Face off! Updated Mercedes-Benz EQS electric saloon gets S-Class grille and styling cues to tempt more buyers

April 20, 2024April 19, 2024 John Mahoney 8422 Views eqs, luxury, Mercedes-Benz, saloon

In a bid to attract more buyers to the slow-selling Mercedes-Benz EQS, designers have downplayed its UFO looks and dialled-up the amount of S-Class influence in its styling.

Now featuring a proper grille, in place of the out-going car’s plastic fascia, the new EQS also sports a proper bonnet-mounted three-pointed star for the first time, just like the flagship combustion-powered limo.

Below it there’s now also the choice of adding a sportier AMG-Line front bumper that features, what looks like at least, two large air intakes that would normally feed cool air to a hungry V8 – except that the EQS remains battery-powered.

Speaking of which, as part of the 2024 updates Benz has ditched the current 108.4kWh battery pack and replaced it with an even larger 118kWh battery.

Providing an extra 82km of range, the most efficient model in the line-up, the EQS 450+, can now cover an incredible 800km on a single charge – 11 per cent more than before.

Another unexpected bonus following the facelift is owners can now tow more, with the towing capacity rising from 750kg to 1700kg – enough to tow a horse box, says Benz.

Despite the new bigger battery, power outputs have been pegged at 265kW/800Nm for the 450 4MATIC and 484kW/950Nm for the AMG 53 4MATIC +.

Within, extra chrome has been introduced to fool occupants into thinking they’re in an S-class while the rear seats now feature extra padding and can be reclined further.

More good news is the jaw-dropping full-width Hyperscreen dash becomes standard for all Australian models.

Other useful additions include the addition of a standard-fit heat pump, revised regenerative braking and automatic lane-changing on the adaptive cruise.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has yet to announce when the revised EQS will land Down Under, nor whether or not there’s been a price increase.

But in Europe the facelifted EQS is on sale now with deliveries expected before the end of this year.