2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE 43

AMG's first electric 43 has to replace a V6 soundtrack, and it makes a surprisingly strong case

From cylinders that burn fuel to cylinders that store electrons, how does AMG fare in its shift towards a climate-neutral future? Seeing the number 43 always sends us back to the lovely C 43 convertible we drove years ago, one of the last AMGs with a V6 and no particle filter, its soundtrack pure music. That visceral petrol feel is exactly why our first instinct was to keep the electric 43 and 53 well away from those memories. So what changed our mind about the EQE 43? Honestly, just look at how Mercedes specced it.

Size, price and power: premium and potent

For the most part the EQE 43 offers the familiar AMG blend of luxury and power. At 4,946 mm long, 1,920 wide and 1,445 tall it is a midsize saloon, and at €110,110 in Europe it is priced like a proper premium AMG. Then things start to diverge. It weighs around 2,500 kg, heavy even for an EV, but the 43's motors more than make up for it: the 4MATIC+ setup pairs dual motors for a combined 476 hp and 858 Nm, enough for 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. The weight and the switch to electric are a big departure from the traditional AMG experience, so the question is what Affalterbach did to stay true to its roots.

Design: an AMG makeover for the EQE

The exterior is noticeably sportier than a standard EQE. The front gets the AMG-specific grille insert and badge, the bumper is redesigned with bigger intakes and a more aggressive look, and there are unique 20-inch multi-spoke wheels, extended side skirts and a reworked rear diffuser. A restrained but effective makeover.

Interior: Hyperscreen and red seatbelts

Inside, the optional Hyperscreen dominates, blending three OLED displays into one continuous, futuristic surface. Red seatbelts add a bold accent to the otherwise understated black cabin. The seats are supportive and plush, comfortable over long distances and reassuring through quick direction changes, with high-quality leather. Our one gripe, as with the EQS, is that the rear seating position is a little too upright.

Chassis and brakes: tuned to hide the weight

AMG has worked the chassis hard. The suspension is stiffer and more responsive, the brakes are bigger (400 mm six-piston front, 360 mm single-piston rear), and there are wider tyres, 245/45 front and 275/40 rear on 20-inch rims, for more grip. A lower ride height drops the centre of gravity, and the payoff is real: despite an absurd 2.5 tonnes, the EQE 43 always feels predictable and planted. In everyday driving the regen does most of the stopping; the discs only really wake up when you press on.

Driving: rear-biased AWD with a playful edge

The all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, splitting torque roughly 31 front to 69 rear in normal driving and shifting as conditions demand for grip and stability. It cannot send everything rearward, but there is still a slightly playful rear when you want it, which keeps the AMG character alive even in an electric saloon.

Drive modes: from 85% to full send

The modes matter here. Comfort unlocks only 85 per cent of the power, softening the suspension and lightening the steering for a relaxed, refined ride over Europe's rougher roads. Sport stiffens things, adds weight and feedback to the steering and frees up 90 per cent. Only in Sport+ do you get the full 100 per cent.

AutoNext Verdict

The Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 is a promising first proper step into high-performance electric AMGs. Yes, it is heavier than most EVs, but the motors and the AMG-tuned chassis more than compensate, and the striking design and tech-laden, luxurious cabin do the rest. The rear-biased AWD gives it real traction and a hint of play, and the retuned suspension and big brakes make it genuinely enjoyable on a good road.

It is not the V6 C 43 convertible we fell in love with, and nothing electric will ever sound like that. But the EQE 43 lives up to the badge and offers a convincing glimpse of where performance cars are heading. As a first electric 43, that is a strong result.