2026 Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz has a surprisingly extensive roster of electric cars and SUVs, and perched at the tippy top on the sedan side is the 2026 EQS. This flagship luxury four-door doesn't share any mechanical parts with the gas-powered S-Class, but it nonetheless fulfills the same basic mission in the EV lineup: conveying its passengers in style, comfort and plush luxury. Last year, M-B gave this full-size sedan a larger battery, improved the regenerative braking system, tweaked the exterior styling and added more comfortable rear seats. Usually that means this year would be unchanged, but spy photos of camouflaged EQS sedans indicate possibly another styling update for 2026.

Edmunds spotlight: The clock is ticking

While it shares a similar position in the Mercedes-Benz lineup as the S-Class, the EQS is built on an entirely different platform, befitting its bespoke electric powertrain. However, the next-generation EQS may not even exist. Rumors swirl that the EQS will be discontinued in favor of an all-electric version of the next-generation S-Class sedan, which will go on sale sometime later this decade. That makes a certain amount of sense. After all, it's tough to have two flagship sedans under one brand umbrella, even with markedly different styling and powertrains. It also follows the standard set by chief rival BMW; with few exceptions, its EV strategy is to create electric versions of existing models.

Competitors to consider

It goes without saying the Tesla Model S is a prime competitor to the EQS sedan, but that model is aging fast despite frequent updates. More modern considerations include the roomy and luxurious BMW i7 and Lucid Air sedans, the latter of which has a range that tops 500 miles on a single charge in our testing. You could also take a look at the Audi E-tron GT and Porsche Taycan; just note that both are smaller than the EQS, not as luxurious, and don't offer the range of the Mercedes.

Although the gas-powered S-Class gets the nod for supreme luxury among Mercedes-Benz sedans, the EQS is one of the best big luxury EVs you can get. While nobody can call a car costing more than $100,000 a bargain, you get a lot of car for your money even in the "base" 450+ trim, with plenty of room left to add features and options to personalize your electric sedan. If you have the wherewithal, it's worth a look.