Mercedes-Benz has pulled the covers off a heavily revised EQS for the 2027 model year, and the numbers are hard to ignore: 575 miles of range on a single charge under Europe’s WLTP testing cycle and enough fast-charging speed to add roughly 200 miles in just 10 minutes. If those figures hold up in production, the flagship electric sedan will leapfrog every battery-powered competitor currently on sale and match the tank range of most gasoline-powered luxury cars.
The refresh, revealed in spring 2026, also introduces steer-by-wire technology, an optional yoke steering wheel, and a restyled front end that swaps the outgoing car’s smooth, sealed nose for a prominent grille panel. Together, the changes signal that Mercedes is treating the EQS not as a niche experiment but as the technological anchor of its entire electric lineup.
A massive jump in range and charging speed
The 575-mile WLTP figure represents a dramatic improvement. The current EQS 450+, the longest-range version in the existing lineup, is rated at roughly 478 miles on the WLTP cycle and about 350 miles on the stricter U.S. EPA test. Mercedes says the gain comes from a larger, more energy-dense battery pack paired with drivetrain efficiency improvements, a combination that New Atlas described as one of the biggest single-generation range jumps in the premium EV segment.
Because WLTP ratings typically run 15 to 25 percent higher than EPA equivalents, American buyers should expect a certified range somewhere in the neighborhood of 430 to 490 miles. Even the lower end of that estimate would place the 2027 EQS well ahead of the Tesla Model S Long Range (about 405 miles WLTP) and within striking distance of the Lucid Air Grand Touring, which currently leads the market at over 500 miles WLTP.
Charging speed tells an equally compelling story. Mercedes says the updated EQS can accept energy at peak rates near 400 kW, enough to recover approximately 200 miles of range during a 10-minute stop. That throughput requires access to the newest ultra-high-power chargers, which are still rolling out across networks like Ionity in Europe and select Electrify America stations in the U.S. For drivers who charge at home overnight, the larger pack could stretch intervals between plug-ins to once a week or less, depending on commute length.
The practical upshot for buyers weighing a switch from gasoline is straightforward: a 575-mile battery eliminates the range gap that has historically separated electric sedans from their combustion-powered counterparts. It also builds in a meaningful buffer against the real-world conditions that eat into EV range, particularly cold weather and sustained highway speeds above 70 mph, as The Cool Down noted in its coverage of the car’s battery and charging technology.
Steer-by-wire and a polarizing yoke
Mercedes did not limit the overhaul to the powertrain. The 2027 EQS replaces the traditional mechanical steering column with a fully electronic steer-by-wire system. Instead of a physical shaft connecting the steering wheel to the front axle, electronic signals relay driver inputs to electric motors at the wheels. The setup lets engineers tune steering feel, ratio, and response digitally across different drive modes, and it enables tighter turning circles because the front wheels can rotate further without a mechanical column limiting travel. A detailed breakdown from Parking Ticket Pal walks through how the architecture also lays groundwork for future autonomous driving features.
That electronic foundation opens the door to the car’s most visually divisive option: a yoke steering wheel. Tesla popularized the yoke with its Model S and Model X, splitting owners between those who love the unobstructed view of the instrument cluster and those who find the flat-topped shape clumsy during parking and tight turns. Mercedes is hedging by making the yoke optional; buyers who prefer a conventional round wheel can keep one. The steer-by-wire hardware stays either way, so every 2027 EQS benefits from the electronic steering refinements regardless of wheel choice.
Up front, the EQS gets a redesigned fascia anchored by what Autoblog bluntly called a “fake grille.” The previous model wore a nearly featureless nose, prioritizing aerodynamic slipperiness over brand identity. The 2027 version adds a prominent grille-shaped panel that is decorative rather than functional; there is no radiator behind it to cool. The move aligns the electric sedan’s face more closely with Mercedes’ combustion-engine models, a deliberate choice that suggests the company believes familiar luxury cues still matter to buyers, even on a car that never needs an air intake.
What buyers still don’t know
For all the impressive headline numbers, several critical details remain unconfirmed. Mercedes has not announced U.S. pricing for the 2027 EQS. The outgoing model starts at roughly $105,000 before options, and the new battery and steering technology could push that figure higher. No EPA-rated range has been published, and the gap between the 575-mile WLTP claim and the eventual EPA number will matter enormously for competitive positioning against the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S in the American market.
Delivery timing is also unclear. The reveal confirmed a 2027 model year, but Mercedes has not stated when cars will reach U.S. or European showrooms. Production ramp-up schedules, supplier readiness for the higher-capacity cells, and regulatory certification could all shift the timeline.
No independent road tests or third-party lab results exist yet. The range and charging claims come directly from Mercedes, and real-world performance will depend on driving conditions, ambient temperature, speed, and charger availability. The steer-by-wire system likewise awaits independent evaluation. While the technology has proven itself in motorsport and in limited-production vehicles like the Lexus RZ 450e, widespread consumer adoption is still relatively new. How the system handles emergency maneuvers, how regulators in different markets certify it, and what redundancy measures protect against sensor or power faults are all questions that will shape buyer confidence once reviewers get seat time.
Where the 2027 EQS fits in a crowded field
If Mercedes delivers production numbers close to its claims, the refreshed EQS will hold a clear lead in range over every direct competitor and match the fastest-charging EVs on the market. That combination addresses the two objections that still keep many luxury buyers in gasoline cars: the fear of running out of charge and the frustration of long charging stops.
The steer-by-wire system and optional yoke add a layer of technological ambition that goes beyond the powertrain, positioning the EQS as a platform for future autonomy features rather than just a long-range cruiser. And the return to a more traditional Mercedes face, fake grille and all, suggests the company is done asking luxury customers to accept unfamiliar styling as the price of going electric.
The open questions are real. Until EPA ratings, final pricing, and independent test results arrive, the 2027 EQS remains a car defined by its promises rather than its proven performance. But the scale of the upgrade, from a 350-mile EPA sedan to a potential 450-plus-mile one with 400 kW charging, is large enough to shift the conversation about what a flagship electric luxury car should deliver. For buyers who have been waiting for an EV that truly removes the compromises, the refreshed EQS is the strongest argument yet that the wait may be nearly over.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
