Mercedes EQS beats Lucid Air to claim Edmunds' electric sedan range record at 539 miles

Edmunds has a new range leader among electric sedans: Mercedes-Benz's revamped electric flagship, which covered 539 miles on a single charge.

The sedan finished 72 miles beyond its EPA estimate, overtook the Lucid Air, and substantially improved on the previous model's performance, according to Electrek.

Here's what to know

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 467 miles of range for the 2027 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+. 

The redesigned car has a 800-volt electrical architecture and a battery rated at 122 kilowatt-hours. It achieved 75 more miles than the 464 miles Edmunds recorded for the 2025 EQS 450+ in the same testing program.

The Cadillac Escalade IQ still holds Edmunds' range lead at 558 miles, though it uses a much larger, 205-kWh battery.

The testing route combines 60% city driving and 40% highway driving, averaging 40 mph. Testers keep their speed within 5 mph of the posted limit and use the automatic climate setting at 72 degrees.

More background

In a BMW survey described as nationally representative, 73% of Americans felt that their daily driving needs could be met with 25, 50, or 75 miles of range.

Still, 42% put their minimum range requirement for considering an EV at 300 miles. 

Charging speed was another important factor, with 53% saying that adding about 150 miles in roughly 10 minutes would make them more likely to consider one.

For shoppers considering making their next car an EV, longer range is one of several benefits, including savings on fuel costs and reduced routine maintenance.

What's being done?

The sedan gained enough charge for another 100 miles in a little more than seven minutes. 

Edmunds measured an average charging rate of 222 kilowatts over the session and a peak of 350 kW, up from the older EQS's 175 kW average and 208 kW peak, per Electrek.

For drivers with access to home charging, plugging in overnight offers another practical option. 

Charging an EV at home often costs half as much as using public chargers, but basic Level 1 charging tends to be slow. Qmerit provides free, instant installation estimates for faster Level 2 home charger installations.

In Edmunds testing, the 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive posted a 436-mile result, 44 miles above its EPA estimate. The 2027 Volvo EX60 reached 352 miles, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric reached 392 miles.

An Electrek commenter welcomed the progress but called for greater efficiency.

"I'm really glad to see more articles like this and people talking more about efficiency. It's not just about bigger batteries and range," they wrote. "It needs to be about smaller batteries plus great efficiency giving that same range. We need to do this with more efficient designs, more sedans and lighter vehicles. But good job, MB."

Where can I learn more?

• In Poland, a rally driver coaxed 831 miles from Audi's A6 E-Tron on one charge.

• In New Jersey, a sub-$30,000 Chevrolet Bolt beat EPA highway range at 70 mph.

• BYD's Denza N8 promises 10% to 70% charging in five minutes and 623-mile CLTC range.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.