MERCEDES EV C-CHANGE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedeseqc_2019

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 88

Launched back in 2019 the very first Mercedes EV, the brand's first generation EQC, was a large luxury SUV that was fully electric but very much a product typical of the Three Pointed Star. Direct rivals shaded it in certain areas but it was difficult to beat in terms of driving refinement and interior finish. And class-competitive in terms of things like driving range, cabin practicality and charging time replenishment. It was in almost every way, the Mercedes of EVs. Let's check it out as a used buy.

Modelsword count: 5

2dr Convertible (4.0 V8 petrol)

Historyword count: 377

Prior to the launch of the EQC, its very first volume-produced electric model, Mercedes had been dabbling with automatic electrification since the turn of the century, first with an E-Cell version of the A-Class, then with various battery-powered smart models and more recently prior to 2019 with an 'Electric Drive' derivative of the first generation B-Class MPV featuring a drivetrain part-developed by Tesla. That American brand blazed a trail in the full-EV market over the early part of this century that the premium European makers were forced to follow, but Mercedes refused to be rushed, gradually establishing its own distinct, three-part strategy for electrification: by 2019, 'EQ Boost' mild hybrid technology was increasingly used as an integrated part of the company's combustion engines; 'EQ Power' plug-in hybrid models were available across the company's core product lines; and the brand announced that no fewer than 10 new full-electric 'EQ' models would be imminently launched as a result of a £9.2 billion investment. These included full-electric versions of the A-Class, the B-Class, the V-Class and the S-Class, respectively badged 'EQA', 'EQB', 'EQV' and 'EQS'. But it was this large luxury SUV, the EQC, that kicked things off. Unlike the other EQ models just mentioned, it was a distinct stand-alone product rather than a derivative of an existing model and as such, you'd expect it to have a purpose-built lightweight chassis - the kind of thing you'd find on two of its key rivals from this time, the Jaguar I-PACE and the Tesla Model X. Instead, like a couple of other direct competitors, the Audi e-tron and the BMW ix3, the EQC trundled around on the heavier underpinnings of a slightly smaller, more conventional combustion-engined SUV - in this case the Mercedes GLC. Partly, that was because the Stuttgart maker wanted to produce this EV model alongside the GLC at its German Bremen plant. Future unique EQ products, we were promised, would be more bespoke and less compromised. But we began with this one, which claimed to be in every way a genuine Mercedes-Benz. In a market you have to feel wasn't quite complete until it was entered into by the Three Pointed Star. This first generation EQC sold until mid-2024, but its second generation replacement didn't arrive until mid-2025.

What You Getword count: 734

Would you know this to be a Mercedes? Possibly not. What the company calls an 'avant garde and distinct look' simply appears somewhat generic from a distance, but up close, a more brand-specific design charisma shines through. Size-wise, the EQC sits between the Mercedes brand's mid-sized GLC and large GLE SUV models. It shares most with the GLC, though is 100mm longer but, like its main European rivals, can only take two rows of seats.  As usual of course, what's more significant is the stuff you can't see. Some of it's quite sophisticated for this EV's period, principally the 384-cell 80kWh lithium-ion Deutsche Accumotive battery that weighs a substantial 652kg and sits in the floor between the axles. And some of it isn't, primarily a steel structure and suspension set-up that was lifted directly from the GLC Mercedes SUV model so that this car could be produced alongside that one at the brand's German Bremen plant. Take a seat up-front and you'll find the usual widescreen cockpit with MBUX media connectivity that by this time was featuring in all modern Mercedes cars, in this case featuring two seamlessly-joined 10.25-inch screens. But the overall cabin feel is subtly different that it would be in, say, a GLC or a GLE, thanks to ribbed silver trimming, blue and rose-gold detailing and trendy eco-minded materials. An extra 'EQ' tile was added to the central infotainment screen and via this, it's possible to monitor things like charging current, departure times and energy flow, plus you can pull up a consumption histogram. EQ-savvy intelligence was also added to the impressive 'Hey Mercedes' voice control system, so you can quiz it on battery status or ask where the nearest charging station is. Over the shoulder vision isn't ideal, so you'll need the standard rear view camera and parking sensors), but the seats are supportive and there's plenty of cabin storage space. Back seat leg room is merely adequate for this class of car. These certainly not quite as much room to stretch out as you'd find in rival models, but there's not a huge amount in it and the EQC is more spacious for three across this rear bench than is the case with a rival Jaguar I-PACE. There'd have been even more room in this regard if this car hadn't been compromised by having to have a centre transmission tunnel, even though there's no centre transmission to house within it. Which is of course another disadvantage of saddling an electric vehicle with underpinnings originally developed for a combustion-engined car. As for headroom, well that'was slightly compromised by the swept-back silhouette and a floor raised to accommodate the battery pack beneath. Still, we think that only very lofty folk required to spend very long trips here will be minded to complain very much. And even they have the option of improving things by reclining the seat backs. Press the Mercedes Three-Pointed Star and the tailgate glides up to reveal a 500-litre trunk. Predictably, that's fractionally less than you'd get in rival Audi, Jaguar and Tesla models, but the Mercedes boot is practically shaped, has a wide aperture and features a low loading lip. There are deep recesses either side of the entrance, the left hand one being netted. There's a 12v socket on the left hand cargo side wall, bag hooks on both sides and four silver tie down points, one in each corner of the floor. Unusually for an EV, you get a bit of underfloor storage space too - and the flap to access it is lockable. Lift it and you'll find that though there's not enough space to house a spare wheel, you could store quite a bit here away from prying eyes. The usual Mercedes fold-out shopping crate resides down here, an appendage which looks rather flimsy but actually turns out to be surprisingly useful. There's also a little compartment via which battery attachment points can be accessed. The adjustable seat backs we mentioned earlier can be set in a slightly more upright position if it helps to get bulky suitcases in. And the rear bench's 40:20:40-split means that the centre part of the backrest can be retracted for longer items like skis. Neat catches are provided on the cargo bay sidewalls for when you want to completely flatten the rear bench, which then folds almost flush to the floor to free up 1,060-litres of capacity.

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