New Mercedes-Benz EQS Facelift 2026 – Smarter, Further and More Luxurious Than Before

Mercedes-Benz has officially revealed the new EQS and this is not a small update. More than a quarter of all vehicle components have been newly developed updated or refined for this version. The result is a car that goes further, charges faster, steers differently and thinks smarter than any EQS that came before it.

The new EQS was press released on April 14 2026 and it comes loaded with technology that many cars in its class simply do not have yet. From a 926 km certified range to steer-by-wire to a full AI powered operating system this is a significant step forward for the luxury electric sedan segment.

Let us go through everything that is new and why it matters.

New Mercedes-Benz EQS Facelift 2026 Price

The new EQS is available to order in Germany at a starting price of 94,403 euros including 19 percent VAT. For business customers the net price is 79,330 euros.

Mercedes-Benz has also introduced a new entry point into the EQS range with the EQS 400. This new variant makes it more accessible for buyers who want to experience the EQS at a lower starting point compared to the higher variants.

The full lineup includes the EQS 400, EQS 450+ and the 4MATIC variants — EQS 500 4MATIC and EQS 580 4MATIC.

926 Km Range – The Biggest Number in This Car

This is the number that stands out immediately. The new EQS 450+ has a WLTP certified range of 926 km on a single full charge. That is a 13 percent improvement over the already impressive outgoing model.

To put that in real world terms on a full charge the new EQS can cover the distance from Munich to Paris. Or from Zurich all the way to Hamburg. These are long international routes that most electric cars would need multiple charging stops to complete. The new EQS can do them without stopping to charge at all.

This massive range comes from a combination of several improvements working together. The battery in the EQS 450+, EQS 500 4MATIC and EQS 580 4MATIC now has a 122 kWh usable capacity up from 118 kWh in the previous version. The same physical battery size now stores more energy because Mercedes-Benz has improved the cell chemistry the anodes now blend silicon oxide with graphite which allows more energy to be stored per kilogram. The amount of cobalt used has also been further reduced.

On top of that the new electric motors are more compact and more efficient. A new two-speed gearbox on the rear axle adds to the efficiency first gear handles quick acceleration from standstill and second gear is tuned for high speed cruising and long distance efficiency.

The drag coefficient is 0.20 which makes the new EQS one of the most aerodynamic production cars ever built. To put that in perspective a regular cyclist on a touring bike has more air resistance than this car.

350 kW Fast Charging – 320 Km in Just 10 Minutes

The new EQS now supports 800-volt charging architecture. What this means for you as a driver is that when you pull up to a fast charger the car can accept up to 350 kW of charging power. At that speed 320 km of range gets added in just 10 minutes.

If you only have a 400-volt charger available the car handles that too. An intelligent system inside the car splits the battery into two halves and charges each half at 400 volts and up to 175 kW simultaneously. So even at a regular fast charger the new EQS charges quickly and efficiently.

Charging is also made very convenient with Plug and Charge support. You simply plug in the cable and charging starts automatically no app, no card, no authentication needed at participating charging stations.

The car also introduces something called vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home charging. This means the EQS can push energy from its battery back into the public electricity grid or directly into your home. Your car essentially becomes a large energy storage device that can power your house during peak hours or feed electricity back to the grid.

Steer-By-Wire – Mercedes-Benz Is the First German Brand to Do This in a Production Car

This is arguably the most technically significant feature in the new EQS. Mercedes-Benz is the first German car manufacturer to offer steer-by-wire technology in a series production vehicle. It will be available a few months after the initial market launch.

So what is steer-by-wire? In a traditional car there is a physical mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. When you turn the wheel the physical linkage moves the wheels. In steer-by-wire there is no physical connection at all. Instead sensors read your steering input electronically and motors at the wheels respond to those electronic signals.

This changes the entire driving experience. The steering feel is completely new and can be tuned and adjusted in ways that a mechanical system simply cannot be. Unwanted vibrations from rough roads that used to travel up through the steering column and into your hands are eliminated. The steering ratio can be adjusted dynamically depending on whether you are parking, driving in the city or cruising at high speed.

