If you’ve felt like the Mercedes-Benz EQS looked familiar and yet not quite like what you’d expect for an electric S-Class, you aren’t the only one. Its polarizing jellybean shape looks unlike the bulk of flagship luxury sedans out there and is enough to remind North Americans of a very different sort of sedan. The Chrysler cab-forward cars were so influential that just about any true jellybean cab-forward design can’t help but call to mind traveling sales reps deploying in fresh Dodge Intrepids circa 1995. The outgoing Mercedes-Benz EQS may have offered incredible range, but it was also a stylistic reminder of DaimlerChrysler. Oh dear.
In an attempt to fix this, Mercedes-Benz has given the EQS a facsimile of an S-Class grille, presumably to make the third letter of its model name feel less silent. Sure, the horizontal strakes are entirely for decoration, but we’re still in the early days of adapting styling language to EVs and many manufacturers are still figuring it out. Add in a hood ornament, and presto! This thing looks a little bit less like a Napster-era rental car.
Mercedes-Benz isn’t even shy about it, noting in the press release that the facelifted EQS is “Even more status-conscience,” which is something I’ve never seen a luxury car manufacturer put in print. Does it sound a little like compensation? Sure, but one could argue it’s necessary.
Another common knock against the old Mercedes-Benz EQS was that it just didn’t offer the rear seat amenities of a gasoline-powered S-Class, so Mercedes-Benz has given the facelifted model a plusher Executive Rear Seat Plus option. With chauffeuring being a dying art, will many people be driven in their EQS sedans? Probably not, but a new rear seat with 38 degrees of backrest recline ought to remedy some complaints about rear headroom. Add in neck and shoulder heating, and this seems like a worthwhile option. Oh, and the massive Hyperscreen infotainment and cluster setup is now standard up front, throwing a bit more technology in your face.
However, a facelift and a better rear seat seem more like damage control than thorough improvement. See, Mercedes-Benz zagged when BMW zigged. The BMW i7 is just an electric 7 Series, and although it sacrifices absolute range, it has all the presence and luxury of a gasoline-powered 7 Series. The Mercedes-Benz EQS, on the other hand, went full space bean, not looking like a gasoline-powered S-Class in the slightest. While this shape offers incredibly low drag, flagship luxury sedan buyers are some of the most conservative in the industry, which just makes you wonder — does this demographic of people want to drive a space bean?
More than likely, they’ll be willing to trade off some ultimate range for extra presence and space, because we’re talking about a set of people to whom it might make more sense to fly than drive long distances. While the updated Mercedes-Benz EQS will go on sale this year, don’t be surprised if the next-generation EQS ends up looking dramatically different from the current car.
(Photo credits: Mercedes-Benz)
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If I were in the market to consider one, I don’t know if I could get over the hood ornament. I am paranoid about vandalism. The people who are also “status conscious” enough to steal hood ornaments will probably be delighted with this refresh.
The side profile reminds me of a Dodge Dart, and the front is ruined by the flat panel with a painted on grill. That grill makes it look like some sort of incomplete movie prop.
I honestly don’t think it’s a bad looking car- some might even say tasteful compared to the 7 serious- but it definitely doesn’t give off ‘flagship’ vibes.
I live in the sticks, so I haven’t seen one of these in real life, but from photos the proportions are just a bit too cute. The styling feels like it would be more appropriate on a CLA or something. The new grill and badge are fine, not sure if it really moves the needle that much.
‘Status conscious’ is a weird thing to earnestly admit in your marketing.
No doubt status is front of mind for most Benz customers, but that intangible quality is usually communicated through vibes, not earnest marketing speak. Saying the quiet part out loud kind of ruins the appeal, no? Mercedes has been giving off weird messaging for years now, this really cements how lost their brand feels. (To me anyway)
Mercedes Benz was considered upscale in the ’70’s because it was more expensive and of much better quality than American cars. Now they are less dependable than Toyotas, and look like Hyundais. Most people don’t envy Mercedes drivers – in Germany the taxis are Mercedes, and sell for a lot less than in the U.S.A. Chevrolet should have such luck selling overpriced Impalas in Germany.
This. As much as anyone can complain about the design choices of the 7 series, it has real presence when you see it on the road. It looks like a Chrysler 300 on too many steroids but the market likes overly aggressive design right now
The front end of the new 7 looks like the Joker in several of its iterations. It is otherwise very good looking.
