2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan

The volume 2022 trim is the launch EQS 450+, a single rear motor rated at 329 hp. The 450 4MATIC did not arrive until 2023, so the US range for 2022 was the 450+, the 580 4MATIC and the AMG EQS.

The single motor makes 417 lb-ft, which is ample off the line for a sedan but modest against twin-motor and V8/V12 rivals in the full-size luxury class.

Mercedes quotes 5.9 s for the 2022 450+. That is adequate for a car of about 5,600 lb, but slow next to dual-motor rivals and the EQS's own 580 and AMG trims.

The electric drivetrain delivers instant, seamless and near-silent thrust, and reviewers rank it among the quietest powertrains in the luxury-sedan class. 2022 is the launch year of the V297.

A single-speed reduction gear means there are no shifts to judge. The steering-wheel paddles select the regen level (D+, D, D–, D Auto), and the predictive D Auto mode blends smoothly.

For 2022, 4MATIC dual-motor AWD comes only on the higher-priced 580 4MATIC and AMG EQS. The volume 450+ is rear-drive only, and the cheaper 450 4MATIC did not arrive until 2023. This scores below the 2023 car because AWD sat higher up the price ladder.

The EQS is electric only, with no gas, hybrid or PHEV option. In 2022 it came in three output tiers from 329 to 751 hp, and buyers who want combustion are pointed to the S-Class.

This is the EPA combined figure for the volume 2022 EQS 450+. It is middling for an EV sedan given the car's roughly 5,600 lb curb weight.

This is the EPA city figure for the volume 450+. The car's mass blunts the city advantage that regenerative braking gives lighter EVs.

This is the EPA highway figure for the volume 450+. The 0.20 Cd body helps at highway speed, but the rating still trails lighter rivals such as the Lucid Air and Model S.

This is the EPA range for the 450+ on the 108.4 kWh pack, the longest of the 2022 EQS trims. It is strong for the class but trails the Lucid Air and Model S.

The launch EQS accepts up to 200 kW DC on its 400-volt architecture, which is mid-pack among EV sedans. The 800V/350 kW system only arrives with the 2026 facelift.

Mercedes quotes 31 minutes for 10–80% on the 108.4 kWh pack. That is respectable for one of the largest batteries in the class, but slower than 800V rivals.

This is the EPA estimated annual electricity cost at 15k mi/yr for the volume 450+.

It uses no gasoline, and the 9.6 kW onboard charger refills the big pack overnight on home Level 2. It scores below 80 because the 2022 car is a 400V CCS1 model with no NACS adapter, so Supercharger access needs an aftermarket adapter, and DC sessions run longer than on 800V rivals.

NHTSA never crash-tested the launch-year 2022 EQS Sedan. Both the RWD and 4WD entries read 'Not Rated' for overall, frontal, side and rollover. Per the framework, an unrated vehicle takes 0 rather than an inferred star count.

IIHS has never tested the EQS Sedan, so the 2022 car has no TSP/TSP+ award and no US crashworthiness results. It sits mid-band on its 5-star Euro NCAP result and a robust airbag complement (including rear side and driver knee airbags), but trails IIHS-rated rivals such as the S-Class and 7 Series.

Mercedes launched the EQS in the US with its full active-assist suite standard. On the volume 450+ that means Active Brake Assist, DISTRONIC adaptive cruise, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and cross-traffic functions. NHTSA's 2022 record lists lane-departure warning as 'No', which conflicts with Mercedes' equipment list and reads as a filing gap rather than missing hardware.

Standard Active Brake Assist covers vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, with cross-traffic and turning functions. IIHS has not run front-crash-prevention tests on the EQS, so the score rests on Euro NCAP's strong safety-assist and vulnerable-road-user results.

The standard suite includes Active Blind Spot Assist with corrective braking, an exit warning for approaching cyclists and vehicles, and rear cross-traffic braking. Coverage is active intervention on every trim, not alert-only.

Standard Active Steering Assist uses map data for curves and pairs with Active Lane Change Assist. Launch reviewers found it smooth and confident hands-on, in line with the W223 S-Class implementation it shares.

Standard DISTRONIC is full-speed-range with stop-and-go and slows for curves, roundabouts and speed limits using route data. Combined with Active Steering Assist, it is among the most refined highway assists in the class.

