5 things we don’t fancy about the Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4Matic


For the Malaysian market, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4Matic, along with the SUV version, represents the flagship offerings in the brand’s electric vehicle lineup.
It was first launched in Malaysia in July 2022 in the fully imported EQS 450+ guise. Less than a year later, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) pulled the covers off the locally assembled EQS 500 at its manufacturing plant in Pekan, Pahang.
Undeniably, as the highest variant in its lineup, the EQS 500 offers luxury and top technology for its customers, but for this writer, it still has some discernible shortcomings.
It’s not an S-Class
Some may have thought that the EQS is the electric version of the S-Class. This may be true in some ways but it is worth noting that the EQS is based on the automaker’s dedicated electric platform known as Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA), while the S-Class is underpinned by the Modular Rear Architecture (MRA2) platform.
This gives the EQS a slightly smaller footprint than the S-Class, with a length of 5,216 mm, width of 1,926 mm, and height of 1,512 mm. The wheelbase is also 6 mm shorter at 3,210 mm. The interior is spacious but not as roomy as the S-Class.
Unconventional design
Unlike the S-Class, which exudes elegance in its traditional ‘three-box’ shape, the EQS has a much more unique appearance highlighted by its oval-shaped body. According to Mercedes, the shape plays a significant role in helping the EQS achieve a drag coefficient of 0.20, making it one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world.
While most were intrigued by its futuristic appearance, this writer can’t help but think how the EQS looks like an egg on wheels.
The MBUX Hyperscreen takes the cake but…
Inside, the centrepiece is Mercedes-Benz’s impressive MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system, which combines three displays: a 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster, a 17.1-inch OLED touchscreen in the middle, and a 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen for the front passenger.
It has to be said that the giant display does make the EQS look somewhat like a spaceship, but the glass panel picks up smudges and fingerprints easily.
Say auf Wiedersehen to physical buttons
Save for the start stop and hazard light buttons, the majority of the vehicle’s functions, including the air conditioning system, can only be accessed through the central touchscreen. Needless to say, this will increase driver distraction.
On top of that, the touch panels on the steering wheel are not exactly user-friendly, and it will take some time getting used to.
Air suspension is supple but a little too soft
On the highway, the EQS demonstrates why Mercedes-Benz’s air suspension is among the best in the market. It absorbs every undulating surface so smoothly that long journeys are hardly felt.
However, on normal roads, this writer needs to be careful as the suspension is quite soft and tends to bottom out if the car is driven too fast over bumps. The suspension can be raised to increase the ground clearance but that means having to fiddle with the infotainment menu while driving.

Life’s too short to argue about which car is the best. Drive whatever you like, as long as you’re happy with it.