Large SUVs have also entered the era of electric vehicles. The enormous SUVs once known as gas guzzlers now feature electric motors and batteries instead of engines, actively reducing their carbon footprints.
The flagship of the Mercedes-Benz EQ brand is the EQS SUV. Produced at the Tuscaloosa plant in the United States, the EQS SUV can travel over 600 km according to WLTP standards.
The EQS SUV is classified into trims: EQS 450+, EQS 450 4MATIC, and EQS 580 4MATIC. The energy consumption per trim is 4.36~5.49 km/kWh for EQS 450+, 4.11~4.95 km/kWh for EQS 450 4MATIC, and 4.11~4.95 km/kWh for EQS 580 4MATIC.
The EQS SUV is equipped with advanced convenience features. The augmented reality head-up display and MBUX interior assistant use cameras and learning algorithms on the roof control to recognize a variety of movements from different passengers and respond accordingly.
The price of the EQS SUV starts at €110,800 (approximately 153 million Korean won) and is expected to debut in the domestic market in the first half of next year.
Volvo has also recently unveiled its flagship electric SUV, the EX90. Designed as a complete 7-seater, the EX90 is a flagship large electric SUV that can travel over 600 km according to WLTP standards and comes equipped with advanced safety technologies.
The car is monitored in real-time with a set of high-performance sensors, including eight cameras, five radars, sixteen ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR connected to a core computer, ensuring the safety of the passengers. The LiDAR in the EX90 can detect pedestrians up to 250m ahead and small objects within a 120m radius at high speeds, irrespective of day or night.
Internally, special sensors and cameras driven by proprietary algorithms measure the driver’s concentration. In cases of distraction or drowsiness, it provides warnings step-by-step. If the driver still does not respond, the vehicle safely pulls over to the side of the road and activates the hazard lights to alert other vehicles.
In Korea, Kia’s EV9 is also set to hit the market as a large electric SUV. The EV9 is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle platform, E-GMP, and boasts dimensions of 4,930×2,055×1,790 mm as Kia’s flagship SUV. Additionally, it can travel a maximum of 482 km on a single charge. The EV9 is expected to be launched in the domestic market in the first half of next year.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr