wife thinks both are land yachts, but as stated, to get that level of refinement.... I just missed the insane lease deals on the EQS. Per Leasehackr, signed deals for as low as 500/month. At that price I'll drive...a less than beautiful but comfortable car.
I'm in a similar boat. Had a 212, moved to a 238 since it's just my wife and me. Car looks fantastic, but steel suspension with 19" wheels can ride rough with the road conditions here in SoCal. I'm looking at either an EQS or a used 223. I don't necessarily want the increased size, and my wife thinks both are land yachts, but as stated, to get that level of refinement.... I just missed the insane lease deals on the EQS. Per Leasehackr, signed deals for as low as 500/month. At that price I'll drive...a less than beautiful but comfortable car.
Good choice as long as electric vehicles work for you which it sounds like it does, as for ride quality downsizing tires or getting run-flats never came in mind at all?
If anyone ponders upon an EQE and has occasional rear passengers, I suggest giving more consideration of the rear seats during the test drive.
I do not own an EQE (ie no extensive experience) but I think the sitting position of the rear seats is, kind of, odd. It is more 'upright' than I would prefer. I think it is because the C-pillar is so slant that it cuts into the interior room, forcing the rear seats to be less inclined.
Actually, this happens to the A-pillar too, which is also slant enough that it makes the driver and the front passenger feel more 'confining'.
Anyway, this is just my casual observation from my limited time with an EQE in the showroom.
If anyone ponders upon an EQE and has occasional rear passengers, I suggest giving more consideration of the rear seats during the test drive.
I do not own an EQE (ie no extensive experience) but I think the sitting position of the rear seats is, kind of, odd. It is more 'upright' than I would prefer. I think it is because the C-pillar is so slant that it cuts into the interior room, forcing the rear seats to be less inclined.
Actually, this happens to the A-pillar too, which is also slant enough that it makes the driver and the front passenger feel more 'confining'.
Anyway, this is just my casual observation from my limited time with an EQE in the showroom.
It has more to do with the fact that you are sitting on a gigantic battery than the shape of the car.
For example; The CLS, the AMG GT sedan and even the smaller CLA do not have a problem in the rear with the sloping roofline.
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