The EQC is not, I would imagine, the car with which Mercedes-Benz would have chosen to launch its new EQ sub-brand of all-electric cars. My guess is that in an ideal world it would have done as Porsche has and gone with a car designed from scratch to be electric and nothing else. But with Jaguar and Audi joining Tesla with all-electric offerings, further delay probably seemed even less palatable.

And given that it was developed from the existing GLC SUV, Mercedes has done an outstanding job. I’d say it was positioned between the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron – less sporting but more comfortable than its British rival, but better to drive and only slightly less cosseting than its neighbour’s product. It has a smaller battery than either and reduced range, but not dramatically.

It’s a very easy car to understand and drive, but don’t go thinking that because it has over 400bhp it’s going to be fun to drive because it also weighs 2.5 tonnes. But it’s a pleasant thing to steer from place to place.

Which means that if you’re considering an electric car, it deserves to be on your list and near the top. But make sure you’re awake to the charging issues: the bloke delivering
it to me tried six public chargers before he could found one that worked and when I plugged it into a three-pin socket and left it charging for 10 hours, it added just 44 miles.

Andrew Frankel

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 AMG

Price £74,530
Engine 2 asynchronous electric motors, 80kWh battery pack
Power 402bhp
Weight 2495kg
Power to weight 161bhp per tonne
Transmission Single-speed, four-wheel drive
0-60mph 5.1sec
Top speed 112mph
Range 259miles (WLTP)
Verdict Great, but be charge aware

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