The Mercedes EQE has a lot riding on it. It's a high-end electric car , for a start, but it's also an attempt to replicate the immense popularity of the conventionally powered Mercedes E-Class – that's an especially sought-after car on the used market, too. What's more, it's a bespoke electric car, like the larger Mercedes EQS but unlike the smaller Mercedes EQA , because that SUV shares parts with the petrol/diesel/hybrid Mercedes GLA .

Overview Performance & Range: The entry-level variant is the EQE 300. It has a 242bhp rear-mounted electric motor giving it a respectable 0-62mph time of 7.3sec.

The EQE 350 has one rear-mounted motor as well, but it's more powerful, with a healthier 288bhp. That cuts the 0-62mph time to 6.4sec – slightly slower than the entry-level Tesla Model 3 , but generally nippy.

There’s also the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53. It has two motors for four-wheel drive and 616bhp: 0-62mph takes just 3.5sec.

That’s quicker than the BMW i4 M50 (3.8sec), but not as rapid as the Porsche Taycan Turbo (3.2sec).

The EQE 300 and EQE 350 each have a big 89kWh battery, officially providing up to 388 miles of range. In our summer real range test , the EQE 300 covered an impressive 329 miles before running out of juice – five miles more than a Model 3 Long Range achieved on the same day. The AMG version gets a slightly larger 90.

6kWh battery, but a shorter official range of 290 miles – attribute that to its extra performance and heavier weight. Ride & Handling: The E.