Driving the sublime Mercedes-Benz EQS is a joy but with a price tag of up to €180,000 is the maker’s flagship all-electric car really worth it? What is it? Something unusual happens when you drive the new Mercedes Benz EQS: complete strangers want to peer inside it, passers-by swarm you with mobile phones and the curiosity around it is unmatched by anything I have tested lately. The EQS is Mercedes’ new flagship all-electric car and our test model, priced at €168,000, is one of the most expensive cars they make. Available in two versions, the base price of the EQS 450+ is €129,965 and promises to reach 717km on a single charge. There is also an all-wheel-drive version priced from €180,015 Something unusual happens when you drive the new Mercedes Benz EQS: complete strangers want to peer inside it, passers-by swarm you with mobile phones and the curiosity around it is unmatched by anything I have tested lately. Is it a looker? The exterior certainly divides opinion. For some, it’s a well-proportioned machine; for others, the design lacks the bold and innovative elements expected from a car of such importance. Mercedes are keen to stress this is the world’s most aerodynamic car thanks to its teardrop shape, with a drag coefficient of just 0.20Cd. I understand why aerodynamics are so critical to the efficiency of electric cars but I have to admit the exterior could be a little more interesting, particularly given some of Mercedes’ past creations. What’s the interior like? Inside, however, is a sumptuous oasis and the cabin manages to be both cool and lavish. It is awash with pampering touches, including a soft pillow on the front seat head restraints. The bewilderingly impressive 142cm-wide “hyperscreen” sweeps from one side of the dashboard to the next and is actually three screens: one for the driver, a large centre display and one for the passenger. Within minutes, my 14-year-old had discovered the massage function and was enjoying a ‘hot stones’ massage courtesy of the ventilated seats. The EQS is also a supremely practical car and those in the back enjoy limousine-like levels of leg room with vast space for luggage in the 610-litre boot. What does it drive like? On the road it is effortlessly refined and floats silently over any surface. This is not a car designed to set lap records at Nürburgring. Despite its size, it is good to drive but the sheer weight of the car is apparent and the brakes feel disconcertingly soft for such a large car. The regenerative braking, designed to recoup some of the lost energy, works well and, like just about everything in the EQS, can be adjusted to suit your taste. What about range anxiety? With a range of more than 700km, getting stranded or even simply charging the car never crossed my mind but with 200kW DC fast-charging capability this means that, in theory, you could add as much as 300km of range in just 15 minutes. Will it break the bank? Frankly yes, the base price of our press car was €129,965 but came with an optional-extras list that cost more than the average new car. If you really want to splurge even more the EQS Mercedes-AMG 53 4MATIC+all-wheel-drive version (with motors on front and rear axles) priced at €180,015. Verdict? Ultimately, the Mercedes EQS paves the way for a motoring future that is sustainable and exciting. And OK, the price tag doesn’t even attempt to flirt with affordability but that is not what this car is about. Just like the  S Class, it sets new standards, the only difference being that this is the “planet-saving” version you...