Mercedes EQS review: reliability & safety rating
As you’d expect from a Mercedes, the EQS is overflowing with technology and safety systems, the result of which is the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2021) | 96% | 91% | 80% |
Technologically, the EQS is a worthy flagship for the Mercedes brand. Underneath its futuristic bodywork is an all-new electric-car platform, and inside it’s crammed with the latest technology and safety systems, the result of which is an impressive five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Unfortunately, the brand’s dealerships and some of its most popular models didn’t shower themselves in glory in the 2022 Driver Power survey – Mercedes definitely has some work to do on customer satisfaction.
Mercedes EQS reliability & problems
We’ve yet to get any long-term reliability data on the EQS itself, largely due to how new it is, but also thanks to the fact its high price means it sells in relatively low numbers. But Mercedes as a brand recorded mixed results in the most recent Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, coming 23rd out of 29 on the list of best manufacturers in our 2022 rundown – a 10-place drop on the previous year.
The biggest customer complaints surrounded value for money, ride and handling, and running costs – the latter of which could be easily rectified if you run an EQS and charge mainly at home. Mercedes owners, on the whole, rated their cars quite highly for practicality; the EQS’s big boot and plentiful rear legroom should, again, help maintain the brand’s position in this area.
Safety
On the safety front, the EQS was awarded the maximum five-star score after going through Euro NCAP crash testing. Adult and child occupant scores were 96% and 91% respectively and the car's active collision-avoidance technology earned it an 80% score in the safety assist category. Protection of vulnerable road users (i.e. pedestrians and cyclists) was rated at 76%.
Those exceptionally high scores aren’t surprising when you appreciate the wealth of safety features and systems fitted to Mercedes’ electric flagship. Even the entry-level model gets Mercedes’ Driving Assistance Package, which includes blind-spot monitoring, evasive steering assistance and adaptive cruise control.
Mercedes says one of the EQS’ biggest technological advancements is its Drive Pilot system, which makes the car capable of Level 3 'eyes-off' self-driving at up to 37mph. The system is only legal in Germany for the time being; it allows you to carry out small secondary activities while driving – for example, adjusting a setting on the car in slow motorway traffic.
