Mercedes-Benz EQC 2019 revealed

The covers have at last come off Mercedes-Benz' first-ever full EV SUV, with the brand's all-new EQC unveiled in Sweden overnight.

Benz had promised some impressive numbers, and the EQC certainly delivers on paper, with the Jaguar I-Pace-hunting SUV good for 300kW, 765Nm and a range of up to 450km between recharges.

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The all-wheel-drive EQC - the first of 10 models that will wear Mercedes’ new EQ badge by 2022 - is home to an electric motor at each axle, helping generate that considerable shove, which are powered by an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery.

That setup will produce a claimed sprint to 100km/h of just 5.1 seconds, and the EQC will push on to a top speed of 180km/h.

You’ll also find five driving programs, Individual, Comfort, Eco, Max Range and Sport, with the latter having exactly the impact on range you might expect. Helping to extend the time between charges, though, is a braking recuperation system, which the driver can control via the shift paddles behind the steering wheel, and in its heaviest setting the driver rarely needs to brake, giving the EV a “one-pedal” feeling.

“The new EQC is a genuine Mercedes-Benz. This particularly applies to classic attributes such as quality, safety and comfort,” says Ola Källenius, head of group research and Mercedes-Benz cars development.

“These are accompanied by dynamic performance, thanks to two electric motors at the front and rear axles with a combined output of 300kW, and an intelligent operating strategy for a superior electric range.”

The EQC is equipped with a water-cooled charger as standard, and it can be plugged into the mains at home. But using a specially fitted Benz Wallbox will make charging three times quicker, though how much time that actually is has not yet been confirmed. Better still, using a dedicated DC fast-charger will give you a 70 per cent charge in 40 minutes.

The EQC (which Benz calls a crossover) stretches 4761mm in length, 1884mm in width and 1624mm in height. Other firsts include the fibre optics that run along the rop of the grille toward the DRLs, forming a near-constant line of light at night. It will ride on aerodynamic alloys of beween 19 and 21 inches, while inside, two 10.25-inch screens dominate the dash.

Cabin tech is handled by Mercedes’ MBUX operating system, including the natural voice recognition system debuted on the A-Class, only this time updated with EQC-specific functions that will show driving range or charging status.

Expect to see the EQC in Australia next year, with pricing and local specification yet to be confirmed.

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