What's the difference?
The Mercedes-Benz EQC has been on sale in Australia for a little while now, and aside from the local launch event we haven’t had a chance to spend any quality time with the brand’s first fully electric SUV. Until now.
The EQC 400, as it’s officially known, is the German luxury maker’s first foray into the full-EV landscape, and could arguably be seen as the first true luxury electric SUV on sale in Australia. I mean, yeah, there’s the Jaguar i-Pace, but it has a more premium-sporting intent than the EQC, and the Tesla Model X isn’t aimed at a luxury customer, more so a technologically-minded buyer.
So what’s the Merc EQC like to actually live with? We drove it for a week to find out.
Can you believe Porsche’s Taycan has been on sale in Australia for three and a half years?
Well, it has, which means the mid-life refresh clock has struck 12 for this ground-breaking pure-electric performance sedan and wagon.
Porsche says it’s faster in a straight line… and to charge, with more power and an extended range. It’s also been refreshed cosmetically, the dynamics have been tweaked and the standard features list has been lengthened as prices have gone up.
We’re ready to share our first impressions review, so stay with us to see if the new Taycan keeps the Porsche flame burning in an increasingly electrified automotive world.
When I was telling my colleagues about the Mercedes-Benz EQC my summary was, basically, it’s the best electric luxury car I’ve driven.Â
It’s plusher than a Jaguar i-Pace, more polished than a Tesla Model X - indeed, it feels like a different kind of electric car to both of those models. It’s an impressive foray into the segment, and we can’t wait for the chance to put it against some like-minded electric European luxury SUVs at some point in the future.
Porsche says its Taycan models have always been performance-focused and this updated version is even faster than the car it replaces, in a straight line and point-to-point. It’s better equipped, more efficient, and yes, more expensive but every millimetre a Porsche in the way this EV sedan and wagon package has been executed.
It’s an impressive car likely to appeal to Porsche newcomers rather than traditionalists, although you may already have other Porsches in the garage. But with the Macan EV landing any minute and the pure-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman just around the corner it's a key part of the changing face of this iconic German brand.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.