Electrification is thy title of the sport! And most luxurious carmakers are taking this recreation very critically! Enter Mercedes-Benz EQC, the primary ever totally electrical mannequin from the corporate. And we drove it at size final 12 months in Norway. Again then, the EQC impressed us with its vary and efficiency and now, we had the possibility to check it on dwelling turf. Will there be vary anxiousness? Will the EQC be capable to tackle Indian roads? We spent a while with the automotive within the Delhi NCR area and tried to reply these questions.
What’s the EQC?
(The EQC is loosely primarily based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Actually, it shares the identical platform with the GLC)
The Mercedes-Benz EQC may very nicely be the primary luxurious electrical SUV to be launched in India. Globally, Mercedes has been fairly late to the electrical get together whereas its rivals already had fashions doing nicely. Audi had the e-tron, Jaguar had the i-Tempo and Tesla had the mannequin X. The Audi e-tron was revealed in India a couple of 12 months in the past, however hasn’t been launched but, whereas the EQC, sources inform us, is prone to be launched in October 2020.
(Mercedes has been just a little late to the EV get together globally, however in India, it may very nicely be the primary firm to supply one!)
One should point out that the EQC is loosely primarily based on the GLC and that’s evident in the truth that each automobiles share the identical platform and comparable design too. Plus, it made sense to adapt an current automotive platform as a way to hold prices to a minimal and cut back R&D finances too. However, the EQC will come to India as a totally constructed unit and nicely, we anticipate the pricing to replicate that!
Motors and Battery
(The EQC will get two asynchronous motors, one on every axle. The mixed energy output is of 402 bhp and the height torque output is a staggering 760 Nm.)
The EQC will get two asynchronous motors, one at every axle and the mixed energy output is 402 bhp. Mercedes claims a Zero-100 kmph dash time of simply 5.1 seconds. The entrance motor is tuned for offering optimum, environment friendly efficiency whereas the rear motor is employed to supply a extra dynamic really feel when driving. Speaking concerning the battery, the EQC will get an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which weighs 652 kg and is mounted on the ground. It packs in 384 particular person cells and is after all, water and dirt resistant Mercedes-Benz presents a guaranty of eight years for battery, which is an business first.
Drive Expertise
(The acceleration on the EQC is little doubt electrifying! Zero-100 kmph in 5.1 seconds is fairly cool for a 2.5 tonne automotive)
The very first thing that you simply discover if you end up driving the EQC is the refinement. It’s a actually refined automotive and extra so as a result of there is no such thing as a noise of the engine and rustle of the tyres and the hum of the motors barely filters by way of to the cabin. So the refinement ranges are actually, actually good. And aside from that, as is the case with all electrical automobiles, significantly, the EQC, the throttle response slightly is completely sharp. All the facility and all of the torque is actually at your footstep.
(The 652 kg battery mounted on the ground means the centre of gravity is low and that helps within the SUV being steady at excessive speeds)
The mash of the throttle and all 760 newton metres of peak torque is on the market from the phrase go! Which means overtaking is completely pleasant. And if you’re speaking concerning the vary, it’s about 450 kilometres after which some extra, in response to the WLTP cycle. The low placement of the battery signifies that the centre of gravity is low and that in flip means the automotive is steady at excessive speeds, be it going straight or round a nook. Plus, to accommodate the load, the chassis has been made stiffer as nicely.
(The EQC’s trip high quality remains to be ‘European’. Barely stiff and bouncy for the rear passengers)
So if we have been to speak concerning the trip high quality of the EQC, I’d say that it’s nonetheless very European, in a way that whenever you drive this SUV on Indian roads, the trip high quality is barely bouncy. The suspension doesn’t fairly iron out all of the undulations on the street. Potholes, bumps and so forth and so forth! Even the steering, the suggestions from the steering will not be that nice.
Styling
(The EQC will get a silhouette like coupe SUV does. The stance is extra sporty than rugged and people alloy wheels with blue bits look actually cool.)
The silhouette of the EQC is that of a typical SUV crossover and so is the stance. Extra sporty than muscular! The entrance finish of the EQC is certain to attract consideration, purely due to the design. It’s instantly recognisable as a Mercedes SUV and but, very completely different from the familial design that each one Mercedes SUVs get.
(The entrance finish will get a giant grille with thick chrome surrounds and the SUV is instantly recognisable as a Mercedes SUV. The pistol-shaped LED headlights look cool too)
The massive grille with thick chrome encompass and the pistol-shaped LED headlights look cool and so do the blue alloy wheels. The rear design could be very uninspiring although. Nothing that stands out, apart from the rear LED taillights being related by an LED strip. General then it isn’t distinctive however there is a sense of modernity.
(The cabin is neatly laid out and is a cushty house to be in. And naturally, it’s loaded with tech)
The modernity seeps into the cabin as nicely and it is each bit premium. The dashboard will get a minimalist design, with the twin 12.Three-inch screens angled in the direction of the motive force. What actually caught our eye have been the neat bronze-coloured parts on the AC vents which appears very elegant. The general format is much like that of the opposite Merc SUVs. The standard of upholstery, the seats themselves really feel plush and alluring.
Options
(The EQC is a related automotive and will get the newest MBUX model. The 2 12.Three-inch touchscreens add class to the dashboard)
Like another Mercedes-Benz SUV, the EQC is loaded with expertise. Up first is the newest model of MBUX, which makes the SUV related. We tried connecting our smartphone to the automotive by way of the Mercedes Me app and all of the features corresponding to locking-unlocking the automotive, opening the sunroof and the home windows and even checking the cost left within the battery, they work as marketed. Although, there’s a slight delay from the time you enter the command on the app, until the time the command is definitely executed.
(Entrance seats on the Mercedes-Benz EQC get therapeutic massage perform, however usually are not ventilated)
Plus you may have the same old listing of options corresponding to entrance seat massagers, a premium Burmester audio system and smartphone connectivity within the type of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Whereas the entrance seats are well-bolstered, the rear seats usually are not precisely comfy and will have supplied little extra space. By way of security, the EQC will get 7 airbags as normal together with a bunch of energetic and passive driver help programs.
Charging
(The easiest way to cost the Mercedes-Benz EQC is by way of a DC quick charger, which gives as much as 80 per cent cost in lower than an hour)
The easiest way to cost the EQC is to plug it in at a public DC quick charger, which supplies the automotive 80 per cent cost in about an hour and full cost takes rather less than two hours. For those who have been to make use of a wall-box charger, the EQC takes round 10-11 hours to cost totally.
Verdict
(Pricing for the Mercedes-Benz EQC is but to be introduced in India)
An electrical luxurious SUV, just like the Mercedes-Benz EQC goes to be an excellent possibility for the wealthy and the rich. The EQC presents very refined driving expertise, had strong efficiency and though the design may have been just a little higher and the trip high quality as nicely. However all issues thought-about, it is a superb SUV be it driving dynamics or consolation for that matter. And Mercedes-Benz is making an attempt its finest to get an excellent first mover benefit in such a distinct segment phase.
(Count on the Mercedes-Benz EQC to be launched in India within the coming months)
Zero Feedback
Funnily sufficient, now Indian SUV fans have an electrical SUV to select from in nearly each phase. Beginning with the Tata Nexon EV within the subcompact SUV house, then you may have the Hyundai Kona and the MG ZS EV within the compact SUV phase and at last, the EQC, which is a luxurious electrical SUV. The excellent news is that the smaller EVs have been acquired very nicely and it will not be a shock if we see the Mercedes-Benz EQC on Indian roads from time to time.
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