Mercedes-Benz EQC Review & Prices

Few things move as quickly as an electric car, apart from electric car technology. Revealed in 2019, the Mercedes EQC was the automaker’s first all-electric EQ vehicle, based on the GLC SUV, it wowed with its silent and effortless performance, smooth ride, and impressive tech.

Five years on and the electric SUV segment is burgeoning with impressive alternatives. Electric cars like the BMW iX, Ford Mustang Mach-e, and Tesla Model Y all offer a similarly silky driving experience, but the EQC still remains a solid choice.

Unlike the overtly futuristic designs of some alternatives, the EQC looks very much like the rest of Mercedes’ SUV offerings, especially since most of the range now shares its narrow headlight design and curvy detailing around the windows and roofline.

Mercedes EQC: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 245-254 miles
Efficiency: 2.7-2.8 miles per kWh
Battery size: 80kWh
Max charge speed: 110kW
Charge time AC: 7hr 30mins, 10-100% at 11kW
Charge time DC: 40 mins, 10-80% at 110kW
Charge port location: Right side rear
Power outputs: 402hp

The interior will also be familiar to Mercedes owners, with two wide digital screens taking centre stage and a row of physical buttons placed below them. The rectangular air vents are the only obvious departure from the norm.

The infotainment system is intuitive, with most major functions accessible without having to scroll through endless sub-menus. Interacting with the system can be done either through the central touchscreen, via the centre console touchpad, or the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice feature. The voice recognition software responds to select commands and allows you to change things like the interior temperature or radio station without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Even though it is packed with features, the infotainment system is one area where the EQC is starting to show its age a bit. The latest iDrive system in the BMW iX, as well as some newer Mercedes models feature slicker setups with even larger screens.

One aspect of the EQC that never gets old is its spacious interior. Four adults will have no trouble getting and staying comfortable on long trips, and the ride quality is also impressive over pockmarked surfaces. The silent EV powertrain and vault-like build quality of the EQC make it a consummate motorway cruiser, with little wind and tyre noise making its way into the cabin. The advanced all-wheel drive system can apportion power between the two axles depending on the traction available.

The driver assistance systems aren’t quite as advanced as some newer offerings, but the EQC can still drive along the motorway, braking, accelerating, and steering for you as long as you don’t remove your hands from the steering wheel.

The official range between charges is 255 miles, on par with the base BMW iX, but a bit behind the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model Y. Its maximum charge rate of 110kW is falling a bit behind too – it takes about 40 minutes to go from 10-100% at a public charger, but that number would be closer to 30 minutes in newer alternatives.

All things considered, this remains a solid choice among electric SUVs, so if you want the best price check out Carwow’s Mercedes EQC deals or browse used EQCs from our network of trusted dealers. You can also see other used Mercedes stock, and when it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that too.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400AMG Line Edition starts off at around £65,000, bookended by the top-spec Premium trim at more than £80,000.

This compares well with the newer BMW iX, which is ever so slightly cheaper in base xDrive40 trim. The same is true for the Jaguar I-Pace, while the Audi Q8 e-tron is a bit pricier at around £70,000. Opt for the range-topping EQC and things start looking expensive, particularly as even the base trims get a generous amount of kit as standard, and you get the same motor and battery regardless.

The Mercedes EQC’s quiet and relaxing to drive, although you do feel the weight of its heavy batteries in corners

In town

The Mercedes EQC is a surprisingly good town car for a relatively large SUV.

A lot of that is down to the silent electric powertrain, which gives the EQC effortless performance off the line thanks to its instant thrust and four-wheel drive grip. The EQC’s brakes aren’t as grabby as they are in some SUVs and you can set the regen to slow the car when you take your foot off the throttle.

The suspension is also pretty good at isolating you from poor road surfaces below. That being said, you do hear larger bumps being transmitted into the cabin and the EQC’s hefty weight means it can crash down on its suspension over speed humps. Low-speed manoeuvring is a mixed bag. Okay, so the large A-pillar and small rear window hamper your view, but the steering is light and the Mercedes has a tighter turning circle than either the Audi Q8 e-tron or BMW iX.

All EQCs come with parking sensors and a reversing camera, but for a full 360-degree camera you’ll need to specify the Premium Plus model, which also has auto-park.

At least fast charging comes as standard, and the Mercedes can preheat its battery to give you its maximum 110kW charging speeds straight off the bat. You can recharge the battery from 10-80% in just 40 minutes at those charging speeds. In comparison, it will take around 13 hours using a 7kW wall-mounted charger at home.

On the motorway

Out on the motorway, the Mercedes remains very quiet. Sure, you do notice a little wind flutter around the wind mirrors and a tiny bit of tyre roar but that’s mostly because there’s no engine noise whatsoever.

Adding to the EQC’s waft-ability is the suspension which smooths out larger bumps very well, although it can fidget slightly over smaller road imperfections. If you regularly spend hours on the motorway, do yourself a favour and specify the optional Driving Assistance pack which can accelerate, brake and steer the car automatically. The pack also boosts safety by adding a blind-spot-warning system and Evasive Steering Assist, which can take control of the car to steer you around an imminent collision.

