2025 Mercedes EQS Gets New Grille and Hood Ornament to Please the Purists

When Mercedes launched its first all-electric luxury sedan, the EQS, it took a big swing with the design. The EQS's jellybean shape and painted-on grille were meant to keep it as aerodynamic and slippery as possible. However, its big, black plastic panel of a grille was never well-received among customers, which is why the brand recently announced that it would ditch the look. And now it has, as the 2025 Mercedes EQS gets an old-school grille design and, more usefully, a bigger battery.

By “new grille,” Mercedes means it painted a different design on the panel. Now, instead of piano black or a subtle starburst pattern, it sort of replicates the classic Mercedes grille. It's still painted on, as three-dimensional shapes could have adverse affects on the EQS's drag coefficients. It still looks kind of cheap even though I understand why Mercedes does it. That said, the automaker also brought back the standing star hood emblem, which seems counterintuitive with its aerodynamic goals. And while it's cool to see a nod to Mercedes' history on its most technologically advanced electric car, I don't think the standing star looks quite right on it, especially in profile. All EQS models now get the AMG Line front grille as standard, to make it look sportier and less jellybean-like.