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Motor Trend
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE500 4Matic Sedan First Test: Minor Updates, Mixed Results?
Pros Ultra-quiet cabin Super smooth ride Rear-steer nimbleness Cons EPA range decreases Soap bar styling Mediocre peak charging rate Mercedes-Benz set a high bar with the latest incarnation of the E-Class sedan and wagon, so much so that we named the redesigned model our 2025 Car of the Year. Now it's time to check on the award-winning luxury car's all-electric-powered counterpart, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE-Class Sedan, which receives a smattering of slight changes for the new model year. 0:00 / 0:00 Chiefly, Mercedes equipped the midsize EQE with a bigger battery pack and recalibrated its braking software. To see how the latest updates have shaken out, we put this 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE500 4Matic in Alpine Grey over Sable Brown and Black Nappa leather through our testing regimen. Improvements: Verified but Not Perfect In keeping with Mercedes-Benz's ethos for its non-AMG EVs, the 2025 EQE500 4Matic is quick without feeling overly aggressive when you punch the accelerator. But with 402 hp and 633 lb-ft of torque available from its dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, there's plenty of juice on tap when you want to get going quickly. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes 4.0 seconds, an exercise that thrills at launch before settling into a smooth and linear pull to highway speeds. Wheeling the EQE500 4Matic around town is a pleasant, relaxing affair. Light, precise steering lends the driver a sense of confidence when navigating a curvy freeway ramp or making delicate maneuvers in a parking lot. That feeling is further amplified by a standard rear-axle steering setup, which helps the midsize sedan pivot with the poise of a compact. Equipped with electronically controlled air springs, the EQE500 exhibits a silky ride quality that takes the strain out of the daily commute. Despite a more aggressive 21-inch wheel and tire package, few road imperfections impinge on the EQE's comfortable character. The only time you're reminded of the large rims wrapped in thin rubber is when you hit a significant bump and the resulting shock rocks the cabin. Otherwise, the EQE500 4Matic's overall ride is as elegant and quiet as you'd expect from a Mercedes at this price point. While it's mostly good news from a ride and handling standpoint, the retune of the EQE's braking software is something of a mixed bag. Enable one-pedal driving and tap the left steering-wheel paddle for the most aggressive regenerative braking setting, and the EQE slows itself predictably and consistently, though you may find yourself using the actual brake pedal to finish the stop yourself. The biggest change is that the pedal doesn't move on its own anymore during regenerative braking, so it's always in the default position when you need it. There's now also more pedal feel than prior iterations of the EQE Sedan, especially at the top of travel. Beyond that point, it's something of a guessing game as to how much stopping power the EQE500 will apply. Fortunately, the Mercedes stays straight and level during panic stops. Braking from 60 to 0 mph matches that of the EQE500's AMG sibling; both models need a mere 105 feet to come to a halt—a hugely impressive number given its 5,520-pound curb weight. While the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE500 4Matic makes no pretensions of being a sport sedan, you may be tempted to toggle on Sport mode, toggle off traction control, and send it on a twisty road. If you do, its tires provide impressive grip, and the rear steer reins in understeer so long as you keep your hands steady. Underscoring its performance potential, the EQE500 4Matic managed an impressive 24.9-second lap around our one-third mile figure-eight test track before its grip started to go away. That's better than the dual-motor Genesis G80 Electric's result of 25.3 seconds and the dual-motor BMW i5 M60 xDrive's lap time of 25.2 seconds without the Dynamic Handling package. The EQE500's balanced approach to driving compares favorably to our gas-powered, Car of the Year–winning E-Class, a car that wowed us with its mastery of core competencies. When it comes to on-road performance, it's about as close as it gets between the two. Both models excel in real-world driving scenarios thanks to crisp, low-effort steering and ample power. And although the mild hybrid E-Class scores better in the overall brake feel department, the EQE counters that with its ability to come to a full stop as it regenerates battery power. Charging and Range Still in Need of Improvement But as composed and impressive as the updated 2025 EQE500 4Matic has shown itself to be on the road and on the track, its charging and range shortcomings remain an issue. While its new battery pack is bigger, with 96 kWh of capacity, peak charging still caps out at an unimpressive 170 kW. What's more, we only saw a peak of 162 kW in our charging test at an average of 121 kW from 5 to 80 percent over 38 minutes. You can add 98 miles of range in 15 minutes, a result that falls short of the likes of other larger electric cars we've tested from BMW, Lucid, and Porsche. Charge at home, as we suspect many EQE-Class drivers will have the option to do, and those weaknesses are unlikely to be nearly as much of an issue. Range also dips despite the updates. With an EPA combined rating of 266 miles (down from 298 miles for the 2024 model), the EQE500 has some limitations as a long-haul conveyance. On the plus side, the EQE500 4Matic performed well in our Road-Trip Range test, which evaluates how far you can drive at a steady 70 mph from 100 percent to 5 percent charge. In our testing we recorded 264 miles, which is just 1 percent off its official rating—a result that should help soothe any range anxiety concerns. Life Inside the EQE-Class Another soothing aspect of the EQE500 is its well-appointed, comfortable cabin. Unlike the entry-level EQE350+ and EQE350 4Matic variants, this upper-level sedan comes standard with Mercedes-Benz's Hyperscreen, a trio of displays housed under a single pane of glass. The user interface's sprawling menus and applications continue to be refined, and among its more useful and novel features are improved voice commands, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and fingerprint user profiles. Some areas still need more polish, however, namely the camera feeds. Although they're displayed at a high resolution, the 360-degree overhead and other 3D views show an artificially generous boundary around the car to provide a buffer zone. Additionally, the crop of the backup camera is too narrow to depict exactly where the rear of the Mercedes will go when you're in reverse. You won't curb a wheel, but these imprecisions