The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan is a luxury car that offers the EV future we want. With a price tag beyond the reach of most of us, this car has few flaws, but you get what you pay for. The EQS provides enough range to avoid sweating, a smooth ride, an actually well-designed screen-intensive interior, and just enough fun-to-drive factor to keep you amused.

The EQS comes with dual electric motors, one at each axle, combing for a total of 516 horsepower and 631 lb-ft of torque. This also means you have all-wheel drive, of course. The EQS is hefty at a curb weight of 5,888 pounds, so that torque is asked to do a lot, but there’s still a smooth swiftness to it. Passing and merging is a breeze, and like with most EVs, all that torque is readily available from a standing start.

The ride of the EQS is buttery without being soft, velvety without being overly cushy. Built for road trips and easy commuting, credit goes to the air suspension with adaptive damping. The controls operate smoothly, and the haptic-touch buttons on the steering wheel also work well.

Inside, the dash is screen heavy, but despite all the issues we all have with screens – concerns about the cost of out-of-warranty repair, fingerprints dirtying them up, too much distracting menu diving – MB makes it work well enough that you forget about those concerns. The MBUX infotainment system’s voice commands seem to work without being too fussy. There is still some lag and some failed attempts, but it’s better than most other competing systems.

As befits a six-figure luxury sedan that comes without the noise of an internal-combustion engine, the EQS is whisper-quiet. Road and tire noise is well filtered, too. Quiet and comfort are selling points here – not only does this car offer up silent transport, but the seats are friendly to one’s back. Headroom and legroom are plentiful upfront and rear-seat comfort is good, too.

What really stuck out to me, though, was the range. The claimed range is 340 miles, and I got my tester with about 320 miles remaining. That was plenty for a trip to my parents’ house and then Wisconsin and back. Even with traffic jams, I didn’t have to sweat being stranded.

For the base price of $125,900, the features list includes the MBUX infotainment system with EV-specific routing options, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, Burmester audio, ambient lighting, heated and cooled front seats, LED headlamps, and a panoramic sunroof. Active-driving assist systems include active distance assist with active steering assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, adaptive assist, and active parking assist with a surround-view system.

Options on my test unit included 21-inch wheels, laminated glass, a rear-seat package that included massaging rear seats and wireless device charging, an AMG interior appearance package that included a flat-bottom steering wheel, and another comfort package that included heated and cooled rear seats, massaging front seats, and four-zone climate control.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is all new. The EV buyer with lots of cash and a need for lots of range; those who want a flagship luxury sedan experience should buy it.