As soon as upon a time, Mercedes-Benz’s naming scheme was in every single place. The CL was an S-Class coupe. A CLS was a coupe-like sedan based mostly on the E-Class. The CLK was a coupe and convertible based mostly on the C-Class. The SLK was a compact hardtop two-seat convertible. What did C imply? What did S imply? What did Ok imply? None of it actually made sense. Recognizing this, Mercedes introduced order to chaos by renaming fashions and bringing the whole lot typically into the next hierarchy: A = subcompact, C = Compact, E = Midsize, S = Giant. These letters additionally corresponded with the core sedan fashions, whereas G = SUV and EQ = Electrical. It is nonetheless in all probability laborious to observe, but it surely does make extra sense. And to maintain issues actually easy, Mercedes properly selected to not get too intelligent and simply slapped “SUV” on the top of its new EQ fashions as an alternative of concocting some kind of EQLE 350+ nonsense.
Any who, that is an especially poor manner of claiming “The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV” is the model’s new midsize electrical SUV. Because the identify suggests, it ought to be just like the Mercedes GLE (previously the ML-Class, BTW). By way of rear seat legroom, that completely tracks. The EQE SUV is inside three tenths of an inch of the GLE. By way of cargo house? Um, no. The specs say it has 14 cubic-feet of house. The GLE specs say it has 33.3 cubic-feet, so not likely in the identical ballpark. The GLC specs, in the meantime, say it has 21.9. Heck, the EQE Sedan has a 15-cubic-foot quantity.
You’ll find the EQE Sedan baggage take a look at right here and the GLC baggage take a look at right here.
Now, it have to be said that Mercedes makes use of the floor-to-seatback technique of cargo capability measurement, which means that its numbers will be in contrast to one another, however to not most different firms that measure floor-to-ceiling. That is an enormous deal. That stated, 14 cubic-feet appears extremely rinky-dink even when solely in comparison with the GLC (I’ve not baggage examined a GLE).
What this automotive wants is a baggage take a look at!
Simply by seems to be alone, the EQE SUV cargo space is unquestionably extra compact SUV than midsize SUV.
Not like the EQSes, there is not a deep underfloor cargo cavity. There’s a place for the cost wire and tire goo, which is corresponding to what the EQE Sedan has, however towards the backseat as an alternative of near the liftgate/trunk lid opening.
OK, baggage description boilerplate time: As in each baggage take a look at, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that might should be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 extensive, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
There’s a cartridge-style cargo cowl. When in place, the medium-sized carry-on baggage match beneath, the check-in baggage don’t and prolong past the liftgate consequently. You’ll be able to think about the cargo cowl as representing the imaginary ceiling used to get that 14-cubic-foot spec.
Now, usually a cargo cowl would lead to me testing with and with out it in place. BUT! Like the brand new GLC, the cargo space is extensive sufficient for the cargo cowl to sit down on the ground, and importantly, voluminous sufficient to …
Match all the baggage! As such, all baggage + cargo cowl on board, equals no second take a look at wanted.
Nonetheless, the cargo space is certainly smaller than the GLC-Class.
Above you will note the GLC, and notably how a lot house there’s leftover, whereas the EQE SUV is mainly crammed. The GLC may match a whole extra medium-sized carry-on bag.
Above you may as well see the EQE Sedan trunk. All the baggage match right here, however they’re squished. Nonetheless, you possibly can undoubtedly see how the EQE SUV can have a 14 cubic-foot cargo capability quantity. My baggage are technically extending past the rear seatback, which means they transcend the imaginary ceiling that encloses the realm beneath. As such, if that ceiling was actual (or the cargo cowl was in place) all of them wouldn’t match, and I’d not actually be capable of carry as a lot within the EQE SUV as I may within the EQE Sedan. That is simply foolish, although. It’s very hypothetical and never helpful to shoppers making an attempt to make use of specs to check apples to apples.
Mercedes is absolutely doing itself and clients a disservice by reporting its cargo capability on this manner. Positive, it’s unsafe and normally impractical to load all the best way to the roof — that is why I do not do this in these baggage checks. That stated, sticking to this imaginary seatback cargo ceiling is unrepresentative of how folks really load a cargo space, and as it is a completely different technique than most opponents use, it isn’t an correct technique of comparability. Hassle is, shoppers do not know this, so that they find yourself pondering the Mercedes SUV in query is smaller than it truly is. That is not helpful for the shoppers, but it surely’s even worse for Mercedes itself.
I believe the answer is to report each numbers, however after all which may present much more confusion. And Mercedes undoubtedly would not need that.