Long gone are the days when electric cars were only focused on efficiency and range, and now we can talk about EVs with more power and better performance figures than even some gasoline-powered supercars. These days, electric cars are laying waste to some of the most iconic cars in the world, with the capability of going from 0 to 60 mph in under two seconds. Tesla, for example, has the Model S Plaid – a luxury sedan that has a 1.99-second sprint time, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world. But, while Tesla focused most of its attention on power and speed, sacrificing interior luxury or ride quality in the process, makers like Mercedes have found ways to offer both. Launched in 2022, the Mercedes-Benz EQS offered proof that an electric luxury sedan can be just that: an EV with lots of power, good performance figures, but also with tons of luxury features that ensure the best experience behind the wheel. With an output of up to 751 horsepower and a three-second sprint time, the AMG EQS 53 arrived as a competitor for the Model S Plaid, and, in many ways, it is a lot better than the American luxury EV.
10 The Mercedes-AMG EQS Has A More Luxurious Cabin
All Mercedes models are known for offering a very high level of luxury, but the AMG EQS 53 takes things to an all-new level, with everything inside designed for great comfort. As standard, the model comes with AMG seats with individual graphics and special seat covers in Artico man-made leather with Microcut microfiber and red contrasting stitching. The seats can be adjusted in various ways, and they come standard with heating and cooling. A massage function is offered as an option. The AMG steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather and the instrument panel in space grey Artico man-made leather with the same contrasting red stitches. An added feeling of a unique, relaxed atmosphere is created by the direct and indirect optical fibers of the ambient lighting. The lights are linked to the driver-assistance systems and change their color according to the driving dynamics.
9 The EQS Is Bigger And Roomier
Designed as a luxurious, sporty sedan, the AMG EQS 53 had to be a roomy car. It measures 207.3 inches in length, 83.7 inches in width, and 59.8 inches in height, being a lot bigger than the Tesla Model S Plaid. The latter measures 196 inches in length, 86 inches in width, and 57 inches in height. The two models offer pretty much identical interior room, but the EQS has a little bit of an advantage. With almost 42 inches of rear legroom, 38 inches of legroom, and seats that offer the same features as the front ones, the rear passengers will enjoy the same ride comfort as the front passengers. The Model S Plaid doesn't do very badly either, with 35.5 inches of rear legroom and 38.1 inches of rear headroom. Still, on longer rides, the rear passengers will not enjoy the same comfort, especially the taller ones.
8 The AMG EQS Has Better Driving Dynamics
Both the AMG EQS and the Model S Plaid have been designed with speed and ride comfort in mind. Thanks to the battery's low position, both models have a very low center of gravity. The Plaid, in fact, has the lowest center of gravity of any production car. The Model S Plaid features an air suspension that ensures a smooth and absorbent ride, but, for the AMG EQS, the rear-wheel steering ensures responsive handling and the best ride comfort in its class. The EQS 53 has a steering angle of up to 9 degrees which improves agile handling, while the turning circle goes down to 11.5 meters (37.7 feet) - similar to compact models. At speeds under 60 km/h (37 mph) the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels, which makes the EQS highly maneuverable, light-footed, and nimble. At speeds above 37 mph, the wheels steer in the same direction improving handling stability and driving safety at high speeds.
7 The EQS AMG Is Equipped With An Innovative MBUX Hyperscreen
The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 is equipped with the MBUX Hyperscreen - a 56-inch curved screen that extends from A-pillar to A-pillar and is composed of three different screens that seem to merge into one. It has 8 CPU cores, 24 gigabytes of RAM, and 46.4 GB per second RAM memory bandwidth. The hyperscreen is intuitive and easy to operate, and it allows the driver to personalize numerous infotainment, comfort, and vehicle functions. For example, if the driver usually calls someone on a certain day, that specific day he will be asked if he wants to call the person again. Or, the MBUX will remember the GPS position where the user utilized the "Raise Vehicle" function and will increase the ground clearance in order to avoid steep driveways or speedbumps.