Yeah, it’s not my taste for sure but I love the side profile and rear three quarters and it does make you turn your head when it goes by
Yes, that’s definitely true.
I’ve seen 2 new 530is and they look terrific, but big!
The Chrysler LHS was better looking than this thing.
There should be before photos…
Just to be clear, the second-gen LHs (especially the Intrepid and Concorde) were horrible jelly beans. The first-gen LHs (especially the Intrepid and Vision) were absolutely gorgeous.
I… I liked both generations.
Same. Those second-gen Chrysler beans were my introduction to Chrysler as a brand. I’d been vaguely aware of Chrysler’s existence before, but it was when I moved to the Middle East that I actually saw them for the first time. The first one I saw was (I think) a blue pre-facelift LHS, immaculately maintained and clean. As a kid, the design floored me.
wait until Jason sees the just-off-center front camera
hopefully he calls their lawyers and files a cease and desist against MB
The thing about turds is that you usually don’t turn around to admire them in their parking bowl.
I wonder how much will that upright star ornament going to affect the aerodynamics / range.
Since it is an EQS they should have done to pop up one like RR.
The painted on classic Mercedes-Benz grille – which in it’s old “built” form was also quite fake and just for looks itself from the 1940s to the 2000s – actually works a lot better than I thought. Nice touch! 😎
I was never really on the “small Mercedes stars everywhere” bandwagon.
And I just LOVE the many-spoke turbine style wheels. Also on the right track towards looking as good as wheels did in the 1980s!
I really hated the few-spoke “look at my red calipers (and rusty discs)” trend, which lasted from the early 1990s until recently..
It looks like Mercedes decided that no, the Chrysler 200 cannot stay retired.
“With chauffeuring being a dying art”
I’ll be a chauffeur for the next 9 years until my youngest kid gets their license.
I knew the Dodge Intrepid. I liked the Dodge Intrepid. You, Senator, are no Dodge Intrepid.
The white interior is so bland and sterile. Maybe it would look better in a different color. The exterior looks…strange. It looks like someone put MB styling cues on a generic “future car” from a 1980’s concept car. It is very off-putting.
After the end of critically acclaimed series “Pimp My Ride”. Ryan, Quinton, Alex, X to the Z Xzbit and the rest of boys started their new jobs at Mercedes-Benz. People thought they were crazy, placing screens on every single flat surface possible. Really, they knew, we must embrace the screen. Replace all windows with screens!
Including one under a car!
You like screens?! We put SCREENS ON YOUR SCREENS!
As if after looking at screens all day, you would want to look at another screen in your car.
Makes me think of the Mercedes 2001SEL from Spaceballs.
King Roland got it at a great price, he paid cash.
The problem is that it’s a bean that is trying too hard to look like a S class, and it’s not fooling anyone who looks at the thing for more than three seconds.
When you see one of these in person, if it didn’t have the 3 pointed star, your first thought is that it’s a Hyundai.
The sad part is that an EV platform theoretically frees up the designers to create something interesting and modern, but here they went and created another generic soap bar design. The people with the money to buy one of these want something quietly impressive that shows their good taste in buying an expensive top of the line car, but this design fails at that rich person want and need.
My god I think they actually made this worse.
I agree! This looks hilariously bad. I actually feel a little embarassed for Mercedes.
This looks like when people used to put padded vinyl roofs on their 80s cars.
Lol for real, it really does look like some kind of crappy aftermarket dress up like those vinyl roofs-and I’ve seen those deep into the ’00s (sadly)
The EQS looks pretty odd, but I never made the connection to the old Dodge Intrepid. I don’t see it, other than the idea of the cab-forward layout. The styling itself doesn’t look anything like any of the first generation or second generation LH cars.
Still ugly.
Dang, beat me to it. Still ugly. Very ugly.
Sorry. I’ll go take a hit before typing next time.
One of the better looking Mercedes though.
wow this really didn’t help
If they really want it to look premium, they should have gone all-in with a padded vinyl landau top, trunk lid luggage rack, coach lamps, and whitewall tires, but, I guess that’s what the aftermarket is for
Why does the interior look like the cloning facilities on Kamino?
Mercedes Benz Rep: (looks around shiftily) “Nein! Nussing to see here! Zis exhibit is closed!”