Nice review! As an S Class owner I have been spoiled by the Mercedes luxury, so I am a bit biased. We are looking at a 2020 arrival for the EQC in the USA. While waiting I've driven the Model X, the I-Pace and the e- Tron; each having it's pros and cons. Of those three I would go with the Model X simply because of the battery technology and supercharger system. It is disappointing to me that with regard to battery technology the EU luxury EV manufacturers have battery technology approximately equivalent to 2012-2015 Tesla battery technology. I believe when the EQC arrives it will be my choice as it provides the amenity and safety features this 66 year old wants, as well as the smooth drive. To answer your question, I believe my choice will be the 1886 model. I do prefer the the front of the AMG line, but the AMG will likely be on 21" wheels. With the 1886 on 20" wheels I suspect tire/road noise will be better than the 21" AMG wheels (did notice a huge difference in ride and road/tire noise on the 22" Model X wheel vs. the 20" Model X wheel). I also believe that current Mercedes owners seeking an electric vehicle will go with the EQC because of the familiarity to existing Mercedes models/features, as well as familiarity with controls in the dashboard. However, I suspect non-Mercedes owners will lean toward the Model X (due to performance, battery technology and superchargers) and I-Pace (due to performance and luxury). I appreciate your review. Thank you.
15:10 *Mercedes have spent an absolute fortune in making this the quietest EV with huge amounts of soundproofing to lessen 'tyre noise' caused on some road surfaces.*
James O'Donnell Nice analysis.. fair comments based on logic not fanboyism. The Mercedes and a Tesla Model X will be the two best SUV EV’s in the segment, in my opinion.
Tesla has no advantage in "battery technology". They simply have large battery packs and aerodynamic designs. Cheap and simple. Nothing super high tech that no other manufacturer has.
Ryan - a nice review. I would think that Android auto and Apple carplay would be standard in the 65k model too. This appears to be a nice platform to convince Mercedes SUV customers they should take a look at EVs, although the range is a bit light for our current charging infrastructure (US). Seems like this would be great for European travels. A very good start into EV realm for Mercedes.
4:47 - I notice that in few videos there is water around the charging port.... Hope it's nothing serious. I think that water and electricity doesn't work well together.
What do you expect from Mercedes. They have been making luxury cars for ever, making their ability to have top notch interior would and is not difficult to master. So for Mercedes their challenge would be with the drive train. They need to make a vehicle that out performs their ICE vehicles. If they do not do this they will stay a ICE manufacture as their customers will stay with what they are use to. Why spend more money on a vehicle that looks the same on the inside and out while you lose all the range of the ICE models. I like this channel but I do not know any one that watches you channel other than EV supporters. You need to bring on ICE vehicle and have head to head comparisons and convince the general public that EV are the best and are the future.
I cannot believe that Apple Carplay/Android Auto are not on the 'base' model, for this price that is not acceptable. The base level MG ZS EV has both, and the top spec has a full length sun roof to lighten the rear passenger area.
Thought you may have mentioned the towing capacity of the car and the tow hitch does come out saw Bjorn do it think your foot just needs to be in the right spot to activate it. It is a Merc so build quality has to be at the top. It will be interesting what the future will bring but do know they have more coming. If you can you should try to get to the Geneva Auto Show next year, if Frankfurt was anything to go by next year I suspect will be even more EV's current & future on display. Great review, glad you at least briefly mentioned the massage seats as that is one feature no other EV has, there are many others as well, but I know Bjorn used them quite a lot. Should see if you can get a press car from Mercedes to borrow overnight to check the lights out and night driving. Nice the owner lent it to you to review, definitely appreciate it so you could review it for all of us. :)
Ordered the Sport version + phone integration as a Company Car. Could have pushed up to the AMG Line, but cosmetics aside, that seems to reduce range (assume due to the bigger wheels) while offering no significantly improved equipment over the Sport unless you go for the Premium or Premium+ packs.
Great! Been looking forward to this one. Nice to hear your opinions, and also nice to know that Mercedes have managed to surprise me (and you by the sound of it). I expected to hate this car but it seems to be actually a really good EV. I don’t think the driving dynamics would tempt me away from my I-Pace but as a luxury cruiser it looks really nice. Thanks!
Excellent assessment! Plenty of information, excellent description of the technology, and realistic comparison to other luxury cars. However, you didn’t mention the e-tron, which I’m also considering buying.
It’s gasoline not “gas”. Specifically Karl Benz used a liquid called Petroleum Ether. Karl Benz’s car is still registered to drive on German roads, except at night. (Lights not adequate for night driving) and you can still get Petroleum ether from a pharmacy.
Indeed. Yet another mega-expensive SUV for the elite few who can afford it. Where are the *affordable* EV's that we need to encourage mass-update? And I'm sorry, but IMHO, this tank is also mega-ugly, as well as mega-expensive. I'll wait for the VW ID.Crozz or Model-Y thank you.
