I drove Mercedes-Benz's $141,000 Tesla rival. I loved its luxurious interior and extra-long range, but it's not perfect.

• I drove Mercedes-Benz's challenger to the Tesla Model S.

• The six-figure EQS delivers awe-inspiring range, flashy technology, and a cushy interior fit for royalty.

• Mercedes lent me a well-optioned EQS 580 that came out to $141,000.

Mercedes-Benz has seen Elon Musk's success. And it's had enough.

The German brand recently launched the EQS, a luxurious electric sedan that takes direct aim at Tesla's long-running Model S. I recently drove a $141,000 EQS 580, the top dog of the EQS lineup. And while I loved its palatial interior and extra-long range, it has a few shortcomings too.

Pro: Super luxurious interior

Shut yourself inside the EQS and you're instantly insulated from the chaotic outside world. Its cushy seats, high-end finishes, ambient lighting, and solid build quality meld to create a classy interior that makes a guy wonder: Is Goldman hiring?

You don't need to lift a finger in the EQS, which basically doubles as your personal butler. Ask it to activate your massaging seat, and it obliges dutifully.

Read more: I drove BMW's $96,000 Tesla rival. Take a full tour of the luxurious — and polarizing — iX SUV.

Pro: A comfortable, silky-smooth ride

Even cheap electric cars are pretty quiet and smooth to drive as compared to typical gas vehicles. But the EQS is a cut above. It glides down the road like a hovercraft, totally unbothered by bumps and cracks in the pavement.

Con: Weird, mushy brakes

Like all EVs, the EQS slows itself down when you lift off the accelerator using regenerative braking, a process which captures energy from a car's motors and feeds it to its battery pack. But Mercedes didn't quite nail the interplay between the regen and the brake pedal.

Stopping the car, particularly on short notice, can be nerve-racking, as you often need to stomp harder and farther than you expect.

Pro: Rear-wheel steering