Mercedes-Benz EQV review

Were it not for the van-style, cliff-face geometry of the wide, wood-effect dashboard and the expanse between the front seats (nicely sculpted and with useful armrests), you could almost be forgiven for thinking you had climbed aboard one of Mercedes’ saloons.

Gone are dramatically hooded instrument binnacles and the bulbous curvature of the centre-console seen in the original EQV, introduced in 2019. It has all been replaced with Mercedes' new generation of MBUX displays and a little plinth that houses a touchpad controller and a good amount of physical switchgear, including for electrically sliding side doors.

Less welcome are the imprecise panel-push controls on the new wheel, smart as it is, but in general the mix of physical switchgear and touchscreen control is nicely judgded.

Professional drivers will find this an unusally plush office and private buyers should consider it a match for anything in the class. 

Unlike the combustion-engined V-Class, the EQV can also be had with a unique, blue-hued dashboard trim that makes the place feel altogether less commercial. 

Mind you, the driving position is resolutely perched, which is great for visibility but requires some synaptic recalibration from anyone used to normal saloons. 

Of course, the front portion of the cabin isn't what the EQV is really about. The passenger area is outstandingly spacious in terms of leg and head room, even with the eight-seat configuration (that is, two rows of three in the back). There's plenty of luggage room, too.

Whichever inlay trim you opt for also extends down the flanks on the cabin and into the third row, so there's a premium atmos throughout.

Opting for beige leather raise the premium appeal of the EQV further still, and there are other options, such as a Burmester sound system and a panoramic roof, that are included on Exclusive trim.