2020 Mercedes EQC electric SUV first India drive impressions

What is it?

Centered on the Mercedes GLC and not a devoted EV system, the EQC will come with a modern flat battery placed concerning the wheels, twin asynchronous or induction motors, a great deal like you’d uncover on a Tesla (a single for each individual axle), and four-wheel drive. Electric power is stored in the enormous 85kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It is composed of 384 cells and weighs in at a severely significant 652kg that is the kerb weight of a Maruti 800. The mixed output from the twin motors stands at 408hp, and even more significant is that torque is a enormous 765Nm. Think twin-turbo diesel V8.

Interestingly, the entrance electric powered motor is engineered to deliver better effectiveness, whilst cruising and the a single at the rear is tuned to supply more functionality. This is why, when cruising at a steady velocity, the EQC is driven almost completely by the entrance motor. But, begin to speed up, even gently, and the rear motor promptly usually takes more than. The EQC also receives torque vectoring to increase traction, a preference of five driver modes (with Activity at a single stop and Max Selection at the other), and as on other EVs, you can adjust brake regeneration via a pair of paddles on the wheel.

Whole mixed output from the two motors is 408hp and 765Nm of peak torque.

With signature LED lights up entrance that run all-around the headlights and grille, the EQC will definitely stand out in a crowd. Include in the piano black grille and the twenty-inch wheels with their blue detailing, and EQC appears even more spectacular. The sea-smoothened glimpse works effectively all-around the rear, the bumper juts out nicely to generate a sound base and the Porsche-like connected tail-lights stand out too. But whilst the layout is hanging and receives your awareness, it does not shout Mercedes-Benz. In simple fact, go over the badge and you will battle to determine it as a Mercedes. Anoraks (like us) will also discover there is a new font utilized on the badge at the rear, the coefficient of drag of this SUV stands at an impressive .27cd, and the battery cooling technique has a cubic capability of six-eight litres.

What’s it like inside?

The EQC’s interior strikes a improved equilibrium concerning standard Mercedes and new-age electric powered. Familiar Mercedes bits involve the flat-panel displays (for infotainment and instrumentation) that are joined at the hip, the black and aluminum a few-spoke steering wheel, and the chromed and knurled switches on the central console. Even the trackpad and the toggle switches are standard Merc fare.

New bits involve bronzed, flute-formed inserts in the vents, a more steeply raked dash, a ribbed end on the upper door pad and the optional, new-age elements for the seats. But whilst the cabin obviously does glimpse ‘techy’ and modern, Merc’s refined touch of course has taken a little bit of a back seat below.     

The interior is acquainted, but decidedly modern.

Area is very similar on the inside to the GLC and due to the fact the two autos are developed on the similar wheelbase, legroom at the rear below is ample and very similar too. The seat is a little bit low, owing to the flooring remaining lifted a bit for the battery, but it is also fairly relaxed with ample thigh assist and a nicely reclined backrest. The EQC also receives the most up-to-date version of Merc’s MBUX technique, which below receives a new ‘EQ’ sub menu.

Legroom at the rear is ample and the seat is relaxed though the flooring has been a bit lifted to accommodate the underfloor battery pack.

When the whole element checklist hasn’t been introduced for the EQC, and the autos that go on sale will be various from the types we are driving, we can validate you will get capabilities like 7 airbags, Awareness Assist, connected vehicle tech, a sunroof and a voice assistant. Radar-based mostly cruise regulate, a few dimensional maps and the Heads Up Display screen, even so, will not make it to the element checklist. Buyers will get an eight-calendar year battery ‘cover’ though.

 

What’s it like to drive?

Increased refinement is a single of the pillars on which the Mercedes-Benz manufacturer has been developed. The E-course, the S-course, and even the C-course, for example, obviously truly feel more refined than their rivals. And this is real of the EQC as effectively. Excess insulation has been utilized to encapsulate the cabin, the electric powered motors use rubber mounts for improved sounds suppression and the EQC also receives double-glazed home windows that more enable mute seems from outside the house, so the EQC feels particularly refined on the shift. Tyre roar is superbly suppressed, the two at medium and large speeds, there is pretty tiny wind sounds and then, even on ‘textured’ surfaces, highway sounds isn’t too a great deal.

Cabin insulation is exceptional.

In regular electric powered vehicle style, the EQC also feels pretty torquey in ‘Sport’ manner. That very first hit of thrust is in the vicinity of instantaneous and fairly potent, and if you maintain the strain on the accelerator pedal, whilst the price of acceleration plateaus, the EQC however pulls forward in a single seamless surge. Desire there was a little bit more in the way of drama though the clinical functionality is so cold, driving it almost feels like a non-party. And that is regardless of the SUV remaining capable of undertaking -100kph in 5.1 seconds. The EQC is also pretty linear and clean, so driving it at medium speeds is simple and relaxing.

Also, whilst the EQC has enough grip, the steering is a little bit aloof, and the 2.four-tonne EQC rolls a little bit in tighter corners. Continue to, Merc’s very first all-electric powered SUV feels neat, secure and predictable. It isn’t entertaining to drive, for every se, but you do are inclined to delight in the potent functionality and carrying velocity simply into corners feels superior too.

The EQC pulls forward from standstill in a single seamless surge.

With the significant battery slung concerning the wheels, trip at certain speeds and more than less-than-best surfaces is marginal it does not fairly flatten the highway effectively, there is often some pitter patter or up-and-down movement, and what is even worse is that it also feels a little bit jittery more than little bumps.

Underslung battery pack means you can expect to have to navigate velocity breakers with treatment.

A more major challenge linked with the underslung battery is the lousy ground clearance. Small plenty of to get the battery to ‘thunk’ on to velocity breakers, this is a challenge you don’t count on to come upon with an SUV. So recognizing all those velocity breakers early is significant, you have to crawl more than gingerly and even some bad streets need to have to be driven more than with caution.

Selection and charging

The EQC has a claimed range of upwards of 450km. When this is obviously a little bit optimistic, you can count on a serious-planet range of all-around 350-375km, when the EQC is driven in a watchful manner. Mercedes will deliver and install a wall-box charger at your residence, and whilst that capabilities at 7.5Kw and usually takes ten several hours for a whole cost, you can also cost via a regular 15A plug at three.4Kw, having a leisurely 21 several hours. Of system, you will not often cost a totally drained battery, so these periods can be halved in actuality. And Mercedes is also planning to set up a few 50Kw fast chargers on well known routes outside the house city, exactly where a espresso stop could get you a quick ‘top-up’ for a extensive journey. 

A serious-wrold range of about 350-370km can be anticipated.  

Need to I obtain a single?

At an anticipated selling price of all-around Rs 1 crore, the EQC will be costly. This is specifically real if you think about that Mercedes sells its have whole-dimension 7-seat luxury SUV, the GLS, for all-around the similar selling price. Then there is the ground clearance issue you just can’t drive it with abandon like you would drive a regular SUV and, for a vehicle at this selling price, it isn’t particularly element-wealthy both.

 

Getting a luxury EV currently, even so, is more about building a assertion, and below the EQC hits the ball out of the park. The combo punch of the Mercedes manufacturer, all-electric powered drive and an SUV profile should really uncover a lot of takers. And it even drives effectively. Clean, silent and  extremely refined, it feels as hushed on the inside as some of Merc’s flagship autos. And then, when you place your foot down, there is a lot of functionality too. In simple fact, customer response is so superior, Merc insiders say they have already offered a nutritious variety of autos. The change to electric powered autos appears to have started.

Also see:

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC India video assessment