Mercedes-Benz electric EQC SUV starts at $ 67,900

Mercedes-Benz has finally announced a starting price for its first long-distance electric vehicle, the EQC SUV: $ 67,900. The new SUV, announced more than a year ago, arrives in the United States in early 2020.

This award, announced at the LA Auto Show in 2019, puts the base model EQC in a competitive place as far as cost of premium electric SUVs are concerned. The Jaguar I-Pace starts at $ 69,500, while the Audi E-Tron's price floor is $ 74,800. The Tesla Model X starts at $ 84,990.

There are less expensive electric SUVs on the market, though they don't offer the same the kind of luxury experience. Kias Niro EV starts at $ 38,500, while sister company Hyundai's Kona EV starts at $ 36,950. The slightly refreshed Chevy Bolt starts at $ 37,495.

While Mercedes-Benz has not released an EPA estimate for EQC, the electric SUV is finally expected to offer somewhere around 200 miles on a full charge. The company has cited higher estimates based on European test standards, but both Mercedes-Benz and parent organization Daimler really cleared up communication about this during last year's announcement, so it's really worth keeping up with the final EPA figure before passing any judgment on its potential range. In terms of performance, the EQC SUV has about 402 horsepower to offer thanks to two electric motors, which provide four-wheel drive.

Otherwise, the EQC looks like a well-equipped SUV, as one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. The base model comes with a sunroof, SiriusXM satellite radio, a Burmester sound system, power lift port, rear windows in sun windows, rain-sensing wipers, heated seats, rear air suspension, as well as safety features such as active brake assist, autonomous emergency braking, and LED headlights with active high beam assist. It also utilizes the company's new infotainment system, MBUX, which appears on the dual 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Over the base model, Mercedes-Benz also sells a "premium" trim version of the EQC starting at $ 72,270, and an "advanced" trim starting at $ 76,620. The premium trim adds things like a wireless charging pad and a 360-degree camera setup, while the advanced includes leather seats, rose gold stitching and Mercedes-Benz's full assistance package. Each trim also has a few selected paint and interior options.