Twisty road

Mercedes didn’t design the EQC with hard cornering in mind, but it remains tidy in bends, only struggling through corners when its sizeable weight overawes the tyres' grip. The Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX3 are better when the road goes bendy, but the EQC is by no means out of its depth.

While the Mercedes isn’t exactly agile on country roads, it is quick, the instant power of the electric motors means you can slingshot out of bends and the car’s four-wheel drive system gives it plenty of grip on slippery roads.

The Mercedes EQC has a roomy back seat and a boot that can cater for family needs but it isn’t the most spacious EV of its type

Every part of the EQC’s driver’s seat is electrically adjustable, so you’re not going to struggle to get comfortable. As a result, getting the angle of the backrest just right is easy and cranking up the height of the seat doesn’t feel like a mini workout. You also get features not offered in lesser EVs including adjustable thigh support and four-way lumbar adjustment.

With all these variables, you’d think a seat memory function would be a given but it’s only fitted to the top-of-the-range Premium Plus model. So you’ll need this top-end specification if you want to return the seat to your driving position at the touch of a button.

Mercedes has been more generous with interior storage. The EQC has door bins that’ll swallow a 1.5-litre bottle of water, the glovebox is a decent size, you get two cup holders on the centre console and more storage under the front-centre armrest.

Sit in the back and you’ll find Mercedes’ trademark aeroplane-style pockets on the backs of the front seats, door bins that are slightly smaller than the ones in front and a centre armrest with two more cup holders.

Space in the back seat

The Mercedes EQC is based on the previous-generation GLC so you don’t get the feeling of palatial interior space you get in a BMW iX, which was designed from the ground up to be electric.

Having said that, space in the back is still pretty decent. You get plenty of headroom and a reasonable amount of knee room. The Mercedes back seats aren’t set oddly low, as you’ll find in some EVs, so your thighs are nicely supported by the seat cushions.

Boot space

The Mercedes EQC’s boot is smaller than an Audi Q8 e-tron’s (500 litres versus 660) but it is still very well designed with a large load opening and a low load lip that makes it easy to hulk awkward luggage into the back. You also get storage under the floor – handy if you want to hide a soft bag.

You yank a couple of buttons in the boot to drop the Mercedes’ rear seats and they fold flat to make it easier to load awkward cargo like an adult’s bike. The uneven floor in the Audi means it is tricker to make full use of its space with the seats down.

Impressive large infotainment screens, although the voice activation can’t quite match the best smartphones

Like any Mercedes SUV, the EQC’s interior is dominated by a pair of large infotainment screens that are housed under a single pane of glass.

It can be operated directly using the centre touchscreen which has large icons that are relatively easy to press on the move, but you also get a touchpad controller in between the front seats, while touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel control the digital instrument binnacle.

The whole lot is powered by Mercedes’ MBUX operating system meaning most of the car’s system is voice-activated, so saying “Hey Mercedes, I’m cold” instructs the car to turn up the heater.

It’s a pretty good system, though not as accurate as your smartphone’s voice activation which you can use on the car’s big screen via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Mercedes has given the EQC various touches that mark its cabin out from conventional models. You get high-tech-looking air vents with metallic touches that imitate copper wiring and electric blue highlights. The ribbed trims that circle the front seats are supposed to emulate the cooling fins on electrical components.

The result is a cabin that feels better built and looks classier than a Tesla Model X, however, an Audi Q8 e-tron’s cabin feels even more solid and the BMW iX’s ultra-modern design is more striking.

The Mercedes EQC is powered by two electric motors – one on the front axle, the other at the back – which combine to produce 402hp, getting the Mercedes from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. They’re hooked up to an 80kWh battery that gives the EQC an official range of up to 255 miles under the official testing cycle.

On Carwow’s four-mile motorway test, the EQC chewed through electricity at a rate of 2.3 mi/kWh slightly pipping the Audi e-tron and BMW iX. Having said that, the EQC could only manage a maximum in-town range of 192 miles – one mile better than the Audi e-tron can manage, but some way off the 242 miles posted by the top-of-the-range BMW iX.

On a more positive note, the EQC – like every EV – is exempt from paying road tax, and the Benefit-in-Kind rates make it mighty appealing to company car buyers.

The Mercedes EQC was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 and was awarded five stars, posting scores of 96% for adult protection and 90% for child occupant protection. Standard safety kit includes automatic emergency braking that works inside and outside of town and can detect pedestrians, cyclists and other cars.

You also get Mercedes’ Urban Guard alarm system fitted as standard, which includes tow-away protection and an interior motion sensor. A three-year vehicle tracking subscription is also included.

You can expect the Mercedes EQC to be more reliable than one of the firm’s petrol or diesel models thanks to its electric motors having fewer moving parts. Maintenance should also be cheaper because the EQC’s regenerative brakes mean there’s less pad and disc wear and you don’t need to worry about expensive oil changes either.

The Mercedes comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, while the battery is covered for 100,000 miles or eight years. It’s reassuring to know because the EQC has been subject to several recalls covering things like faulty wiring harnesses, corroded battery housings and broken side impact sensors.