Mercedes-Benz has launched its second all-electric model in India, but unlike the EQC - which was based on the GLC SUV - the newly launched EQS is a ground up all-electric vehicle, and its the German automaker's first car based on its EVA2 platform. The EQS is essentially an electric counterpart of Mercedes-Benz's flagship luxury sedan, the S-Class.
Also Read: Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ Electric Sedan Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 2.45 Crore
The EQS is the first car to be based on Mercedes' new EVA platform.
Similar to some of its previous launches in India, Mercedes-Benz has launched the AMG guise of the EQS ahead of the launch of the standard version, which is expected to happen around October this year. The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ gets all of what the EQS offers, and adds a faster electric powertrain to it, which is capable of delivering a maximum of 751 bhp & a whopping 1,020 Nm torque with launch control. The dual motor setup ensures that the car is an all-wheel drive too. Other AMG bits also add to the EQS's cabin, and while most of the good bits stay the same, the AMG gets a slightly higher drag coefficient (0.23) than the standard EQS (0.20), which is a result of its sportier wheels which aren't as aerodynamic. We have talked in detail about the EQS in many of our stories, so lets take a look at how the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+'s pricing compares with its rivals.
Also Read: Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ vs Rivals: Specifications Comparison
The AMG EQS gets a slightly higher coefficient of drag than the standard EQS.
With few electric cars on offer in the Indian market, the Mercedes-AMG EQS faces no direct competition, being priced at Rs. 2.45 crore. But there are a few cars which offer some similar aspects of the EQS. The immediate and most apparent competition is from the Audi RS e-tron GT & the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Both of those EVs offer a similar sporty performance, but are significantly shorter in terms of rear seat comfort. On the other hand is Mercedes' very own Maybach S580, which offers even higher luxury & comfort features at a similar price tag of the AMG EQS 53, but is only available with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Lets tale a look at the pricing of each one of them.
The Audi RS e-Tron GT is Audi's spiritual successor to the R8 sports car, and it surely looks the part. The car shares its underpinnings with other Volkswagen group EVs like the Porsche Taycan. The car is unsurprisingly the happiest out on the road, and it also bagged the Sports Car of the Year title at the 2022 carandbike Awards. Priced at Rs. 1.89 crore (Ex-showroom), the Audi RS e-tron GT is the most affordable of the lot. It does fall short on the specifications as well as luxury, but with a price tag that's 56 lakhs lesser than the EQS, its still a great offering for someone seeking an electric sports sedan.
The RS e-tron GT's 0.100 time of 3.3 seconds is identical to that of the AMG EQS 53.
The e-tron GT is available in two avatars and both use the same 93.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack - shared also with the Porsche Taycan. But unlike the standard GT that has a 522 bhp output and 630 Nm of torque, on the RS you get 637 bhp, along with 830 Nm of torque. The car gets dual synchronous motors - one each on the front and rear axle, and this results in Quattro all-wheel-drive capability too. The RS does 0-100 kmph in 3.3 seconds, and its top speed is limited to 250 kmph.
The Porsche Taycan is widely regarded as a driver's EV, and the World Luxury Car and World Performance Car titles at the 2020 World Car Awards are a testimony to that. The Taycan Turbo S is the top of the line variant, and even though it doesn't have a turbo inside it for obvious reasons, it is still named Turbo to signify the huge amount of performance on offer. The Turbo S puts out an identical 751 bhp as the AMG EQS, and offers even more torque at a whopping 1,050 Nm as compared to 1,020 Nm in the EQS. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is priced at Rs. 2.34 crore (Ex-showroom), and even though its faster than the EQS, it offers the least range of the 3 EVs here and falls short on the luxury of the 3-pointed star wearing cars too, hence the lesser price tag.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo is the fastest of this comparison, with 1,050 Nm of instant torque pushing it along the way.
For decades now, the name S-Class has been deeply embedded in the world of luxury automobiles. Mercedes-Benz's flagship model has set benchmarks each generation for levels of comfort, refinement, and sound isolation from the outside world, which even much bigger and costlier cars would only follow up on. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class multiplies the luxury quotient of the S-Class and takes it up several notches. The S580 variant may not even come close to the performance levels of the AMG EQS 53, but it more than makes up for it in the comfort department. The Mercedes-Maybach S580 is priced at Rs. 2.50 crore (Ex-showroom), which puts it right in the mix with the AMG EQS, and for those seeking more luxury and will perhaps never get behind the wheel themselves, the Maybach S580 proves to be a better offering, albeit in a non-electric form.
The Mercedes-Maybach S580 proves to be a better luxury offering, albeit in a non-electric form.
Model | Price (Ex-showroom) |
| Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ | Rs. 2,45,00,000/- |
| Audi RS e-tron GT | Rs. 1,89,00,000/- |
| Porsche Taycan Turbo S | Rs. 2,33,84,000/- |
| Mercedes-Maybach S580 | Rs. 2,50,00,000/- |
