Mercedes' Latest Redesigned EV Has 3 Significant Changes
What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- Mercedes-Benz has overhauled its EQS electric luxury sedan for the 2027 model year, giving it quicker DC fast-charging capability, powerful software updatability and available steer-by-wire technology.
- The aerodynamic, cab-forward styling that has defined the EQS sedan since its debut remains, albeit with some modest design updates.
- The EQS sedan arrives at Mercedes dealerships in the second half of 2026.
Mercedes’ high-end electric vehicles, the EQS Sedan and SUV, haven’t been runaway hits, undergoing a production pause for the U.S. market in 2025 before production resumed in January. The updates the sedan gets for the 2027 model year are perhaps the most significant — and the most polarizing. Here are three things we were most surprised to learn about the updated EQS Sedan, which Mercedes says will arrive at dealerships in the second half of the year.
Related: 2024 Mercedes-EQ EQS450+ Sedan Review: Not Quite an Electric S-Class
Steer-By-Wire Tech, Steering Yoke
Steer-by-wire technology (which replaces a mechanical connection between the front wheels and steering wheel with electronics) is an option for the new EQS (late U.S. availability), along with what Mercedes calls a “flatter” steering wheel that actually resembles the steering yoke from Tesla’s Model S sedan.
The Tesla Cybertruck also uses steer-by-wire technology, and its steering feel is dramatically different from a typical modern vehicle. The Cybertruck’s steering is extremely quick and almost video game-like. Mercedes’ implementation may very well be different, and if you’d prefer conventional steering (and a conventional steering wheel), you can get that, too, but the presence of steer-by-wire tech — and the uncommon steering yoke — is surprising nonetheless.
800-Volt Architecture for 350-Kilowatt DC Fast Charging
The EQS sedan’s new 800-volt electric architecture increases the car’s maximum DC fast-charging capability to 350 kilowatts, a significant bump over its predecessor’s 200-kW maximum charging rate. While this won’t change the charging experience at slower Level 2 charging stations, like what we recommend at home, it should lower the amount of time spent at DC fast chargers. The current 2026 Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ sedan can charge from 10%-80% in 31 minutes, which isn’t particularly quick. Mercedes didn’t provide 10%-80% charge times for the new car, but it did say it should take just 10 minutes to add nearly 200 miles of range.
Full-Vehicle Over-the-Air Update Capability
We’ve long been impressed with Tesla’s ability to regularly roll out software changes and features via over-the-air updates, something many legacy automakers still struggle with, but the new EQS’ Mercedes-Benz Operating System should let Mercedes improve the EQS over time with software updates for the vehicle’s entire software suite as opposed to something like just the infotainment system. Following through on that ability to remotely update the vehicle at the right time with the right features will also be key, but the technology positions Mercedes to be able to do so.
Are the Changes Enough?
The EQS’ updates related to fast-charging speed and vehicle updatability are welcome but not groundbreaking, and even the newly available steering yoke and steer-by-wire tech have been done before (and are also polarizing from a driving-experience standpoint).
However, one of our biggest complaints with the EQS had to do with its interior materials, which didn’t feel nice enough for the price, so we’ll be looking to see whether Mercedes has made similar strides in this area when we get behind the wheel (or yoke) of the 2027 EQS.
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