We tested the Mercedes EQC: the most serious 100% electric SUV

The theoretical autonomy of the EQC is 414 km (WLTP cycle). This essentially depends on the driving style and the type of channels borrowed. As with other electric vehicles, on the highway, the autonomy melts as snow in the sun. This is also impacted as soon as you use the various services on board (air conditioning, massage seats, etc.)). During our week, alternating between flexible and dynamic driving, between Parisian traffic jams and trips in the Ile -de -France countryside, we could see that Mercedes’ estimates were rather honest.

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We tested the Mercedes EQC: the most serious 100% electric SUV

With the EQC, Mercedes finally has its first zero emission vehicle. To find out what the SUV is worth, we tested it in real conditions for a week. So, simple test in the electric or first successful ?

Once is not customary, the first 100% electric vehicle of Mercedes is a SUV. The EQC is called the German manufacturer’s replica to the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-Tron and “You-Savez-Qui”.

Beyond the paradox which consists in making a huge SUV, the emblem of its ecological commitment, it is advisable to question the intrinsic quality of this EQC. To answer this question, we have chosen to use the zero emission vehicle of the Stuttgart firm in real conditions. A week of daily journeys and occasional trips at the wheel of this first representing 100% electric brand with the star.

GLC electrified

Before embarking on the EQC, a tour of the owner is essential. And a first observation at the same time: this electric SUV has a very similar silhouette to that of the GLC, one of the thermal SUVs of Mercedes. Or a raised break look but that does not affect a nicely carved line which it is difficult to believe that it extends over almost 5 meters (4.76 to be precise). This is anything but a coincidence since the EQC was developed from a GLC platform. And unless you approach close enough, it is difficult to guess the electrification of the beast. Only the logo and some discreet bluish keys highlight the type of engine chosen.

Inside, it’s great classic, but a high -flying classic. The regulars of Mercedes will find an impeccable level of finish and a careful integration of each inner element, whether it be the screens, the different commands or the speakers signed Burmester.

A pleasure for technophiles

The Stuttgart firm cheerfully communicates on its vocal assistant “Hey Mercedes”, rightly. Failing to play an equal game with Alexa or Google Assistant, he is by far this who is doing the best by car. Obviously, the experience is not perfect. Sometimes you have to shake your vocal cords to be heard of your Mercedes and you are not immune to being presented with the weather bulletin when you ask for an air conditioning adjustment. But overall, it is an assistant who makes you want to be used and slightly changes the experience on board. It turns out to be useful in particular for basic settings such as air conditioning, navigation or change of radio.

But it would be unfair to reduce EQC’s on -board technology to its only voice assistant. In reality, on its electric vehicle as in its entire recent range, the German manufacturer has one of the most successful driving environments in terms of technology. The two 10 -inch screens, one for instrumentation, the other for the media and navigation are very well integrated into the dashboard.

The driver’s screen is configurable and allows you to choose the right dial, the information to display. Mercedes has also developed three different display profiles that can be selected using the keys on the left side of the steering wheel.

The central screen concerns the environment of the car whether to change the atmosphere on board (special mention to the Mercedes Odorama), or the music. It is also on this screen that Carplay or Android Auto take over from the homemade OS.

EQC on the road: a versatility lesson

With 408 hp under the hood and 760 Nm of immediate torque, the EQC displays an ambitious technical sheet. In fact, 0 to 100 km/h is completed in 5.1 seconds despite 2.4 tonnes on the scale. Concretely, the power is available and it is not necessary to go into sport driving mode to take advantage of it. The EQC knows how to be biting when it is necessary but this is not where it is the most impressive.

On the contrary, the EQC is the most gifted when it comes to being forgotten. With a level of insulation which almost nothing down to the noise of rolling, shock absorbers which largely compensate the 650 kg of overweight due to the batteries, the driving is extremely soft and comfortable. In short, the perfect qualities for an electric car.

The autonomy is there, the charging network still not

The theoretical autonomy of the EQC is 414 km (WLTP cycle). This essentially depends on the driving style and the type of channels borrowed. As with other electric vehicles, on the highway, the autonomy melts as snow in the sun. This is also impacted as soon as you use the various services on board (air conditioning, massage seats, etc.)). During our week, alternating between flexible and dynamic driving, between Parisian traffic jams and trips in the Ile -de -France countryside, we could see that Mercedes’ estimates were rather honest.

As for recharging, it is very simply done, using one of the two cables provided with the car. It is possible to load in DC (DC CURRENT) on a CCS socket, on ionity or corridor networks, for example, at 110 kW, which allows you to recover 70% of the autonomy in 40 minutes. These terminals being rather rare the AC load (alternating current) in 7.4 kW is the norm. At home, or in some well -equipped car parks, the recharging time reports some 33 km to the car. So these are the most suitable sockets to recharge the EQC when it is not required, at night. It was at this time that he most often recovers 100% of his charge, in ten hours anyway.

Mercedes knows this, autonomy is, with the purchase price, one of the two major factors limiting the expansion of the electric car. Also, the manufacturer has decided to include an incentive measure for any purchase of an EQC. The “MEMENT” card is a serial service, taken care of for three years and which makes it possible to recharge your SUV in all the compatible terminals in Europe. In France, the manufacturer announces some 16,000 recharging points and at least one terminal per 50 km slice on a highway.

During our test we could see that the EQC did not escape what is the standard for most electric vehicles. That is to say an ease in town where the battery is relatively little requested and difficulties in the distance on the highway, especially as soon as we exceed 120 km/h. Ultimately, Mercedes’ first 100% electric car is not a road, but whatever, the German manufacturer has never claimed to want to play on this ground.

Test verdict:

After a week with the EQC, the observation is clear: Mercedes fully successfully tried the electric car even if the risk taking was relatively limited. Very successful from a technological point of view, the 100% electric SUV of the German is particularly comfortable and knows how to show the muscles if the need is felt. Whether on the electric part with controlled engine and autonomy or inside where Mercedes is particularly distinguished. Finally, the weaknesses of this EQC are the same as those of these competitors -Tesla aside -that is to say an autonomy which plunges on the highway and a too little developed charging network. But with a price that starts at 72,950 euros (bonus included), Mercedes is cheaper than all its competitors.