The 2022 EQS Sedan had no hands-free mode of any kind in the US. Mercedes offered no hands-free Level 2 system, and DRIVE PILOT (Level 3) was not certified in any US state until Nevada in January 2023, reaching customers only on MY2024 cars.

Adaptive LED headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist are fitted, with DIGITAL LIGHT micromirror projection available. IIHS has never rated the EQS headlights, so the score rests on the hardware rather than a test result.

The one-bow, cab-forward liftback shape brings thick A- and C-pillars, a high beltline and a small, steeply raked rear window. Parking sensors and cameras help at low speed, but rear three-quarter sightlines are a recurring reviewer complaint.

Outboard lower LATCH anchors and top tethers sit in a roomy full-size rear bench with large rear doors, which suits rear-facing seats. The anchors are tucked into the bolstered cushions, and the sloping roofline narrows the opening slightly when loading a seat.

Every 2022 EQS Sedan trim, the volume 450+ included, seats five on a 40/20/40 split rear bench.

There is generous front headroom for a fastback. 2022 is the V297 launch year, and the body was unchanged until the April 2024 facelift.

Front legroom is adequate rather than class-leading, because the packaging favors the long rear compartment.

The figure is fair, but the arching roofline brings the headliner close for rear passengers over about 6 ft.

The flat EV floor and 126.4-in wheelbase give limousine-like rear legroom, though long-wheelbase S-Class and 7 Series rivals offer more.

Its liftback hatch gives a much larger and more versatile cargo hold than the trunk lids of rival full-size luxury sedans.

There is a two-level floating center console with front wireless charging, usable door bins and an underfloor well beneath the hatch. Rear wireless charging was a Pinnacle-package item before 2024. The hood is sealed, so there is no frunk.

The front seats are plush, with heating, ventilation and memory, and massage is available. The rear seats are comfortable, but the 2022 test car at $125k still lacked rear heating and cooling, and the richest rear-seat content was packaged.

AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping isolates well on most roads, and reviewers call it 'an electric S-Class'. Early 2022 cars also drew criticism: The Drive found the body 'never really seemed to settle', and others noted jarring impacts over sharp bumps.

A near-silent EV drive, acoustic glazing, heavy insulation and a drag coefficient of 0.20 make this one of the quietest cabins on sale.

The base Premium includes heated and ventilated front seats, a heated wheel, a panoramic roof, rear B-pillar vents with physical controls, and remote preconditioning. Four-zone climate and the Air Balance package required the Exclusive trim, and the heat pump only became standard for 2024.

The 2022 launch lineup starts with the EQS 450+ Premium (RWD, 107.8 kWh) at $102,310 plus $1,050 destination. That is far above the $55K ceiling of the sedan band.

The EQS 450+ was the volume trim of the 2022 model year, which had no 450 4MATIC (it arrived for 2023). It was typically sold in Exclusive or Pinnacle trim or with packages, for about $108K–$112K delivered. The 580 4MATIC started at $119,110 plus destination.

The EV drivetrain removes oil services, but Mercedes A/B-style service visits, standard AIRMATIC air suspension, rear-axle steering and dense electronics leave meaningful repair exposure in year 5, after the 4 yr / 50k warranty ends.

The 2022 EQS is one of the steepest-depreciating cars in the US market. A 450+ Premium that stickered at about $103K–$110K is now valued around $30K–$40K, roughly a third of MSRP before reaching five years.

The Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers EQ models for 4 years / 50,000 miles. That matches BMW and Audi and trails Genesis.

Mercedes launched the EQS in the US with a 10-year / 155,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty, one of the longest EV battery warranties in the industry. The rest of the drivetrain follows the 4 yr / 50k basic warranty.

There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance, but 2022 buyers got 2 years of unlimited 30-minute Electrify America charging sessions, roadside assistance for the warranty term and a Mercedes me connect trial. That is a meaningful charging perk, though short of the included maintenance Genesis offers.

$110,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (28% retained, or about $30,800) leaves about $79,200 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $86,700 in total.

2022 is the launch model year of the V297 EQS (US arrival Q4 2021), the generation's first-build year with the least mature software. Consumer Reports' outlook rests on the brand score and limited EQS data and is below average. Owner reports describe recurring warning lights, driver-assist/emergency-braking faults and infotainment bugs. That sits below the later carry-over years but still above the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S peers.

