Mercedes-Benz EQE review

UK prices now start at £68,810 for an EQE 300 and £77,345 for the 350. Brace yourself for the AMG 53: that's a six-figure car that will set you back £114,750. Jeepers.

Only the 300 gets the entry-level Sport Edition spec, but in identical AMG Line form there's only £3k between that and the 350. Here you get 19-inch rims, privacy glass, 64-colour ambient lighting, the pair of 12.3- and 12.8-inch screens, assisted parking and a reversing camera, imitation leather, heated front seats and dual-zone climate control.

As you'd hope for a £70k+ car, the EQE is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

Upgrade to AMG Line Premium for £5k and you get 20-inch rims, Mercedes’ fleet of semi-autonomous driver-assistance aids, keyless go and four-zone climate control. The ambient lighting goes full Tron universe too.

AMG Line Premium Plus is another £7,000. Ouch. The ‘Plus’ adds air suspension – just as well as 21-inch rims also appear. 360-degree parking cameras and a head-up display are useful additions, the MBUX interior voice assistant less so – there are plenty of button shortcuts already built in and the climate panel always remains at the bottom of the screen.

Most importantly though Premium Plus brings the multi-starred front grille instead of a hunk of black plastic up there. It’s all yours for £86,345 for a 300 and £89,345 for the 350.

For exactly the same money, you can have a more demure-looking EQE Exclusive Luxury. This looks less thrusting by shedding the AMG fripperies, but in the UK it still rides on 21-inch wheels. It does also get Airmatic suspension, but the emphasis is on interior comfort with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, nappa leather with wood dashboard panelling and a heated steering wheel. Lovely.

Which one should I pick?

It's definitely a case of less is more with modern Mercs, so unless you're running a VIP airport shuttle business it's pointless reaching above the AMG Line spec. Sticking with the smallest 19s maximises range too.

The extra power of the 350 can be handy on the motorway, and the range penalty isn't huge. Nor is the £3k premium.

Is the EQE SUV worth my time?

Odd car, the EQE SUV. Gets more boot space, costs more money... and that's about it. There are better electric SUVs out there.