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Electrification is thy identify of the sport! And most luxurious carmakers are taking this sport very significantly! Enter Mercedes-Benz EQC, the primary ever absolutely electrical mannequin from the corporate. And we drove it at size final yr in Norway. Back then, the EQC impressed us with its vary and efficiency and now, we had the prospect to check it on house turf. Will there be vary nervousness? Will the EQC be capable of tackle Indian roads? We spent a while with the automobile within the Delhi NCR area and tried to reply these questions.
What is the EQC?
The Mercedes-Benz EQC might very properly be the primary luxurious electrical SUV to be launched in India. Globally, Mercedes has been fairly late to the electrical get together whereas its rivals already had fashions doing properly. Audi had the e-tron, Jaguar had the i-Pace and Tesla had the mannequin X. The Audi e-tron was revealed in India a couple of yr in the past, however hasn’t been launched but, whereas the EQC, sources inform us, is prone to be launched in October 2020.
One should point out that the EQC is loosely based mostly on the GLC and that’s evident in the truth that each vehicles share the identical platform and comparable design too. Plus, it made sense to adapt an current automobile platform with the intention to hold prices to a minimal and cut back R&D finances too. But, the EQC will come to India as a very constructed unit and properly, we anticipate the pricing to replicate that!
Motors and Battery
The EQC will get two asynchronous motors, one at every axle and the mixed energy output is 402 bhp. Mercedes claims a 0-100 kmph dash time of simply 5.1 seconds. The entrance motor is tuned for offering optimum, environment friendly efficiency whereas the rear motor is employed to supply a extra dynamic really feel when driving. Talking concerning the battery, the EQC will get an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which weighs 652 kg and is mounted on the ground. It packs in 384 particular person cells and is after all, water and dirt resistant Mercedes-Benz affords a guaranty of eight years for battery, which is an business first.
Drive Experience
The very first thing that you simply discover when you find yourself driving the EQC is the refinement. It is a extremely refined automobile and extra so as a result of there is no such thing as a noise of the engine and rustle of the tyres and the hum of the motors barely filters via to the cabin. So the refinement ranges are actually, actually good. And aside from that, as is the case with all electrical vehicles, significantly, the EQC, the throttle response somewhat is totally sharp. All the facility and all of the torque is actually at your footstep.
The mash of the throttle and all 760 newton metres of peak torque is out there from the phrase go! That means overtaking is totally pleasant. And in case you are speaking concerning the vary, it’s about 450 kilometres after which some extra, in line with the WLTP cycle. The low placement of the battery implies that the centre of gravity is low and that in flip means the automobile is secure at excessive speeds, be it going straight or round a nook. Plus, to accommodate the load, the chassis has been made stiffer as properly.
So if we had been to speak concerning the trip high quality of the EQC, I’d say that it’s nonetheless very European, in a way that if you drive this SUV on Indian roads, the trip high quality is barely bouncy. The suspension doesn’t fairly iron out all of the undulations on the highway. Potholes, bumps and so forth and so forth! Even the steering, the suggestions from the steering will not be that nice.
Styling
The silhouette of the EQC is that of a typical SUV crossover and so is the stance. More sporty than muscular! The entrance finish of the EQC is certain to attract consideration, purely due to the design. It is instantly recognisable as a Mercedes SUV and but, very totally different from the familial design that every one Mercedes SUVs get.
The huge grille with thick chrome encompass and the pistol-formed LED headlights look cool and so do the blue alloy wheels. The rear design may be very uninspiring although. Nothing that stands out, apart from the rear LED taillights being linked by an LED strip. Overall then it isn’t distinctive however there is a sense of modernity.
The modernity seeps into the cabin as properly and it is each bit premium. The dashboard will get a minimalist design, with the twin 12.3-inch screens angled in direction of the motive force. What actually caught our eye had been the neat bronze-colored components on the AC vents which appears very elegant. The total format is just like that of the opposite Merc SUVs. The high quality of upholstery, the seats themselves really feel plush and welcoming.
Features
Like every other Mercedes-Benz SUV, the EQC is loaded with know-how. Up first is the most recent model of MBUX, which makes the SUV linked. We tried connecting our smartphone to the automobile through the Mercedes Me app and all of the capabilities resembling locking-unlocking the automobile, opening the sunroof and the home windows and even checking the cost left within the battery, they work as marketed. Though, there’s a slight delay from the time you enter the command on the app, until the time the command is definitely executed.
Plus you’ve gotten the same old checklist of options resembling entrance seat massagers, a premium Burmester audio system and smartphone connectivity within the type of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the entrance seats are properly-bolstered, the rear seats should not precisely comfy and will have supplied little more room. In phrases of security, the EQC will get 7 airbags as commonplace together with a bunch of energetic and passive driver help methods.
Charging
The greatest option to cost the EQC is to plug it in at a public DC quick charger, which supplies the automobile 80 per cent cost in about an hour and full cost takes rather less than two hours. If you had been to make use of a wall-field charger, the EQC takes round 10-11 hours to cost absolutely.
Verdict
An electrical luxurious SUV, just like the Mercedes-Benz EQC goes to be a superb choice for the wealthy and the rich. The EQC affords very refined driving expertise, had strong efficiency and though the design might have been a bit higher and the trip high quality as properly. But all issues thought-about, it is a excellent SUV be it driving dynamics or consolation for that matter. And Mercedes-Benz is making an attempt its greatest to get a superb first mover benefit in such a distinct segment section.
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Funnily sufficient, now Indian SUV lovers have an electrical SUV to select from in virtually each section. Starting with the Tata Nexon EV within the subcompact SUV house, then you’ve gotten the Hyundai Kona and the MG ZS EV within the compact SUV section and eventually, the EQC, which is a luxurious electrical SUV. The excellent news is that the smaller EVs have been obtained very properly and it will not be a shock if we see the Mercedes-Benz EQC on Indian roads every so often.
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