make it tough to know exactly how close the EQE is in relation to other cars and obstacles in tight spots. One area that apparently did get some needed polish was an issue we've previously reported with Mercedes-Benz EQ models where otherwise high-quality-looking plastics could flex easily and squeak when pressure was applied. Thankfully, this seems to have been remedied as part of the EQE's 2025 model year update Otherwise, our decked-out test car coddled us with heated and ventilated massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, and a rich-sounding Burmester audio setup with 15 speakers. Standard 64-color ambient lighting allows the cabin's atmosphere to be configured to the driver's taste. We'd also be remiss if we didn't call out this particular model's headrest pillows, which are super soft and supportive. Passengers benefit from an upscale second row with generous legroom. The trunk is somewhat oddly shaped, but there's plenty of space for groceries or luggage. Highway driving assistance features perform well and make few errors while the Digital Light package equips active headlights with curve adaptive functionality and puddle lighting to illuminate the road with alerts for other motorists. From a practical standpoint, the EQE's overall utility outshines any of its minor foibles. An Electric E-Class? While the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE makes a better attempt than ever at delivering the same well-rounded excellence that made the E-Class a Car of the Year winner, its average efficiency, charging, and camera tech conspire to hold it back a notch. And although its improved braking is a plus, Mercedes' engineers still have work to do before the stoppers deserve genuine praise. Then there's the matter of the EQE's Apple Mouse/soap bar exterior styling, which for many is an acquired taste at best and a turnoff at worst. Prices begin at $87,050 and climb to $101,070 for a vehicle equipped in the same way as our test model shown here. That's a steep ask for any midsize luxury EV, especially when considering competitively priced flagship models such as the Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, and Porsche Taycan. Still, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE500 4Matic is as quiet and comfortable as you'd hope a vehicle wearing the Three-Pointed Star would be. Taken as a whole, the EQE should meet the requirements of those in search of a luxurious, all-electric-powered daily driver that feels spacious without the oversized exterior dimensions.
News24
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- News24
This is the 2025 SA Car of the Year...
The 2025 edition of the South African Car of the Year competition saw 17 finalists compete. The locally built BMW X3 has been crowned the 2025 SA Car of the Year. SA's popular Suzuki Swift took second place, and the BMW M5 hybrid took third. Seventeen vehicles were in the running for the 2025 South African Car of the Year title for this year's competition. The BMW X3 has been crowned as the 2025 South African Car of the Year by the country's most respected motoring journalists. All new vehicles launched during a specific period in 2024 are eligible for the SA COTY competition, but facelifted models do not count. The seventeen finalists were voted on by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists jury after being narrowed down from a semi-finalists list. The final 17 were then put through testing over two days by the jury earlier in March this year and were individually scored on a 32-question score sheet. It's important to note that finalists are not scored against each other but rather in each of their respective categories and against direct rivals based on the closest vehicle specifications and prices in their segments. Most COTY titles The win marks a successive victory for the German manufacturer, with the G70 generation 7 Series winning the 2024 title. BMW now holds the record for being the manufacturer with the most SA Car of the Year titles, with honours dating back to 1988 when the 735i won the competition. This is the first time the X3 nameplate has been awarded the title. While the competition is not to find the most relevant or budget-friendly vehicle for the South African market, it's about finding motoring excellence, and the X3 showcases the local industry's capabilities and outstanding manufacturing standards. The German sport-utility vehicle edged ahead in the score sheets, excelling in its high refinement levels, innovative design, high level of digitisation, and relative value for money. Suzuki came in a highly respectable second-place ranking for the B-segment Swift. Completing the podium was the G90 BMW M5. 6 Categories In addition to the Top 3 overall winners, SA Car of the Year incorporates six main categories: Budget, Family, Premium, Executive, Adventure Utility and Performance. The BMW X3, Suzuki Swift and BMW M5 are the top finishers in their respective categories: Premium, Budget and Performance. In the Family category, the Volkswagen Tiguan received the highest overall score. BMW took another win in the Executive class with the G60 5 Series, and Toyota secured a victory in the Adventure Utility segment with its latest-generation Land Cruiser Prado. Mabuyane Mabuza, chairperson of the SAGMJ, congratulated all the winners and entrants, noting the strong representation of South Africa's diverse market. 'Each year brings better technology, improved quality, and a stronger focus on safety – showing manufacturers' commitment to safer roads.' The Mahindra XUV 3XO won the 2025 Old Mutual Insure Car of the Year Motor Enthusiast 'People's Choice' Award. Voted for by the public, this compact SUV ticked all the right boxes with its bold looks, feature-packed interior, great fuel efficiency, and unbeatable value for money. Jerry Anthonyrajah, chief commercial officer at Old Mutual Insure, said the category, introduced four years ago, highlighted the growing role of public engagement in COTY competition. 'From dual 10.25-inch screens and advanced safety tech to a panoramic sunroof and smooth drive, it brings big-car energy without the big price tag. 'It's the kind of car that gets people talking and driving. As a brand that is customer-centric and develops products to better service our customers, Old Mutual Insure is thrilled to yet again play a part in celebrating vehicles that resonate with everyday South Africans,' said Anthonyrajah. Mabuza further explained that the COTY expert panel evaluates each finalist on design, technology, engineering, performance, handling, ingenuity, and safety. Lightstone Auto contributes essential market intelligence and data-driven insights, including value-for-money assessments relative to market rivals and each finalist's category sales performance. An independent audit firm formally verified the 2025 competition results to ensure fairness and transparency.
