2025 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG EQS

Six letters, three stories. Aficionados of Mercedes-Benz know that AMG is the company’s high-performance wing with a tradition of taking regular M-B vehicles and transforming them into breathtaking driver’s machines. EQ, meanwhile, indicates electric power. And S evokes the S-Class, the archetypal Mercedes, the top dog among large luxury sedans.

The AMG EQS isn’t an S-Class with prodigious electric propulsion, however. It’s based on the EQS, a separate large luxury 4-door built specifically for voltage-derived velocity. This entails a more aerodynamic exterior design to help maximize range, while also packing a navigation system that takes charging requirements into account.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury electric cars, including the Mercedes-AMG EQS.

An upgraded battery pushes maximum range another 10 miles over last year’s best of 305 miles. The braking system has also received attention for a more natural feel to the pedal. A center airbag between the two front seats becomes standard, along with soft-closing doors. And owners can now use their phone instead of the usual key.

The closest rival is the BMW i7 — particularly the M70 xDrive, which is pricier than this AMG. The Lucid Air in Grand Touring trim isn’t quite as sport-oriented, yet still incredibly powerful and more affordable. The Tesla Model S Plaid is even cheaper.

Before buying a new AMG EQS luxury electric sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are comfortably above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

For most people, the 649 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque developed by the AMG EQS should be perfectly ample for rapid, smooth, near-silent progress. But this is an AMG car, where more is always better. A standard Race Start feature means a temporary boost to 751 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque, enabling a sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a breathtaking 3.4 seconds, a tenth quicker than the BMW i7 M70 xDrive.

The AMG EQS has all-wheel drive as standard, although the most powerful of the two electric motors is located at the back, so there’s still a sporty, rear-drive kind of flavor to the dynamics, especially in Sport and Sport+ modes.

An AMG-tuned adaptive air suspension is standard, enabling a range of settings from supple to sporty. Another standard feature is rear-wheel steering, which we’ve found to work well as it enhances maneuverability and adds a certain athleticism that makes this full-size car feel smaller than it really is.

This year, Mercedes-Benz has given the regenerative braking system extra attention. It recovers more energy than before, contributing to a better range, and there’s a more natural feel to the brake pedal. Speaking of natural, we could live without the fake whooshing sounds coming through the audio system when accelerating. We are of a mind to switch them off.

Range and Charging

Maximum range of the 2025 AMG EQS is estimated at 315 miles. That beats the BMW i7 M70 xDrive’s 285 miles. We’ve noticed with all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz that their ranges in real-life driving are close to the quoted figures.

When replenishing the battery, it takes about 31 minutes to go from 10% to 80% using a DC fast charger. Not the fastest in the class, but we’d still call it acceptable.

Because the AMG EQS is the go-faster version of a large luxury (all-electric) car, we find plenty of high-quality materials in the cabin, all put together with superb craftsmanship. Tech levels are high and many functions will respond to voice commands, even the massaging seats. And there’s plenty of space in both rows. If we were going to drive an electric car from coast to coast, the AMG EQS would be our first choice.

There’s even a decent amount of cargo space and versatility, because the AMG EQS has a hatchback instead of the usual sedan trunk, along with split/folding rear seats.

We understand that not everyone will love the enhanced aerodynamic look of the AMG EQS, but just understanding the reason behind it goes a long way to acceptance. Then there are typical AMG design cues like the vertical slats in the “grille” (not that this car needs a grille as such, with no engine to cool) and the large air intakes for the front brakes.

Hyperscreen
A standard feature in the AMG EQS, this spectacular dash-wide creation contains a 12.3-inch LED instrument cluster and two OLED touchscreens — one (17.7 inches) for general infotainment, the other (12.3 inches) for the front passenger.

Parktronic with Active Park Assist
In a big car like the AMG EQS, we think some help with parking is always welcome. This standard feature can scan for suitable spaces (parallel or perpendicular), then maneuver the car into and subsequently out of them.

Active Steering Assist
A lot of our driving time is spent on less-than-thrilling freeway stretches, which is where this bit of standard cleverness comes in. Used in conjunction with adaptive cruise control, it keeps the car in the center of its lane and will also negotiate those gentle curves.

Burmester audio
This is one of our absolute favorite automotive audio systems, especially with the Dolby Atmos feature that really brings out the detail. This 15-speaker/710-watt surround-sound setup comes standard in the AMG EQS.

Pinnacle trim
Just because this is an AMG doesn’t mean it can’t cosset its rear passengers as well as any other EQS. Choosing this package brings heated/ventilated/massaging rear seats, and even rear-seat neck heating.

Carbon ceramic front brakes
With so much power, speed and weight in the AMG EQS, we’d be tempted to go for this option that installs fade-free, warp-resistant, long-lasting brake discs.

Mercedes-Benz proclaims a “new generation of battery technology” for the upgraded 118-kilowatt-hour (kWh) power pack in the 2025 AMG EQS. This is on the high side of battery capacity, helping the AMG EQS move past the 300-mile range barrier — quite impressive for a car with this much muscle.

The non-AMG Mercedes-Benz EQS is reviewed separately.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Mercedes-Benz has new-vehicle coverage that’s typical for German luxury marques, with a warranty lasting four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. Electric components fare better, protected for 10 years or 155,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The EQS (on which this AMG EQS is based) has not been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, which is quite common with ultra-luxury vehicles. However, it did earn a maximum overall score of five stars from the Euro NCAP program. The array of standard driver assistance features in the AMG EQS covers just about everything.