Read the headlines about the optional ‘Hyperscreen’, which turns the whole dashboard into a touch screen, and you could easily be fooled into thinking the EQS is all about the tech. It turns out that is the least impressive part of the car. Everything works, looks good and does what it’s supposed to, but it’s ultimately just three contiguous screens.
More notable is the way the EQS slips through the air, making the most of its massive 120kWh battery and helping it to achieve a real-world 400 miles. It drives well, too. Four-wheel steering helps this 5.2-metre long car to turn like a black cab, while air suspension ensures high standards for isolation, comfort and refinement.
The Mercedes EQS is a fantastically well-rounded car, one that shows that the car industry’s oldest power has found its feet in the electric car market, and finally returned the disruptor brands’ serve with interest.
Read our Mercedes EQS review
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5. Lucid Air
Pros Promises game-changing range, cleverly packaged, striking exterior and cabin
Cons Not yet on sale in the UK, handling not quite as sharp as the looks suggest
Few cars have created quite such a stir, or kept us waiting quite so long, as the Lucid Air. Built in America and engineered by the man behind the Tesla Model S, the jaw-droppingly sleek saloon boasts some numbers that are sure to make it Top Trumps killer card. For instance, the range-topping Dream Edition packs 1111bhp (yes really) and 1025lb ft of torque and will explode from standstill to 60mph in a claimed 2.4 seconds. Then there’s the giant 118kWh battery that promises a range of 520 miles between charges. And when you do need to top up, 300kW rapid charging means you should be able to add 300 miles in just 20 minutes.
Unsurprisingly with so much poke on offer (there are less powerful options), it’s the performance that dominates. A little less impressive is the handling, which despite the car’s sharp steering feels slightly ponderous through quick direction changes and suffers from a lack of damping control even in the firmest suspension set-up. On larger wheel sizes the ride is also a mixed bag, lacking the supple and serene quality of the luxury car pace setters, though it improves dramatically if the 19in rims are fitted. Air suspension is also in development, which ought to improve matters further.