Buyers looking for a premium electric vehicle might be pleased to hear that the new Mercedes-Benz EQC will go on sale in Ireland for less than its direct rivals. With a starting price of €89,450, the EQC has a lower starting price than both the Audi e-tron (€99,750), and Jaguar I-Pace (€91,585), and that's before you take into account the current €10,000 worth of VRT and SEAI grants available on electric vehicles. Although how long those subsidies will remain is an unknown.
Four variants to choose from
To give buyers a wider choice when it comes to speccing their EQC, Mercedes-Benz will offer four specification grades starting with the standard model that costs €89,450. An upgrade to the AMG exterior design package costs a further €2,447, bringing the price up to €91,897. To upgrade the interior to the Electric Art standard and keeping the AMG exterior brings the cost price to €92,713 while the full AMG exterior and interior specification will cost €93,546. All of these prices exclude the current €10,000 rebate.
Special 1886 Edition
As part of the roll-out of the EQC, Mercedes is also offering a highly equipped special '1886 Edition' model, so-named as a nod to the year in which Karl Benz unveiled the Benz Patent Motorwagen. Of the 1,886 examples being produced, just ten are being allocated to Ireland. It will carry a retail price of €105,882, and is also subject to a combined €10,000 rebate, bringing the cost down to €95,882.
Among the equipment on the 1886 Edition are 20-inch alloy wheels, '1886' badging on the centre console and embroidered in the front-seat backrest and on the exterior on the front wings. A 360-degree parking camera and Driving Assistance package is included along with ambient lighting and aluminium running boards. A six-year maintenance service package with collection and delivery and an extended vehicle warranty is also included in the price.
Electric driving range
Powering the Mercedes-Benz EQC is an 80kWh lithium-ion battery and a 408hp dual-motor setup. The latest WLTP test rates the driving range at up to 417 kilometres on a single charge. It is also capable of rapid charging at up to 110kW, which can top the battery up from 10- to 80 per cent capacity in 40 minutes.
Commenting at its introduction in Ireland, Ciaran Allen, Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars said the EQC is a "Trailblazer for what will be a growing family of all-electric vehicles to come from Mercedes-Benz under its EQ branding, other models in a 10-vehicle pipeline scheduled to launch here between now and 2022 are an EQV personnel carrier, EQA, EQB, EQS and EQE models based on their current petrol-diesel equivalents, and others yet to be announced."