Ugly Star Is Still a Star: EQE SUV

Beauty is subjective; what one person finds beautiful, another may find unattractive. Or is the relativity of beauty subjective only for things that aren’t considered attractive enough? Are there things that nobody can say are beautiful, or are there things that everyone would agree are unattractive in this world? The design of Mercedes-Benz EQ series cars has always been a topic of debate – the egg-shaped structure, a front end that looks peculiar, unique wheels, and slimmed-down taillights converging in the middle. That’s the design language of the EQ series, but who could call any car in the EQ series a bad car? Doesn’t its inner beauty, performance, and intelligence make it beautiful enough?

While there are many aspects to criticize in its design, I believe the EQE SUV model is the most handsome among the Mercedes-Benz EQ family. Perhaps its design seems pleasing to us because it stands more firmly compared to the EQS family. Mercedes’ headlight system, known as Digital Light, not only features LED matrix technology but also provides safety warnings to the driver based on events happening in front of the vehicle. Despite its debatable necessity, it is a very impressive feature.

The adjustment of the headlight height based on navigation data, the ability to reduce the power of the matrix headlights, which already do not illuminate people and other vehicles for reducing glare from signs, and the technology to detect pedestrians and signs on the road, reflecting warnings to the ground, all contribute to enhancing safety and comfort. It is a reassuring detail for the driver to have such technology.

Even though brands used to have iconic grille designs, the absence of the grille in electric vehicles has opened up a unique design space. The panel adorned with the three-pointed star, meaning Mercedes-Benz-Maybach, by Mercedes-Benz designers could have been better designed. While the large Mercedes-Benz logo may look appealing, the grille design, which can be likened to human noses, plays a significant role in determining the fate of the vehicle. A beautiful grille can cover up many flaws.

The lower bumper design, with grilles necessary for cooling the electric motor and battery systems, adds to the beauty of the vehicle’s front face, resembling other internal combustion engine Mercedes-Benz models. EQE SUV has an allure, though.

While the design of 22-inch wheels filling the inner rims with black color looks futuristic, neither square nor round, and the hidden door handles are essential for an electric car. With a friction coefficient of 0.25, better than all SUVs, having such a low coefficient means increased comfort, performance, and reduced fuel consumption. Achieving an ambitious coefficient like 0.25 may require sacrificing certain elements, such as a more closed wheel design or rounder lines.

Replacing these massive mirrors with cameras seems to be a change that could be made in a facelift, potentially reducing the coefficient to 0.23. Despite being an SUV with a high ground clearance design and large glass surfaces, the narrowing of the vehicle after the C-pillar adds a sporty touch. A sharp line and protruding rear fender design, viewed from the side mirrors, could have been interesting, but efficiency takes precedence for the Mercedes-Benz EQ family.

Mercedes-Benz adds fake exhaust outlets vertically to the rear bumpers of every car, and it’s a bit outdated. While having it on every model could be interpreted as part of the design language, it looks artificial, much like fake exhaust outlets. In the EQE SUV, there are no fake exhaust outlets since it’s electric, but the exhaust-like component in the rear design also disrupts the overall aesthetics. Although the diffuser design is appealing, placing the license plate on the trunk, raising the brand logo above the light bar that connects the headlights, and concealing the rear wiper’s spoiler could have added more beauty to the Mercedes. You’ve always been innovative and pioneering, but as the famous English proverb goes, ‘Always room for improvement,’ meaning there is always room for development.

Even though you could opt for the Hyperscreen in the interior, a conventional design is much more aesthetically pleasing. Instead of the Hyperscreen, which is an odd synthesis of minimalism and the trend of everything getting larger, opting for the design in the image is much better in terms of usability. Having tactile physical shortcut buttons and a longer range, even if it’s haptic, are advantages of the conventionally designed interior. Yes, even the so-called conventional interior is quite futuristic. Indeed, the Hyperscreen consumes enough energy to shorten your range and adds to the overall weight.

Mercedes-Benz never fails to present creative and revolutionary designs and technologies in every era, capturing the minds of car enthusiasts, just like its current interior. The steering wheel, arguably the best-designed and most functional in the market, with buttons for everything conveniently placed, whether physical or digital, high-quality materials used, top-notch craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art technology.

The only thing that could be criticized in Mercedes-Benz interiors is that the physical control buttons are also touch-sensitive. However, once you sit in a Mercedes seat, experiencing the comfort, along with heated, ventilated, and massage-equipped seats, an automobile that automatically adjusts steering, seat, and mirror settings based on your height, I don’t think anyone would complain too much about the touch-sensitive buttons in this beautiful interior.

Designed as a family SUV, the EQE SUV provides a spacious rear living area while also prioritizing the comfort of rear passengers. Passengers can sit comfortably with features such as the rear armrest, heated seats, and seatbacks that can be electrically adjusted for inclination. The expansive panoramic sunroof adds to the open and bright living space for occupants. The design without a center tunnel is a detail that enhances the comfort of the middle passenger. Despite offering a generous cargo space, a notable drawback is the inability to open the hood. Adding a storage area under the hood could have further increased storage capacity, but the existing 520-liter trunk space should be sufficient for most users.

Yes, there might be shortcomings, but the EQE SUV is a very impressive vehicle overall. Its comfortable structure, long range of up to 590 kilometers, abundant customization options, and strong performance make it successful in many aspects. If you opt for the EQS SUV, you can get it with 292 horsepower and up to 687 horsepower. Numerous technological features, such as the four-wheel steering system reducing the turning radius, contribute to making it a highly intelligent vehicle. The added bonus of allowing autonomous driving is noteworthy. The design can be interpreted as more of a “you’ll get used to it over time” rather than a “love it or hate it” style. How do you find the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV?