The Mercedes EQV is the planet-saving People Carrier, a full EV that can carry up to eight folk in real Zero Emissions luxury. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The Mercedes EQV brings full-battery power to the super-large MPV segment. This is the People Carrier of the future, with zero emissions and a 222 mile WLTP-rated range. There are few practical compromises with the battery installation and quality levels are way higher than you'd expect from a van-derived product. It's not inexpensive though.

Background

In a world of electrified Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins, you might not think the idea of an electric Mercedes V-Class MPV too significant. We disagree. It's models like this that will help drive a grass-roots change to electric driving, running families and business folk around and, as they do, underlining just why full-battery motion is now completely sustainable option for modern transport. So let's welcome warmly this model, the Mercedes EQV. It's based on the V-Class, which in case you weren't aware, is the Stuttgart brand's super large People Carrier, based almost entirely on its mid-sized Vito van. The recent emergence of an e-Vito variant made the launch of this EQV inevitable and this MPV, like its LCV counterpart, manages to make the switch to full electrification with very few practical compromises. To start with, it's probably going to be quite a rare sight, given the prices start at around £70,000, about £20,000 more than an equivalent combustion-engined V-Class. But with a decent annual mileage, even that premium could make sense for some business operators and forward-thinking families.

Driving Experience

Here, a 100kWh lithium-ion battery develops a 201hp total output with 362Nm of torque and can offer a claimed driving range of up to 222 miles between charges. 62mph takes 12.1s. As with most EVs, the top speed is rather limited - in this case to 98mph. Otherwise, this EQV will be much like any other V-Class to drive. Numerous engineering changes differentiate this Mercedes MPV from the Vito commercial model it's based on, alterations having been made to such things as the spring rates, support bearings, strut towers, dampers, anti-roll bars and bearings to create more car-like standards of ride and handling. Most importantly, standard 'Agility Control' adaptive suspension has been added in, a set-up able to tweak the damping to suit road conditions. It's not enough to make this feel like an S-Class luxury saloon - especially not if you're in a version of this model fitted with the largest 19-inch wheel rim size - but given what the German engineers had to work with, the supple, well-controlled quality of the ride is very commendable. And there's certainly a much lighter, airier feel than you'd get in an S-Class - or any other boardroom-level limo come to that.

Design and Build

Visually, the EQV looks very little different to a standard V-Class, the main difference being an EQC-like black front panel in place of the usual front grille. And bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels. This model can be had in 7-seat 'Long' or 8-seat 'Extra-Long' body lengths. Most choose the 7-seat version, which has 2 seats up front and in the middle, then a 3-person rear bench at the very back. It has to be said that the V isn't a bad looking thing for a big box. The headlights are fashionably smeared back and even the slab sides have had some swage lines and shape built into them. You don't buy a V-Class for its sexy styling though. You buy it for its space and solidity. Mercedes has clearly worked at improving the look and feel of the cabin, with fine Nappa leather finishes available and a simple but extremely elegant dashboard that has more than a hint of S-Class about it. In this regard at least, it's like no van you've ever seen before. There are no interior packaging compromises with the battery installation. Very little effort is required to move the individual seats and the middle bench fore and aft or to position the seats in the quick release seat rails. There's also a standard separately opening rear windscreen which is handy in tight parking spaces. Up-front, Mercedes has added a digital screen panel with 12.3-inch displays for infotainment and instruments.

Market and Model

Expect pricing around £17,000 above what you'd pay for an equivalent combustion-engined V-Class. The figures in question start at just over £92,000 the EQV 300 'Executive Long' version. There's a premium to pay of around £1,700 more for the 'Executive Extra-Long' variant. The EQV features the brand's MBUX infotainment system with EQ-specific features, including important information such as charging current and energy flow. 'Mercedes me Charge' can also be accessed via MBUX which provides access to charging points across Europe without the need for multiple accounts and RFID cards. 'Mercedes me Charge' comprises multiple charging networks, including Polar which is the UK's largest charging network. EQ-optimised navigation can also be set via MBUX, which bases its calculation on the fastest route taking into account the shortest charging time. It also informs the driver of nearby charging points. The Sport model line comes as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED Multibeam LED headlights, the brand's 'Driving Assistance' safety package. There's also the 'MBUX with Navigation Plus' infotainment system. And a reversing camera, electric sliding doors, an easy-pack powered tailgate, ambient lighting and an eight metre charging cable.

Cost of Ownership

As mentioned earlier, the EQV uses a 100kWh lithium-ion battery that can offer a claimed driving range of up to 222 miles between charges. The length of time those charges take will vary as usual on the type of charging point you visit. With an AC charging 11kW charge point, which is what you'd have with a garage wallbox and is the kind of thing you'd find at most public charging stations, your charging time from empty to full in an EQV would be around 10 hours. Find yourself a fast charging station though, with a DC charging 110kW supply, and your EQV could be charged from 10-80% in just 45 minutes. Should you miss a planned charging stop, an active range monitoring system will activate in your EQV to try and ensure safe completion of your journey. This is assisted by an incorporated 'E+' driving mode, which optimises the vehicle's parameters to maximise the range.  Residual values ought to stand up well, as this car pioneers a new market niche, namely that for full-sized People Carrier EVs. Here, you get loads of space, a properly club-class feel and zero emissions. That sort of formula sounds as if it will have legs and the efficiency measures future proof it to a reasonable degree.

Summary

Will the EQV catch on? You might wonder, given the prices being asked here. And the practical charging limitations. Mind you, 500 miles in a day could be achievable with careful lunch break charging from taxi driver and limousine operators. And of course, the further you drive, the bigger the chance you'll be able to recover initial up-front asking price investment, particularly if you regularly drive in the London Congestion Charge or Ultra-low Emission zones. Few would have guessed Mercedes would base its second all-electric model on the humble V-Class, but this is a comprehensively engineered and very forward-thinking product. In a decade or so, a combustion-engined People Carrier of this size will be very rare indeed. And when that happens, we'll look back at the EQV as being the originator of a very significant trend.

Body Glass

Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor

Electric rear windows

Shaded glass in rear, black glass tinted windows

Rear wiper

Separately opening rear window

Front intermittent wipers

Brakes

Active brake assist

Electronic Stability Programme

Hill start assist

Anti-lock brake system

Carpets/Rugs

Velour floor mats

Chassis/Suspension

Comfort suspension

Communication

Wireless charging system for mobile devices in the front

Smartphone integration compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Driver Aids

Active distance assist DISTRONIC

Cruise control

Attention assist

Active park assist

Blind spot assist

Active lane keeping assist

Acoustic presence indicator

Power assisted steering

Driver Convenience

Easy pack automatic powered tailgate

Driver Information

Mercedes me connect

Traffic sign assist

Mercedes Benz emergency call system

Live traffic information

MBUX multimedia system with DAB digital radio

Navigation system plus

Driving Mirrors

Body colour door mirrors

Ambient lighting in door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Dark grey open-pore olive wood look trim elements

Engine

Top speed limiter - 99 mph (160 km/h)

Entertainment

Widescreen cockpit with 12.3" media and driver display

2-way loudspeakers, front and rear

Exterior Body Features

New front bumper design

Rear bumper with sharpened design

Electric sliding door in both side

Exterior Lights

LED daytime running lights

LED brake lamps and indicators

Darkend LED rear tail lights

Auto headlights

Adaptive brake lights

Multi beam LED headlights

Adaptive high beam assist plus

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air conditioning - semi-automatic, TEMPMATIC in rear

Pre-entry climate control

Electric auxiliary air heater

THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control

Interior Features

Roof liner in grey fabric

Lugano leather upholstery

Front centre console cup holders

2 detachable cup holders, in rear armrests

12 V outlets for rear seat row, right and left

Illuminated Mercedes benz door sills with Mercedes Benz lettering

12V Accessory socket in the load area

Heated steering wheel

Lockable glove compartment

Sliding cover to centre console

Height and reach adjustable steering wheel

3 spoke multi-function leather steering wheel

Parcel net on driver and front seat backrests

Touchpad

Interior Lights

Exit lights

Interior lighting - 64 colour Ambient lighting

Packs

Anti-theft protection package - EQV

Parking Package with 360 camera - EQV

Mirror package - EQV

Safety

Front passenger airbag

Child safety locks in passenger compartment doors

Front thorax airbags

Warning triangle

First aid kit

Pre-safe system

Tyre pressure monitoring system

3 point seatbelts on all seats

Driver and front passenger windowbags

Seats

Single front passenger seat

Front comfort seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Front and rear headrests

Front seat heating

Lumbar support for driver's and front passengers seat

2 individual 3rd row seats

Security

Keyless Start

Vanity Mirrors

Illuminated sunvisor with vanity mirror

Vehicle Charging

Combined charging system CCS-2 connector

Charging cable for wallbox and public charging stations 8m straight

110kW DC onboard charger

11 kW AC onboard charger

Wheels

Summer tyres

Wheels - Alloy

17" 5 spoke light alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tirefit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 600

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 45

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 110

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 62000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 90

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 358

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 28.9

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 29.3

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 2.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 2.2

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 222

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Front

Usable Battery Capacity: 90

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 110

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: Executive Long

Coin Description: 90kWh

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 2

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 6

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50D

Service Interval Mileage: 15500

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 204

Badge Engine CC: 0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: 0

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 12.1

Top Speed: 98

Engine Power - BHP: 204

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 150

Engine Power - RPM: 4500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 270

Engine Torque - NM: 366

Engine Torque - RPM: 300

Engine Torque - MKG: 37.3

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 225/55 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 225/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: 5 SPOKE

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 5140

Width: 1928

Wheelbase: 3200

Height: 1901

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2635

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 100

No. of Seats: 7

Max. Roof Load: 150

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 463

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.9

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Graphite grey

Metallic - Obsidian black

Metallic - Rock crystal white

Metallic - Hyacinth red

Metallic - High tech silver

Metallic - Sodalite blue

Metallic - Kalahari gold

Paint - Solid

Solid - Arctic white

Solid - Steel blue

Solid - Vintage blue

Trim - Leather

Lugano leather - Black

Lugano leather - Silk beige