The German luxury carmaker has also been known for a line of commercial vehicles and the second-generation T-Class is one of the freshest additions. Once again, it was developed together with Renault and, once again, most of the parts are shared with Renault Kangoo (third generation). Now, it is time for an all-electric vehicle, which was already previewed by the concept. The production version will arrive by the end of this year and it will debut as the 2023 Mercedes EQT. At this point, we know there will be two variants of this vehicle.
The initial model will come as a light passenger van. It will come with two rows of seats and an all-electric setup that will be mostly about efficiency. It won’t be particularly powerful, and the battery won’t be particularly large either. On the other hand, things look pretty nice on the inside, while the company also promises a special, camper version, which would arrive sometime in the next year.
2023 Mercedes EQT Design
In terms of base design characteristics, there aren’t many differences compared to the ICE version of this small van. This vehicle is also based on Renault Kangoo. It rides on a familiar CMF-B platform and features the same chassis and suspension setup. Therefore, you may count on a typical McPherson setup at the front and a solid axle on the rear end. Such a setup provides a balanced ride, offering reasonable comfort in a combination with decent payload and towing capacity.
In terms of aesthetics, the 2023 Mercedes EQT doesn’t bring the look of the concept version. Instead of adapting to the EQ design language, this MPV comes with a rather conventional layout, which doesn’t feature too many differences compared to the standard ICE version. The front end looks the same, as well as the overall shape.
The initial launch will bring one body style. That will be a standard-wheelbase version with five seats, slide doors and a massive tailgate. On the other hand, the camper version is expected sometime in the future, though we still don’t know the specifics. The standard passenger version will feature 4498mm in length, 1859mm in width and 1819mm in height, while the wheelbase will go around 2.716mm. Those are pretty much the same dimension as in the standard T-Class, except for the height, as the EQT is slightly lower.
Interior
It’s pretty obvious that the company’s goal was to keep this model affordable. Therefore, designers didn’t bother much with the cabin layout, which looks pretty much the same as in the case of the ICE model. There is a typical layout, with a pretty nice selection of materials for this class. Furthermore, you may count on a nicely designed multifunctional steering wheel, along with a 7-inch touchscreen, digital gauges etc.
The company promises plenty of space in both rows. The second-row bench will be able to accommodate three child seats, while the company also claims a respectable cargo volume. In numbers, that would be around 551 liters behind the second row and 1979 liters of the total cargo volume. Also, the max payload capacity will go up to 516kg.
2023 Mercedes EQT Drivetrain
One look at the 2023 Mercedes EQT specs and it becomes obvious that this small MPV wasn’t designed for long journeys. With a 45-kWh battery pack, it’s obvious that it can’t go too far on a single charge. According to the manufacturer, the max range is 175 miles or 280 kilometers.
The vehicle will be powered by a single electric motor mounted on the front axle, which puts out around 120 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The company didn’t come up with acceleration figures but did say that the top speed will be limited to 83 mph or 135km/h. The max towing capacity will be 1.500kg.
This vehicle will feature a 400-volt battery, so charging speeds won’t be spectacular. Still, the company claims 10-80% battery charge in about 35-40 minutes.
2023 Mercedes EQT Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Mercedes EQT hit most markets by the end of this year. We expect that base models will be priced at around €49,000 in Germany, while the company will also offer three levels of upgrades – Advanced Plus, Premium and Premium Plus.
