Mercedes's first big wager on electric vehicles, the EQC400, is a challenge to BMW's avant-garde approach. BMW bet big with its early gamble on electric cars in 2013. The Bavarians doubled down on expensive battery-electric technology with a pricey carbon-fiber body bolted atop an aluminum skateboard platform made exclusively for the i3. Then they gambled that EV buyers wanted a car that looked like nothing else. Charmingly nerdy and wholly original, the BMW i3 is a Smart Fortwo for Ivy League postdocs­—and it has the meager sales to prove it.



Benz's EQC is the antithesis of the i3, sharing 90 percent of its body structure with the gas-powered GLC-class to simplify manufacturing and keep costs in check. As a compact crossover, the EQC lands in the heart of the low-risk, high-reward slice of the market. And it will be instantly familiar to anyone who owns a contemporary Mercedes, because the EQC is defined by the three-pointed star on the faux grille just as much as it is by the charging port on the right-rear fender.

This electric Mercedes is serene enough to challenge the S-class's reputation as the king of quiet. Both front and rear motors are insulated from the body via two layers of rubber isolation, with the aft unit boxed in foam. Mercedes even stuffs acoustic insulation into the body vents that equalize pressure between the cabin and atmosphere to muffle road noise. (The company does this on some, but not all, gas vehicles as well.) Riding on steel coil springs up front and air springs in the rear, the EQC is athletic enough for beer-league kickball, but not so focused that it'll be stretching between innings. Metaphorically, that is. Literally, it drives like so many modern Mercs. There's precision in the steering, confidence in the body control, and just enough squish to keep it comfortable over cracks and heaves.

Quick, But Not Tesla Quick

The more efficient front motor does the bulk of the work while the rear motor stands ready for dynamic and slippery situations. Calling for full zap musters 402 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque to combat the EQC's 5500-pound heft. Like most electric vehicles, this one is quick on the draw, and we estimate a 5.0-second run to 60 mph. When distance matters more than drama, the Eco and Max Range driving modes place a false stop early in the accelerator pedal travel to limit power and speed. (You can push through this detent to summon full power if needed.) Steering-wheel paddles toggle between five different regeneration modes, the most aggressive of which provides 75 percent of the maximum possible regeneration when you lift off the accelerator.

While the lithium-ion battery bolted to the EQC's underside can store 93.2 kilowatt-hours of electricity, Mercedes plays it safe by using just 80.0 kilowatt-hours. That hedge should help stave off claims on the battery's warranty. The trade-off is that the EPA range will likely land at 200 miles or less, and real-world reach on a single charge at highway speeds will be even shorter. For longer trips, DC fast charging at up to 110 kilowatts takes the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes, according to Mercedes. At home, with the maximum AC charging power of 7.4 kilowatts, the EQC recharges from 10 percent to full in a claimed 10 hours. Those charging stats place the EQC between the Jaguar I-Pace and the Audi e-tron and don't do anything to advance the electric species. Tesla's Model S and Model X travel farther and charge significantly quicker.

Attractive Interior, Fussy Infotainment

Miraculously, the EQC's shape manages to be more generic than that of the GLC it's based on, as if the designers fretted over the details to the point that they polished them worry-stone smooth. The interior is better executed, with luxury, style, and the just-right sizing to be practical for four adults and cargo. High-gloss plastics, neatly tailored textiles, and a broad plank of digital screens on the dash give it a high-tech modern feel, while trim pieces that appear to be inspired by heat sinks give off a subtle steampunk vibe that we dig.

Unfortunately, the infotainment system doesn't work as great as it looks and takes some time to acclimate to. In fixing what wasn't broken, the MBUX infotainment system uses a touchpad in place of the old central COMAND knob. This change would make it as inscrutable as Lexus's system, except that Mercedes's 10.3-inch central display at least offers redundant touchscreen capability. The voice assistant, which is supposed to chime in only when you say, "Hey, Mercedes," replaces the aggravation of pushing a button with the aggravation of being interrupted whenever someone mentions the M word. For example:

Driver: "There's only one thing I hate about my Mercedes."

EQC: "How can I help you?"

Driver: "I rest my case."

In a $70,000 vehicle, these tech baubles wouldn't pass for innovation even if they did work flawlessly. Substantive, original ideas are in short supply in the EQC, which doesn't advance or even match the current state of battery-electric technology. If the old-world automakers are going to take Tesla's chips, they'll have to make the necessary investments to catch up on battery-management and power-electronics efficiency. For Mercedes, the safe bet means the EQC can't possibly flop as spectacularly as the BMW i3. For drivers, making the safe bet by buying an EQC means a familiar Mercedes-Benz driving experience backed by conservative German engineering.

Specifications Specifications 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4Matic VEHICLE TYPE

front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback ESTIMATED BASE PRICE

$70,000 MOTORS

2 induction AC; combined output, 402 hp, 561 lb-ft BATTERY

liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 93.2-kWh TRANSMISSIONS

1-speed direct drive DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 113.1 in

Length: 187.4 in

Width: 74.2 in

Height: 63.9 in

Curb weight: 5500 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)

Zero to 60 mph: 5.0 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 11.1 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 13.5 sec

Top speed: 112 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)

Combined/city/highway: 75/80/70 MPGe

Range: 200 miles Expand Collapse

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