6 The AMG EQS Features The AMG Ride Control+ Suspension
Like with any other AMG model, the EQS 53 is equipped with a highly-advanced suspension system that improves ride comfort and driving dynamics. Unlike the Model S Plaid that only offers an air suspension system, the AMG EQS comes with AMG Ride Control+ Suspension, which next to the air suspension system adds adaptive, electronically controlled adjustable damping. This special suspension system has two pressure relief valves that will adjust the damping force according to the different driving conditions and driving modes. By using data from the acceleration and wheel path sensors, the suspension control unit adjusts the damping force for each wheel in a few milliseconds to suit the situation. The EQS 53 has four different driving modes: "Slippery", "Comfort", "Sport", "Sport+" and "Individual", with each one allowing the driver to adjust driving and performance characteristics, suspension settings, steering, dynamics, and sound.
5 The Tesla Model S Plaid Is A Lot More Powerful
The Model S Plaid is one of the most powerful EVs in the world, so it is kind of hard to defeat. It features a tri-motor setup, with two electric motors powering the rear wheels and one in the front that produces a combined output of 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, the AMG EQS 53 is powered by two electric motors, one placed on the front axle and one on the rear, that deliver a combined 658 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes is also offering an optional AMG Dynamic Plus package that will boost power to 751 horsepower and 752 pound-feet when the Race Start mode is activated.
4 The Model S Plaid Is Lighter And Faster
With a total weight of 5,853 pounds, the Mercedes-AMG EQS is more than 1,000 pounds heavier than the Model S Plaid - which weighs only 4,766 pounds. The added weight also makes the AMG EQS 53 a lot slower when compared to the American competitor. In base form, the German EV needs 3.8 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph and can hit a top speed of 136 mph, while with the optional Dynamic Plus package the sprint time goes down to 3.4 seconds and top speed up to 155 mph. The Model S Plaid needs only 1.99 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph and can hit a top speed of over 200 mph. According to Tesla, the Model S Plaid runs the quarter mile in 9.23 seconds at 155 mph. According to CarAndDriver, the AMG EQS 53 does it in 11.4 seconds at 119 mph.
3 The Tesla Model S Plaid Has A Better Range And Charges Faster
A base Tesla Model S has a range of 405 miles, but because of the added power and improved performance figures, the Model S Plaid had to sacrifice a few miles. Still, with an estimated range of 396 miles, the Model S Plaid does a lot better than the most powerful Mercedes-AMG EQS model. The German EV has a range of only 277 miles, which is more than 100 miles short when compared to the Model S Plaid. When it comes to charging, the Tesla will once again get the extra points. Using the convenience of the extensive Tesla Supercharger network and a 250 kW charger, the Model S Plaid needs only 27 minutes to take the battery up to 80-percent. The AMG EQS 53 also benefits from fast charging capabilities, but it needs 28 minutes to charge the battery to 80-percent.
2 The Model S Plaid Is Cheaper
For the 2023 model year, the Mercedes-Benz EQS starts from $104,400, but that's only for the base EQS 450+ model. The top-of-the-line model, the AMG EQS 53, went on sale in late summer 2022 and is available in three different trims: Premium priced at $147,500, Exclusive at $148,250, and Pinnacle at $151,050. The AMG Dynamic Plus Package will set you back another $4,300, and all the other options available could very easily take the price of the EQS 53 up to more than $250,000. On the other hand, the Model S Plaid is priced at $114,990, which is more than $30,000 cheaper. The only option you have for the Model S Plaid is either the Enhanced Autopilot priced at $6,000 or the Full Self-Driving Capability priced at $15,000. However, the AMG EQS 53 price shouldn't come as a surprise considering it is a better-equipped, more luxurious sedan.
1 The Tesla Plaid Can Carry More Luggage
In terms of practicality, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 loses another point. The Mercedes-Benz EQS has a cargo room of 22 cubic feet, which is a lot more than other Mercedes-Benz sedans. Think for example of the S-Class that only offers 12.5 to 13.8 cubic feet of trunk space. With the rear seats down, the cargo space goes up to 63 cubic feet, but, as impressive as it may sound, it is still under what the Model S Plaid has to offer. The Tesla has 25 cubic feet with the seats up and 61.4 cubic feet with the second row folded down. Its frunk offers an additional 3.1 cubic feet of room. On the other hand, the EQS doesn’t come with a frunk, nor does any other electric car coming from Mercedes for that matter.