Turn in and its massive 22-inch wheels crash over the bumps, with the air suspension struggling to control the body movement. It’s like doing the long jump in wellies, galumphing about feeling clumsy and slightly out of control.
There’s no great precision and it isn’t helped by the high seating position which, with no view of the bonnet whatsoever, makes the EQE feel like piloting a flying saucer.
On wide, straight roads, where you aren’t overstraining the ability of the air suspension, the interior refinement is impressive, noise levels are low and it feels an easy car to do long distances in, but its tyres still fizz and pop over imperfections and detract from the overall feeling of effortless peregrination.
As for the intelligent deceleration setting, which is achieved by pulling on the right-hand steering wheel paddle for more than a couple of seconds, lack of intelligence seems more appropriate.
Through tight corners, speed limit changes and uphill and down mountain, the car refused to modify its off-throttle braking response, which was, er, no response. Using the three-setting deceleration paddles, however, there’s a decent amount of slowing available and almost one-pedal operation, although I disapprove of this setting.
The one that got away
In the last couple of years we’ve become used to driving “unicorn cars” from Mercedes, that is models with specifications bearing little relation to that which will be offered to UK buyers. In this case, however, I actively sought out the unicorn’s stable, in this case the rear-wheel-drive-only 350 + on 19-inch wheels, which will not grace UK price lists.
On rough, rural Portuguese roads its ride quality surpassed any of the models with larger wheels that I’d driven previously. Its steering, too, was better; precise, well weighted and capable of imbuing a confidence-inspiring authority, which just wasn’t evident with the 22in-wheeled equivalents.
More than that, after pushing on for a couple of hours on a mix of twisting minor roads and motorway, I achieved a creditable 3.63m/kWh, which would have equated to a range of 323 miles.
The Telegraph verdict
Notwithstanding Mercedes UK’s almost inexplicable decision not to import that cheapest and best version of this car and its decision to shun the 19-inch tyres on which the entire EQE SUV range was developed, this large family SUV was a disappointment, especially after the surreal ride quality of the S-class-sized EQS to which it owes a lot of its running gear.
It just wasn’t that enjoyable to drive, it didn’t have the fine dynamics of its saloon/hatchback EQE sister – and it seems like an awesome amount of money for a not desperately good car.
Telegraph rating: Two stars out of five
The facts
On test: Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 350 4-matic
Body style: five-door electric SUV
On sale: this year
How much? from £90,560
How fast? 130mph, 0-62mph in 6.6sec
How economical? 3.34mpkWh (WLTP Combined)
Electric powertrain: twin AC permanent magnet synchronous motors, 89kWh useable lithium-ion battery, 87kW on-board charger, Type 2/CCS charging socket
Electric range: up to 342 miles
Charge times: half an hour from 0-80 per cent on 170kW DC fast charger, 9.5 hours for 100 per cent charge on 11kW street charger
Maximum power/torque: 288bhp/564lb ft
CO2 emissions: 0g/km (in use), 37.4g/km (well-to-wheel)
VED: £0
Warranty: 3yrs, unlimited mileage, battery covered for 8yrs and 100,000 miles
The rivals
Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack
From £57,950