There is also a practical cabin benefit. Without the need for a steering column the steering wheel can be made flatter. This opens up more space in front of the driver, improves the view of the driver display and makes getting in and out of the car easier.

For safety Mercedes-Benz uses a redundant system architecture with two separate signal paths. If one path fails the other takes over. And even in the extremely unlikely event of a complete failure the rear axle steering and targeted brake interventions keep the car under control.

For buyers who prefer traditional steering Mercedes-Benz continues to offer electromechanical steering as well.

New Design – Sharper, More Confident, More Premium

The new EQS keeps its signature coupe-like silhouette but the designers have sharpened the look and given it more presence. The most noticeable change at the front is the new bonnet with striking powerdomes that give the car a more dynamic and muscular appearance.

The illuminated Mercedes-Benz star on the bonnet is standard with the Electric Art Line. The headlamps and light strip now merge more strongly into a single unit. The daytime running lights feature two star-shaped emblems that connect the EQS to the wider Mercedes-Benz family visually.

You can spec the new EQS in two different design directions:

Electric Art Line gives you the upright illuminated star on the bonnet, a black radiator grille with wide chrome slats and a backlit animated star pattern. This is the more refined and elegant look.

AMG Line gives you a more dynamic radiator grille with a backlit star pattern but without chrome slats and a high gloss illuminated central star. The AMG Line also adds a sportier bumper with more pronounced air intakes.

At the rear the light strip has been updated with new helix elements inside and the AMG-style rear bumper gets more pronounced diffuser ribs and a chrome trim piece that runs across the full width of the car.

DIGITAL LIGHT – Brighter, Sharper and More Efficient Headlights

The new EQS gets the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz DIGITAL LIGHT as standard. This new system uses micro-LED technology with a powerful chip and the improvement over the previous system is significant.

The high-resolution lighting field is now 40 percent larger. The headlamps themselves are more than a quarter brighter than before. At the same time the system uses up to 50 percent less energy than the previous DIGITAL LIGHT. More light, less power consumption that is a genuine engineering achievement.

The ULTRA RANGE high beam reaches up to 600 metres roughly six football pitches in length. This high beam can now swivel to follow the course of the road using a combination of camera information and map data. A partial high beam function helps identify poorly lit pedestrians and cyclists without dazzling oncoming traffic.

MB.OS – The Supercomputer That Runs the Entire Car

The Mercedes-Benz Operating System or MB.OS is the brain of the new EQS. It is described as a supercomputer that uses artificial intelligence and powerful chips and is connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud at all times.

MB.OS controls and integrates every single aspect of the vehicle. From the drivetrain to the displays to the driver assistance systems everything runs through this one central operating system. Over-the-air software updates keep the car current with new features and improvements without ever needing a visit to a dealership.

A growing portfolio of Digital Extras is available through the Mercedes-Benz Store and app. These include features across navigation, entertainment, driver assistance, remote control and charging. You can essentially add new capabilities to your car after you have bought it.

MBUX Hyperscreen and Virtual Assistant – The Interior Tech Story

The MBUX Hyperscreen remains one of the most visually striking interior features of any car on sale today. Three separate displays a 12.3 inch driver display, a 17.7 inch central display and a 12.3 inch passenger display - all sit beneath a single continuous glass surface measuring over 55 inches in total. It looks like one massive screen that wraps across the entire front of the cabin.

The new MBUX generation integrates AI from Microsoft among other sources. The MBUX Virtual Assistant can conduct complex multi-part conversations and is always present on the central display as a living avatar. There are three avatar options a star-based animated icon, a human-like figure that emerges from a cloud of stars and a playful character called LittleBenz for a more personal interaction style.

MBUX Zero Layer shows the most important information in a customisable footer bar. You can arrange apps in folders and name them yourself making the experience feel personal. Over 40 apps are currently available including Amazon Music, Audible, Disney Plus, YouTube and gaming via Boosteroid.

The passenger display can show dynamic video content including streaming services while the car is moving. A camera-based system monitors whether the driver is looking at the passenger screen, if they are the content is automatically hidden from view.

MBUX Surround Navigation uses cameras and sensors to show a real-time 3D map of everything around the car on the driver display. Other road users including cars, cyclists and pedestrians are shown. You can literally see what the car sees and how the assistance systems are responding to the environment around you.

