Used Mercedes EQS and EQS SUV Buying Guide (2021 on): Versions, Recalls, Real Range and Prices

The Mercedes EQS plays the electric S-Class role: a very large luxury car offered as a sleek five-door saloon since late 2021, and a taller SUV with up to seven seats since late 2022. An EQS 450+ was priced at £99,995 new; a 2022 car now asks about £37,900. This guide explains the versions, recalls, realistic driving range and prices to expect. There’s a print-out checklist at the end.

Which version of the EQS is it?

Adverts often group the saloon and SUV under the same model name, so establish the body type. Saloon listings generally specify “Saloon”; SUVs are the “450 4MATIC” or “580 4MATIC”:

UK saloons were offered as the rear-drive 450+ or AMG EQS 53, initially with a 107.8 kWh battery (later adverts state 108.4 kWh). An update in 2024 increased capacity to 118 kWh, also fitted to the SUV. The saloon has a tailgate opening onto its 610-litre boot. In 2026 a substantially revised 800-volt car replaced the saloon (the EQS 400 starts at £91,765), still too new for used buyers. Full specifications appear on the EQS and EQS SUV pages.

Realistic range

These estimates describe a typical car of each version, using the battery-ageing model applied throughout the rest of EVcarsguide:

These figures assume a healthy battery delivers about 85% of its official range in mild weather. Owners of 450+ saloons report better results: around 400 to 450 miles in mild weather, with an accurate range display. Winter conditions and motorway speeds reduce range.

Charging

On a rapid charger the EQS takes up to 200 kW, with Mercedes quoting 31 minutes from 10 to 80% for the saloon. That compares well for a battery this large, though 800-volt rivals are faster. The saloon’s home charging rate is 11 kW; the SUV has a 22 kW on-board charger, which is useful only with a three-phase supply. Owners report contradictory dealer advice about 22 kW saloon charging, so establish which charger the particular car has.

The battery and its warranty

Mercedes covers the EQS battery for 10 years or 155,000 miles from first registration, longer than most EVs:

• Registered 2021: battery covered to 2031, or 155,000 miles if sooner.
• Registered 2022: battery covered to 2032, or 155,000 miles if sooner.
• Registered 2023: battery covered to 2033, or 155,000 miles if sooner.
• Registered 2024: battery covered to 2034, or 155,000 miles if sooner.

Owners recommend reading the warranty terms carefully, saying Mercedes altered them in 2024. Ask a Mercedes dealer to explain which terms apply to the particular car you are considering and to provide a battery health report.

Recalls

• Battery management software (R/2024/257): saloons built between February 2023 and April 2024, and SUVs built between August 2023 and February 2024. The high-voltage system could shut down, removing drive power without warning. A software update resolves this.
• Stability control software (R/2023/173): 1,228 saloons built between June 2021 and February 2022, covering most early examples.
• Drivetrain software (R/2023/193): 785 saloons built June 2021 to December 2022.
• Fuses (R/2024/130): SUVs built March to October 2023, with some 80 A fuses potentially failing to meet requirements.
• Other early-car campaigns: the communication module (R/2022/032, R/2022/030), hands-off steering detection (R/2022/114), the towing eye thread (R/2022/245, R/2022/246) and the 3-pin charging cable (R/2022/048).

Check the specific car on GOV.UK’s recall checker and ask a Mercedes dealer for its recall history.

Safety

The EQS saloon received five stars from Euro NCAP in 2021, scoring 96% for adult occupant protection.

What owners report

Reports from seven owner and buyer threads, all covering the saloon:

• Range and refinement: its biggest strengths. Owners describe 400 to 450 miles of range, near-silent progress and a soft motorway ride.
• Practicality: rear-wheel steering makes turning much easier than the car’s dimensions suggest, while the boot offers plenty of space.
• Software: the biggest complaint: confusing, deeply layered menus, plus face recognition and voice control that frequently fail.
• Quality: expectations were higher: owners describe flimsy air vents and door cards, thick pillars and a high dashboard, a fixed upright rear backrest, and a ride that becomes brittle over sharp bumps.

What to pay

Used EQS listings are mostly 2022 and 2023 450+ saloons, with SUVs accounting for roughly one in five cars.

These figures are asking prices, not valuations. A 2022 450+ has dropped more than £60,000 from its list price. The AMG EQS 53 asks about £62,000 for a 2023 car, and the few EQS SUVs about £64,000 for a 2023 450 4MATIC. The saloon therefore remains by far the least expensive route into an EQS.

Questions to ask the seller

1. Have the software recalls been done?
2. Can the seller provide a battery health report and explain the charging routine used for this EQS?
3. Can the seller provide the Mercedes service records and invoices for any additional maintenance?
4. Does it have the Hyperscreen, rear-wheel steering and air suspension?

The print-out checklist

Bring this checklist along for the EQS-specific checks; our general used EV buyer’s guide covers the checks that apply to any used electric car.

Alternatives worth a look

• BMW i7: the closest rival, a luxury saloon with a more traditional cabin.
• BMW i5: smaller and newer, with a big used market. See our used i5 guide.
• Porsche Taycan: sportier, with much faster charging. See our used Taycan guide.
• Audi e-tron GT: a low, fast four-door. See our used e-tron GT guide.
• BMW iX: a large luxury electric SUV, against the EQS SUV. See our used iX guide.

Not sure it covers your driving? The EV Matchmaker checks a car against your own week, and the Used EV Finder shows what else your budget buys.

Sources & further reading

• Mercedes-Benz UK
• Euro NCAP
• GOV.UK – Check if a vehicle has been recalled