Mercedes EQE SUV priced above Tesla Model Y as it becomes first non-Apple product to offer Spatial Audio

Mercedes-Benz just unveiled the "multipurpose variant" of the luxury EQE electric sedan that it launched back in the spring. A fancy phrase for an electric SUV vehicle, the "multipurpose" adjective for the EQE here refers to the off-road abilities and one of the largest interior spaces in its class. With an EPA range estimate expected to top the 320 miles mark, and a Mercedes EQE price set at US$68,000, it is shaping up to be a direct Tesla Model Y competitor in the US.

The 191.5/76.4/66.4 inch dimensions at 119.3 wheelbase make it slightly more compact than the EQE sedan, all the while it offers more interior space. There are 2WD and 4WD versions, with the 4MATIC one able to decouple the front axle motor completely for increased range on a charge when the off-road capabilities, or heavy load pulling, aren't needed. The battery comes standard with 10-year or 155,000-mile warranty.

The cheapest Mercedes EQE 350+ model is a RWD affair that offers 288 HP and 417 pound-feet torque that go up to 564 pound-feet on the 350 4MATIC model with extra motor on the front axle. The performance 500 4MATIC version also has a dual-motor electric drivetrain, but comes with the whopping 536 HP and 633 pound-feet of torque. The 0-62 mph acceleration of the 500 model is 4.6 seconds, while all versions top out at 130 MPH. Power comes from a 90.6-kWh battery pack that can be charged to 80% for about half an hour at rated 170 kW chargers.

Inside, you will find the giant pillar-to-pillar 55.5-inch Mercedes Hyperscreen with dual-stack OLED technology made by LG. Mercedes says it has paid special attention to road noise and car noise insulation to the point of arranging the magnets inside the electric motor's rotor in a way that minimizes noise and vibration. The Mercedes EQE is the first product with Apple's Spatial Audio surround sound tech with Dolby Atmos support that is made from another company, and Apple boasted that the audio quality is akin to that of a concert hall:

Apple Music with Spatial Audio comes fully integrated through the MBUX infotainment system in Mercedes-Maybach models, the EQS and EQS SUV, as well as the EQE and the S-Class, equipping these vehicles with studio-quality sound better than in any concert hall, and giving drivers a fully immersive listening experience with unparalleled, multidimensional sound and clarity.

The Mercedes EQE sports an efficient heat pump that allows a very little draw from the battery to warm up the cabin, while the A/C compressor is designed to avoid noisy frequencies as "certain rpm ranges at which disturbing resonances may be audible when stationary or in a traffic jam are avoided or quickly passed through."

Made in the USA, or, more precisely, in the Tuscaloosa, AL factory, with a nickel-cobalt-manganese battery coming straight from the Bibb County plant there, the Mercedes EQE will be eligible for the new EV subsidies that kicked in after the Inflation Reduction Act passed as it is priced way below the US$80,000 SUV grant threshold, too.

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