The EQC, the first fully-electric vehicle from Mercedes-Benz’s new EQ brand is now available to order and is priced from £65,640 OTR (for the EQC 400 4MATIC Sport) making it cheaper than all of its key competitors (with the Jaguar I-PACE currently the most competitively priced at £69,995).

It is powered by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery which has a best in class range of 259 miles (WLTP) and an output of 408hp and 564lb-ft of torque. It can travel from 0 to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and has a top speed of 111 mph. That means it has the exact same power as the Audi e-tron (more than the Jaguar I-PACE at 400hp and a bit less than the Tesla Model X at 423hp), but considerably more torque than all three models including the I-PACE which has 513.3lb-ft.

The EQC features the pioneering MBUX multimedia system which has numerous EQ-specific functions such as range display, charge status and energy flow. MBUX also includes the ‘Hey Mercedes’ virtual assistant with voice activation, which can set EQ-optimised navigation. This bases its calculation on the fastest route taking into account the shortest charging time, and informs the driver of nearby charging points.

EQC Sport models come well-equipped and include Active Parking Assist with a reversing camera; Blind Spot Assist; Mirror package; Keyless-Go Comfort package; Multibeam LED Headlights; Seat Comfort package with electro-pneumatic four-way lumbar support for front seats; heated front seats; 19-inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels; 10.25 inch touchscreen media display and instrument cluster; and ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours.

AMG Line trims add AMG black panel radiator grille in a twin-blade design; AMG sport seats in leather upholstery; carbon fibre trim; running boards; 20-inch multi-spoke AMG alloy wheels; and AMG front apron, air inlets with trim parts in chrome and inserts in high gloss black.

AMG Line Premium models feature all of the above equipment and add an electric sliding roof; Burmester surround sound system; ENERGIZING package; MBUX Augmented Navigation; smartphone integration; and wireless charging (for compatible smartphones).

AMG Line Premium Plus trims add MBUX Interior Assistant; head-up display; Parking package with 360 degree camera; and memory seats.

The Driving Assistance Package Plus is available for £1695 (only in conjunction with AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus models) and includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC; Active Steering Assist; Active Lane Changing Assist; Active Braking Assist; Pedestrian warning function near pedestrian crossings; Evasive Steering Assist; and Congestion Emergency Braking Function.

Edition 1 features all of the Sport equipment and adds an electric sliding roof; MBUX Augmented Navigation; ENERGIZING package; Burmester surround sound system; black or polar white paint; leather upholstery; 20-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels; smartphone integration; and wireless charging.

EQC Edition 1886, which was unveiled at the New York International Autoshow, comes as standard with the Sport equipment line and adds MBUX Interior Assistant; Driving Assistance package; Parking package with 360 degree camera; electric sliding roof; memory seats; Burmester surround sound system; ENERGIZING Comfort (which controls various systems in the car, from lighting to the fragrancing and ionisation of the air); wireless charging; head-up display; 20 inch ten-spoke alloy wheels; smartphone integration; and MBUX Augmented Navigation. It’s named 1886 as a nod to the year the first automobile was invented, yet this vehicle is very much the start of a new era for the German manufacturer. Priced at £79,260, it is the most expensive of the six trim levels available.

According to Britta Seeger, member of the board of management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz cars sales “long-term, worry-free vehicle use is the focus here”. And their extensive range of service packages, which includes all required maintenance work up to six years or 150,000km (93,206 miles) and a pick-up and delivery service (collection and return of the car for maintenance work up to six times) makes owning a EQC easy.