In US dependability studies Mercedes-Benz sits in the lower half of premium brands, behind Lexus, Porsche and Cadillac. Consumer Reports' brand rankings put it in the lower tier of luxury makes, which is mid-pack to below average rather than among the very worst.

The 2022 EQS Sedan carries about 14 NHTSA recalls, the most of any EQS model year and double the 2023 count. Most are software fixes, but they include a fire-risk recall for loose high-voltage ground connections (24 cars) and a drivetrain-software recall that could cut propulsion. That recall volume is well above the segment norm.

The volume EQS 450+ uses Mercedes' new EVA2 permanent-magnet rear drive unit and a 107.8 kWh pack. There is no widespread motor or pack hardware failure pattern. Still, this was an unproven first-year EV powertrain that needed a drivetrain-software recall and an HV grounding fix, so it rates slightly below the later years.

The cabin uses class-leading materials for a full-size luxury EV: Nappa leather, open-pore wood, backlit trim, extensive ambient lighting and the optional MBUX Hyperscreen. Reviewers rank its tactile quality with the S-Class and ahead of the Model S and Lucid Air.

The Sindelfingen-built EQS has S-Class-grade panel gaps, isolation and door feel. Launch-year complaints centre on electronic and infotainment glitches rather than assembly defects, which keeps it a step behind the S-Class and the BMW i7.

Mercedes-Benz has about 380 US dealers, a denser network than BMW or Audi, and most are certified for high-voltage EQ service. Its service satisfaction is mid-pack among luxury brands, behind Lexus and Genesis.

Mercedes parts are among the industry's most expensive and are mostly sourced from dealers. The EQS adds a large high-voltage pack, air suspension, rear-axle steering and large display assemblies, with little aftermarket support for EV-specific parts.

The volume 2022 450+ Premium has the 12.8-in OLED portrait touchscreen. The Hyperscreen was standard only on the 580 4MATIC and became standard across the EQS Sedan for MY2024.

Second-generation MBUX is fast and crisp, with a contextual 'zero layer' home screen and a smart efficiency menu. The Drive faulted unreliable swipe detection, a heated wheel buried in a submenu, and touch-only front climate and media controls.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard through MBUX smartphone integration.

The 'Hey Mercedes' assistant understands natural language, and native navigation with Electric Intelligence plans charging stops and includes augmented-reality video guidance. The ChatGPT beta reached US MBUX cars in mid-2023.

A 15-speaker, 710-W Burmester 3D surround system is standard even on the base Premium.

A 12.3-in configurable OLED driver display with multiple view styles is standard on every trim.

MBUX and some vehicle functions update over the air, and Mercedes me Store features can be bought OTA. The car predates MB.OS, so its whole-vehicle update scope trails Tesla and Lucid.

The Mercedes me connect app covers remote preconditioning, lock and locate, charge scheduling and digital key. Some services become paid after the trial period.

Front wireless charging and USB-C ports in both rows are standard. Rear wireless charging was a Pinnacle item before MY2024, and there is no household AC outlet.

KEYLESS-GO proximity entry with flush pop-out handles and push-button start is standard, and the Mercedes me app adds remote functions and a digital key. The charge-port flap was manual until 2024.

Parking sensors with Active Parking Assist and a surround-view camera are fitted, although dealer listings differ on whether the 360° view was standard or packaged on 2022 cars. Standard 10° rear-axle steering makes tight parking easier.

The augmented-reality head-up display is available, but on the 450+ it comes only from the Exclusive trim up, not on the base Premium.

There is generous rear legroom, outboard LATCH anchors and a hatch that takes a stroller easily. The low seat height and sloping roofline make buckling a child in more awkward than in an SUV.

The full driver-assistance suite and PRE-SAFE are standard. However, the 2022 US car has no NHTSA or IIHS crash rating, and rear side airbags were tied to the Pinnacle package.

The cabin is class-leading for quiet, with rear B-pillar vents and 350 mi of EPA range. The hatch takes plenty of luggage. Four-zone climate, rear heated and cooled seats and rear wireless charging were options on 2022 cars.

Smooth EV torque, paddle regen, adaptive cruise and standard 10° rear-axle steering make traffic easy despite the car's size. On the 2022 car, the brake pedal position shifts with the regen level and the pedal feels weak, a calibration Mercedes reworked for MY2024.

