Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: release window, price, range, interior and news

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC is long overdue. Despite Mercedes’ penchant for technical innovation, the adoption of electric vehicles has been relatively slow. Its EQC, the German brand’s first production EV, arrived in Europe a long time ago (at least in automotive years) after Tesla, Jaguar and even Kia / Hyundai launched family-friendly EVs that offer impressive, usable range. daily.

But Mercedes, being one of the oldest car brands, was probably waiting for its EV recipe to be perfected, and the time had come to unleash a battery-powered vehicle attack under its new EQ brand. The EQC is, if you haven’t already guessed it, an electric SUV that fits into its existing C-Class vehicles in terms of size and design.

It is loosely based on the GLC, but has an 80 kWh battery and asynchronous electric motors mounted on each axle. All of this provides a combined torque of 408 hp and 760 Nm (560 ft-lbs) to all four wheels when needed.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Windpw release and pricing

Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz has continually delayed the release date of the EQC in the US, and as of yet, there is no release window set at the time of writing. In fact, it’s not clear if the car will ever arrive on this side of the Atlantic.

For now, Mercedes’ release schedule has the Mercedes EQS down as the automakers’ first electric car to go on sale in the United States. It will go on sale later this year.

Originally, the EQC was expected to start at $ 68,895, with prices reaching $ 77,615 for the most specified advanced models. In the UK, where the EQC is currently on sale, prices start at £ 65,720 for entry-level Sport models and rise to £ 74,610 for AMG Line Premium Plus versions.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Design

It could be argued that Mercedes designers have been cautious with the EQC, as it is much less striking than many competing SUVs currently on sale. Love them or hate them, the Tesla Model X’s more expensive Falcon Wing doors, while Jaguar’s innovative I-Pace has managed to blend a sporty stance with futuristic SUV credentials.

The EQC is much more traditional in its approach, but can be recognized (at least on the outside) by a slick grille up front, which helps improve aerodynamics, and a wraparound LED light bar at the rear. . Although this is something that is now seen on many modern cars.

It’s a bit more striking inside, where designers took inspiration from circuit boards and other tech elements. These adornments were integrated into the dashboard, air vents and speaker slots. There’s also neat customizable ambient lighting and an impressive wide-screen dual-screen infotainment system. This takes up half of the cabin and takes care of the navigation, audio and many other functions of the car.

All trim levels get these fancy twin screens, but with more cash you’ll get augmented reality navigation, heads-up display, premium Burmester audio system, zero-charge charging. wire for smartphone and even the interior assistant MBUX from Mercedes. MBUX acts a lot like Siri or Alexa, in that it reads messages and processes natural speech recognition inputs.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: key statistics

In the UK at least, the EQC only comes with one battery and that is the aforementioned 80kWh unit. Performance and technical stats remain the same across the range, so it’s only the equipment levels that differ and customers will part with more money.

That said, the Mercedes-Benz EQC is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and can reach a top speed of 112 mph. It has an empty weight of 2,495 kg (5,500 lb), which makes its rapid acceleration even more impressive.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Range and charging

With various smart energy harvesting modes and settings with a heavy reliance on autonomous driving to get the most out of batteries, the Mercedes-Benz EQC enjoys an official WLTP electric range of between 241 and 255 miles, according to the specification level and wheel size, etc.

The EQC is also capable of quickly charging the audience to 110kW from 10-80% in 40 minutes, while a fairly standard 400V wallbox can provide a full charge in around 11 hours. If you are not lucky enough to have one installed at home, it will take 41 hours for you to get a full charge via a standard European 230V AC outlet.

Mercedes was able to extend battery life through various smart energy harvesting modes and settings with a heavy reliance on autonomous driving. This will squeeze the most juice out of the batteries, meaning the Mercedes-Benz EQC enjoys an official WLTP electric range of between 241 and 255 miles. Your final range depends on the level of specification and the size of your wheel.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Driving modes

Perhaps the EQC’s biggest party trick is its ability to make the most of the 80kWh battery with a bespoke maximum range mode. This synchronizes with the vehicle’s radar cruise control, navigation system, and speed limit sensing technology to determine the optimum amount of regenerative braking for the driving situation.

This mode also goes further by offering haptic feedback via the accelerator pedal. This was designed to help the driver with smooth inputs, thus preserving battery life for the rest of the ride. Smart navigation will also plan routes based on the remaining battery charge and suggest places to recharge along the way.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Refinement and build quality

Electric cars by nature are quiet and relaxing machines to drive. This is due to the lack of an internal combustion engine and moving mechanical parts, which means the overall vibe is generally quieter than, say, a lumpy diesel unit.

But a number of competitors struggled with the overall refinement, as the lack of engine noise also means things like wind and the roar of tires can seep into the cabin. On top of that, the smallest squeaks and clicking sounds become more and more annoying on long journeys.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC is all about refinement and, when left in Comfort mode, promises one of the most relaxing and quiet driving experiences around. Even more established rivals like Tesla, cannot match the overall ride quality and ambience offered by the big Merc.

Meanwhile, cheaper rivals Nissan, Hyundai and Kia just don’t use enough sound-deadening materials to come close. It might not be the most dynamic car to drive, but it is certainly the most peaceful.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 2021: Outlook

Mercedes might be a little late for the electric night with the EQC, but it looks like that extra time has been put to good use. There might be cheaper electric cars out there, but none of them will compare to the look and feel of a real Merc.

The only downside here is that US buyers might have a long wait for the car to arrive at their local Mercedes dealership – if it even arrives, but if the car is able to perform as advertised, then it will be worth it. Especially if you are one of the many who appreciate their comfort on the road.