@@1965GJS13 This is the legacy manufacturers realising that it's REALLY expensive to develop a "cheap" EV. However, PLEASE stop the "where are the affordable cars" rant? If nothing else it's economy of scale that will make them less expensive and that hasn't been possible due to lack of necessary infrastructure. That IS changing. Within 18 months you'll have a narrowing of the gap.
In answer to your question about which version to go for, for me it would have to be the 1886 Edition. Reasons: 1. It has pretty much every possible optional extra, 2. the styling of the front and of the wheels make it look like an electric car rather than just another ICE Merc, 3. it doesn't have the stupid huge AMG Line moustache on the front, or the cheap looking chrome grille surround of the Sport version, 4. the blue areas on the interior make it feel so much less depressing and boring than the all-black interior of the AMG Line versions, 5. as a limited edition it will always feel just that little bit more rare and special. I think I read somewhere that they only made 75 of them? Correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm surprised that you didn't mention that Mercedes' battery pack placements in the EQC result in a higher center of gravity than a purpose-built BEV can deliver. That's a safety minus and a handling minus. Decent first try at a BEV, but there's a lot of work left to be done at Mercedes to perfect their BEV offerings.
A lot of EV people seem to complain about Old car companies doing front "grilles" its there as a brand statement. I provided cohesion with the other models in the brand. In today's cookie cutter cars, the grille is the one big identifier as to brand anymore. I miss the old days where you could look at a profile of a vehicle and not only no the brand, but the model.
I think the point is that manufacturers / designers, in adapting to new EV technology, need to find other ways outside of a grill to establish a brand identity. The e-trons is just ugly, this is better, but it seems silly to put a throwback to a different technology on a design based on a different technology.
*Depends on how bad your **_dandruff_** is, with the tester no problem. Personally I love it. Have polished Black Ash (Real Wood) in mine after insisting with Mercedes.*
Good review. Pity Mercedes didn't build an EV from the base up, if they had then the floor tunnel that cause the hump in the middle of the rear seats would have made sitting in the rear a lot more comfortable. To me that indicates lazy deign by Mercedes and possibly that they really do not have customers at the heart of their thinking (design and pricing). Expected more from such a premium brand and price tag
Although I’m glad to see Mercedes getting into the BEV game, the EQC remains a compromised vehicle. I can’t get past the size of the hood, why is it so long and the belt line so high? They also desperately need 200kw or higher charging capability. This is a brand new 2020 model yet it doesn’t keep up to Étron, Taycan, or Tesla in charge speeds. I predict that few will want to purchase this vehicle. It’ll be a popular lease option. You know the next gen will be so much better.
These charging port lid doors look more professional looking design (similar to Nissan LEAF), than those cheap dangling cords of Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV.
Skip to the end .... the answer is "no". MB already delayed shipping this thing to the US because they knew it didn't compare favorably to any of the Teslas out there. And now you can get the Model Y for half of the Benz price. Ridiculous.
*Having bought many Mercedes in the past, (Including 2 'S' Class) I was invited (1st Class all paid and a Handsome Sum) to attend a **_valued_** customer 'survey' at Dortmund in 2016 and see that a lot of my 'opinions/views' have been integrated in this Model. Teaser in mid 2020 you will see the 'A' & 'B' Versions launched at a much lower price, also Plug In Hybrids that will cover up to 50 Miles on **_pure_** Electric if driven sensibly. I am awaiting that date and look to purchase a 'B' Class (W247 B250e) Hybrid, as most of my journeys are less than 50 Miles, but on longer trips do not have to 'worry' about charging an all EV. Current car W246 B 200 CDi AMG Line. Best car I have ever had with astounding performance (143 mph on Autobahn) and up to 74.3 MPG. Brakes and Steering amazing, and so quiet you CANNOT hear the engine at 60 mph.*
20:25 *That may be amusing but you can also say 'Mercedes' send a text to Nick, I will be arriving at 6 30 pm sorry I am late etc etc...... and it will confirm and send a Text without you taking your hands of steering wheel.*
The range is mediocre, electric efficiency is less than Tesla X, electric motors used by MB are old technology compare to Tesla permanent magnet synchronous motors, Tesla radar is better, MB didn't even bother to create a new body for its electric vehicle, this body comes straight from GLC model, rear sits area has that hump on the floor for drive shaft, the Tesla's network of supercharges is way ahead of anybody else Look MB had all the money and engineering power in the world to beat Tesla yet they choose to come up with OBSOLETE ELECTRIC CAR that is just BAD. I am NOT Buying! P.S. I am not a Tesla fanboy, I am driving GLS 550 and looking for my next electric car MB is just to cut it for me with this half-effort car
When was the last time you could look at a Toyota or a honda of similar size from a distance and known what it was. In general car design has become blah. The front grille with the emblem is all that's left.