Mercedes has revealed the car it believes will knock the Tesla Model X and BMW iX off their luxury electric off-roader perches. The imaginatively named EQS SUV is the high-riding sister car to the EQS saloon – the German carmaker's current electric range-topper.

The SUV is the third model to use Merc's new dedicated electric car platform, and follows on from the smaller EQE saloon.

Mercedes says the new EQS SUV is able to tackle 'light terrain with ease' and it features 4Matic four-wheel drive and an 'intelligent' off-road driving mode. But it'll predominantly be a rival for more road-based posh SUVs like the BMW iX, and prices should kick off at more than £100,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

Mercedes EQS SUV Review

EQS SUV has a 380 mile range and 200kW charge capability

Three versions have been revealed at launch – the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ and the four-wheel drive 450 4Matic and 580 4Matic models. All use the EQS saloon's 107.8kWh battery which should give a claimed range of between 333 and 410 miles on the two-wheel drive 450+, and between 315 and 380 miles on the two four-wheel drive models. This is at least 100 miles less than the EQS saloon, as a result of the increased weight and aerodynamic drag.

The UK will likely forgo the rear-wheel drive 450+ and 580 4Matic and instead only take the 450 4Matic. With 355bhp and 800Nm of torque (both higher than the equivalent EQS saloon), 0-62mph will be around the six-second mark, but there will likely be a more powerful Mercedes-AMG EQS SUV 53 4Matic available in time offering over 650bhp.

Seven seats are an option, but shrink the boot size

The SUV sits 20cm higher than the saloon and ditches the four-door's futuristic smooth shape for a more traditional SUV silhouette. It features Mercedes EQ's familiar blanked-off grille and, just like the saloon, the SUV has a LED light strip running across the entire front-end. At the rear, there's a full width LED tail light, too, and Mercedes has developed special wind-cheating, 3D-printed alloy wheels called "aeroblades" which will be available in sizes of 20 to 22 inches. 

The SUV will come as a five-seater with the option to upgrade to a seven-seater. In the latter configuration, the middle row is electrically adjustable while the back row is raised and lowered manually. The boot measures 195 litres (or 565 litres with the two rear-most seats dropped) in the seven-seater and 645 in the five-seater, and when all seats are folded there's over 2,000 litres of space in both models. It means the Merc offers more room than the BMW iX and Audi e-tron, but slightly less than the Tesla Model X. 

The EQS SUV can also tow up to 1,800kg braked, which is the same as the Audi but less than both the BMW and Tesla.

Inside, the SUV pinches much of the saloon's dashboard, interior styling and use of plush materials. A selection of soft leathers will be available along with different wood textures for the doors and dashboard. There's the same twin-screen MBUX infotainment system, too, although the 580 will come as standard with 'Hyperscreen' which adds another screen for the passenger side, and gives the impression of the dashboard being one large screen. In the UK, Hyperscreen is expected to be a £7,995 option on the 450 4Matic like it is for the EQS saloon.

The SUV will arrive in the UK in late 2022 and Mercedes has so far given no indication of pricing. However, Electrifying predicts prices will kick off at over £100,000 while any performance badged model, should one arrive, would be in the region of £160,000.

The Hyperscreen is expected to be a £7,995 option in the UK