Mercedes EQS Facelift 2026: Can the Luxury Icon Win Back EV Buyers? | Taha Abbasi

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the 2026 EQS facelift, bringing significant design and technology updates to its flagship electric sedan. Taha Abbasi evaluates whether these changes address the criticisms that hampered the original EQS and whether Mercedes can reclaim its position in the luxury EV segment.

Design Changes: Addressing the Controversy

The original EQS drew mixed reactions for its jellybean-like silhouette and lack of traditional Mercedes design cues. The facelift addresses this directly with a more assertive front end, revised proportions, and design elements that better connect the EQS to Mercedes’ broader design language. The Hyperscreen interior — a 56-inch curved display spanning the entire dashboard — receives updated software and improved responsiveness.

Taha Abbasi appreciates the design refinement. “The original EQS was technically impressive but visually confused. It wasn’t clear whether it was trying to be futuristic or traditional. The facelift picks a lane — premium technological luxury — and commits to it.”

Technology Updates

Beyond design, the EQS facelift brings improved charging speeds, extended range estimates, and updated ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems). Mercedes’ DRIVE PILOT Level 3 autonomous driving system — one of the few commercially available L3 systems — receives expanded operational domains, allowing hands-free driving in more conditions.

The EQS’s air suspension, rear-axle steering, and noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) engineering remain class-leading. These are areas where Mercedes’ century of luxury car development provides genuine advantages over newer competitors like Tesla and Lucid.

The Competitive Challenge

The luxury EV sedan segment has gotten crowded. The Lucid Air offers superior range and performance. Tesla’s discontinued Model S left a gap that Chinese newcomers like NIO and Xiaomi are eager to fill in global markets. BMW’s i7 and Porsche Taycan provide stiff competition from Mercedes’ traditional rivals.

Pricing remains a challenge. The EQS starts above $100,000, placing it in direct competition with vehicles that offer either more technology (Tesla’s former Model S) or more performance (Lucid Air Grand Touring). Taha Abbasi notes that Mercedes must leverage its brand prestige and ownership experience to justify the premium.

Mercedes’ Broader EV Strategy

The EQS facelift comes as Mercedes adjusts its EV strategy, pulling back from earlier commitments to go all-electric by 2030. The company now takes a more pragmatic approach, maintaining ICE and hybrid options while investing in EVs. This hedged strategy may be wise commercially but sends a mixed message about EV commitment — a contrast to Tesla’s all-electric conviction.

Verdict

The EQS facelift is a meaningful improvement that addresses the original’s weakest points. Whether it’s enough to compete in an increasingly crowded luxury EV market depends on execution of the ownership experience — service, software updates, and the intangible sense of occasion that Mercedes has cultivated for over a century. Taha Abbasi sees the refreshed EQS as competitive but not dominant, reflecting Mercedes’ broader position in the EV transition: capable but cautious.

Read more: Legacy Automaker EV Challenges | Software-Defined Vehicles

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com