The navigation system also includes Electric Intelligence that thinks beyond just distance. It plans routes based on energy consumption, traffic conditions, charging station locations, your driving style and even predicted wind conditions along the route. It automatically preconditions the battery to the optimal temperature before you arrive at a fast charger so you never have to wait for the battery to warm up.

Driver Assistance and Parking – Next Level Safety

The new EQS uses a powerful sensor network to support the driver. This includes 10 external cameras, up to 5 radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors all working together through MB.OS.

The MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST system can now detect parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle from a distance. For the first time it also supports diagonal parking. It can park the car at speeds of up to 5 kmph which is about 60 percent faster than the previous system. It can also detect free spaces that are not marked with white lines.

A reversing Digital Extra allows the car to automatically reverse along the route it just came from. This is very useful in situations where turning around is not possible.

The towing capacity has also been significantly improved. The rear-wheel-drive EQS models can now tow up to 1,600 kg — more than double the previous figure. This brings it close to the 4MATIC models which can tow 1,700 kg.

Interior Features and Comfort – The Luxury Details

Seatbelt Heating

This is genuinely new technology being introduced in a production car for the first time. The front seat seatbelts have heating wires built into the webbing. In cold weather the belt heats up to 44 degrees Celsius quickly. Beyond comfort this also has a safety benefit warm seatbelts encourage passengers to remove thick jackets before buckling up which means the belt fits closer to the body and performs better in an accident.

Rear Passenger Entertainment

The rear seat gets two 13.1 inch screens with new portable MBUX remote controls. These screens support videoconferencing through Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex with integrated HD cameras. So passengers can conduct work meetings from the back seat. The Burmester Premium Sound System provides audio with 15 speakers, 710 watts and Dolby Atmos support.

HEPA Air Filter

A 9.82 litre HEPA filter under the bonnet cleans all incoming outside air. It removes over 99.65 percent of particles including fine dust, pollen and other substances. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and odours are also reduced through an activated carbon coating on the filter.

New Interior Trim

A new anthracite open-pored poplar wood trim with a fine-line structure adds a fresh and expressive look to the interior. Iconic laurel stitching in the door panels picks up on the laurel motif from the Mercedes-Benz emblem. A leather-free interior option is now available for the first time on the EQS.

Personalisation – Up to 125 Paint Colours

Mercedes-Benz offers an extraordinary level of personalisation for the new EQS through the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure programme. Customers can choose from approximately 125 paint colours. Two new MANUFAKTUR colours are available as standard options a sparkling black with glass flakes for a distinctive shimmer and a verde silver magno that gives green a sophisticated matt finish.

Other personalisation options include illuminated door sills with brand lettering, multiple steering wheel variants and emblem packages. Requests that go beyond the standard portfolio are handled individually by MANUFAKTUR experts either at the Centre of Excellence in Sindelfingen or at a location of the customer's choice.

New EQS 2026 – Complete Specs at a Glance

Why the New EQS Matters

The EQS first launched in 2021 and it was already a genuinely impressive car at that point. It had the longest range of any electric sedan, the most advanced interior display system in the industry and an aerodynamic body that set new benchmarks.

This new version builds on all of that with a depth of engineering improvement that goes well beyond a typical mid-cycle facelift. New electric architecture, new batteries, new motors, a new gearbox, steer-by-wire, an entirely new operating system, cloud-based suspension control and 800-volt charging — these are not small updates. Most of these would be considered major engineering achievements on their own.

For buyers in the premium luxury electric segment the new EQS makes a very strong case. The 926 km range removes range anxiety completely. The 10-minute fast charging makes long trips practical. The steer-by-wire technology gives it a genuinely different and more refined driving feel. And the MB.OS system means the car gets smarter and more capable over time through software updates even after you have bought it.

This is what 140 years of automotive innovation looks like in 2026.

All range and efficiency figures are based on WLTP measurement method. Steer-by-wire will be available a few months after initial market launch. Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home function will be made available via over-the-air update at a later stage. Prices mentioned are for Germany and include 19 percent VAT. Press information dated April 14 2026 by Mercedes-Benz AG.