The 450+ is rated at 97 MPGe (35 kWh/100 mi) and $800/yr to power, far cheaper per mile than a gas flagship. Pricey tires and insurance offset part of that saving.

At 205.4 in long the car is big, but standard 10° rear-axle steering cuts the turning circle to about 35.7 ft. Rear visibility is poor.

There is no US tow rating and no bed. The cargo hold is shaped for luggage, not tools or materials.

The leather, wood and glossy OLED surfaces are not built for abuse. The Drive saw seat wear on a press car, and the car has no fleet or commercial heritage.

There is no vehicle-to-load outlet, no work-oriented cargo provision and no upfit ecosystem.

Superb seats, a near-silent cabin, standard DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist and 350 mi of EPA range make it an excellent tourer, and The Drive saw over 400 mi in real driving. Its 200-kW, 400-V charging (31 min for 10–80%) and CCS1 inlet trail 800-V rivals.

The volume 450+ is rear-wheel drive only, with AWD reserved for the 580 and AMG in 2022. Low ground clearance and the lack of a US tow rating or roof-rail provision limit it further, though AIRMATIC can lift the body.

A liftback is rare in this class: the 22 cu ft hold grows to 63 cu ft through the 40/20/40 split-fold. There is no frunk and no roof-rack provision.

A low center of gravity and standard 10° rear steering make it feel smaller at low speed. Reviewers of the 5,600-lb 2022 450+ found that it 'handles strangely' and that grip 'disappears suddenly', behind the i7 and Air.

The steering is light and accurate but widely described as numb and disconnected.

On the 2022 car the blend between regen and friction braking was criticized: pedal position shifts with the regen mode, braking feels weak in most settings, and AEB engaged unexpectedly. Mercedes recalibrated it for MY2024.

The single rear motor (329 hp, 417 lb-ft) delivers seamless, instant torque with no shifts. It is less urgent than the dual-motor trims, at 5.9 s to 60 mph.

The motor is near silent and transmits virtually no vibration, placing the EQS among the quietest production cars.

The 10° rear-axle steering is standard on US 2022 cars, unlike Germany where it was a subscription, and gives a compact-car turning circle on a 126.4-in wheelbase.

The seat and wheel adjust over a wide range. Thick pillars and a small rear window limit sightlines, there are no physical front climate controls, and haptic wheel pads and buried submenus hurt usability.

The RWD 450+ is deliberately isolating, and reviewers say to look elsewhere for sporty involvement. The AMG EQS is the engaging version.

Even the base 450+ Premium came standard with rear-axle steering (up to 4.5°), AIRMATIC air suspension, a 12.8-in OLED central screen, MBUX, a Burmester audio system, heated front seats and power-closing doors. It is priced below the S-Class with comparable flagship content.

Content, refinement and 350-mile EPA range are strong for about $103K, undercutting the S-Class. Critics faulted the 450+'s modest acceleration and some cabin plastics against a Lucid Air or Model S at similar money, and the collapse in resale undermines the value case for buyers paying full price.

2022 offered the 450+ RWD and 580 4MATIC, each in Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle trims, plus the AMG EQS 4MATIC+ and option packages such as the Hyperscreen. There was no mid-priced AWD 450 4MATIC until 2023.

The launch was strong for an EV flagship, with about 2,000 US sales per quarter in early 2022. Volume trailed the S-Class by more than 2:1, and demand softened through late 2022 into 2023, when heavy discounting began.

Mercedes-Benz is among the most aspirational luxury brands, but the EQS's jellybean styling and missing classic grille drew criticism, weakening its halo next to the S-Class. That criticism prompted the 2024 facelift's hood ornament and faux grille.

At launch, MY2022 cars mostly sold near MSRP with few incentives, though the $7,500 federal credit applied to purchases before August 2022 and lease buyers got the $7,500 pass-through after that. Stacked welcome and EV-conquest bonuses appeared during 2022, and leftover 2022 units saw deep discounts into 2023.

2022 is the launch year of the all-new V297 generation on the dedicated EVA2 EV platform, with the latest MBUX Hyperscreen tech. No refresh came until April 2024.

The EQS won 2022 World Luxury Car and drew praise for refinement, ride and range. Reviewers faulted the infotainment-heavy interior and styling, and it often trailed the Lucid Air in comparisons.