iloveMerc EQC

Since owning a 6.3 litre Chrysler-powered Jensen FF – automobile euphoria has tended to come in the guise of cars powered by huge, lazy, American V8 motors.

I’m a self-confessed petrol-head – and so far have remained unconvinced that battery-powered vehicles can possibly fulfil my pathological lust, nor provide an answer to all of the green energy issues facing us.

Just fill ‘er up, off you go – and the world’s your lobster – has always been my mantra.

But times really are a’changin’ – and rapidly – and with fuel tapping on the door of a once inconceiveable £10 a gallon, the time for a rethink has probably arrived.

When I was approached by Mercedes of Macclesfield, currently running an EV roadshow, offering me the opportunity to road test a top-of-the-range Mercedes EV – I thought now’s probably the time to address some of the prejudices I hold against the breed.

On climbing into the cockpit it was immediately evident that the EQC AMG Line Premium 400 provided, was one very luxurious SUV.

I appreciate that starting at £72,000, the EQC range isn’t within the reach of most, but my take is that if you’ve earned it and can afford it, spend it and go enjoy.

Having been briefed for a few minutes on the critical aspects of driving the Merc., e.g. how to start and stop it, make it move forward and backwards – that was about it.

I’d arranged to pick up a couple of friends, ‘T-Bag’ and ‘Garlic’, to get their impressions – and reasoned that between the three of us we should be able to work out what the myriad of switches, buttons and settings did.

This worked out really well, with me concentrating on the driving, T-Bag in the front working through the info screen settings and Garlic in the back pointing out what he was doing wrong.

For those who don’t have friends like T-B and G, or maybe any friends at all, the car’s 12 inch info screen can bring up virtually everything in the car’s operation manual – to consult at your leisure – obviously when stationary.

From what I’d heard of EV’s, I didn’t think acceleration would be an issue – man was that true. Having safely and slowly exited the car pound, then turned into an empty main road, I pressed the accelerator and the car took off like a GP race car.

My old Jenses had ‘just’ 330 bhp on tap – the EQC had 450. Torque comes in at an even more impressive 760 nM – more than double the Jensen’s paltry 325.

I’ve driven Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and Astons (none mine) – I’ve even driven Formula Fords and Formula 3000 race cars, but the response from this car was in a different league. It may weigh 2.5 tonnes but it took off faster than anything I’ve ever driven, period.

One thing’s for sure, the only way I’d be tempted to floor the loud pedal, in the Sport setting, would be on a race track. On the road? Forget it, I’d be through a hedge before I could scream Accident&Emergency.

Range anxiety – Range anxiety – Range anxiety

I’m led to believe that one of the greatest fears of potential EV drivers comes in the form of range anxiety.

Leaving aside the Jensen, which if I was lucky burned 12 miles to the gallon, I’ve never been tempted to have my eyes glued to my fuel tank level.

Stated range on the Marc is 250 miles, though I’d guess 200 to be more achievable.

A couple of glances throughout the day showed plenty of juice left in the battery – confirming we weren’t about to be stranded in the middle of nowhere – and T-Bag and Garlic weren’t about to become ex-friends.

On a run over to darkest Staffordshire, with three on board, the shown mileage reserve dropped from around 190 miles to 138 – which I presume would cost just pennies to re-charge.

If the cost of petrol and diesel maintain their ascent – that may well prove to be a deal-breaker.

One gizmo that really impressed from the off was the heads-up display.

In the lower quarter of the windscreen the driver (and only the driver) gets a display showing the current direction of the vehicle, its speed and the current speed limit. Then, as the car moves from one speed restricted area to another, the limit icon flashes a couple of times to alert the driver to the change.

Not once did I have the need to take my eyes of the road – to check the speedo – which made a huge difference considering I was driving someone else’s brand new car.

One day all cars will have it.

Before age withered me I stood at 6’ 2’’ – and I now suffer from severe back problems – but the plethora of seat adjustments laid out in the shape of a car seat, helping identify which button did what – was a boon and made our road trip/road test even more pleasurable.

On the narrow roads of rural Staffordshire, the camera system – with front, rear and side cameras – also worked well. You could be forgiven for considering them surplus gadgets – but getting the car through narrow spaces is a doddle when you have the video screen showing exactly how much space you have, all around the car, to perform any awkward manoeuvres.

Oh, and if boot capacity’s an issue, safe to say any Goodfellas out there should find it more than adequate.

I have concerns about the impact of the ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 – particularly on drivers with shallower pockets – but that’s out of our hands.

For the next eight years we have the option of going petrol, diesel, hybrid or full electric – so would I have an electric vehicle?

It would have to depend on the car, but if I could afford an EQC – too damn right.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Mercedes EQC or other vehicles in the range check out https://www.lshauto.co.uk/mercedes-benz/eq-event/