EQC vs I-Pace? Mercedes isn’t in mood to fight it out yet

NEW DELHI:

Jaguar Land Rover

on Tuesday launched its maiden electric offering in the Indian market,

I-Pace

.

Mercedes-Benz EQC

is the only rival, but the segment is about to heat up with the arrival of

Porsche

Taycan and Audi e-tron this year.



The German carmaker decided to welcome the I-Pace on a rather quirky note.

Mercedes-Benz India

took to Twitter to announce the sharing of public charging infra set up the company with JLR. Tata Motors-backed British marquee responded affirmatively.

There is a reason why the newly-launched I-Pace is revered and, on top of the EV leader boards globally. It has a decent range, approximately 400 km in the real world. The winner of World Car of the Year, it comes with its poise, sportiness, and super-luxury character, which make it an ideal candidate to fight the

EQC

for the crown: “The ultimate premium EV you probably can’t afford in India.”

The

Mercedes-Benz

EQC like the new I-Pace, comes with electric motors on both axles, providing both cars with the additional inclusion of four-wheel-drive. The EQC produces 402 bhp, while the I-Pace offers quite close 394 bhp. EQC’s battery pack, however, comes with a lesser capacity at 80 kWh compared to I-Pace’s 90 kWh.

The I-Pace is not a new car. Globally debuted in 2018, it has gone through a lot of testing and comes with a claimed range of 470 km on a single charge. The EQC, on the other hand, covers up to 400 km on a single charge.


One great advantage of owning an EV is the instant burst of acceleration you will feel. The EQC does 0-100 kmph in 5.1 seconds, whereas the I-Pace clocks it in 4.8 seconds. Thanks to heavy battery packs, EVs generally weigh more than their ICE-counterparts. The I-Pace tips at 2.2 tonnes whereas EQC at 2.5 tonnes.

I-Pace is slightly sportier to drive largely due to the unconventional low-slung profile for an SUV. More on the driving dynamics once we get behind the wheel. The EQC’s steering shines around the urban spaces and flowing roads and the driving experience is amazing when you take it out for a casual ride and not chasing lap times.


To provide peace of mind to their customers, both companies are providing similar complimentary packages. An 8 year/1.6 lakh km warranty on the battery pack, free-of-cost 7.4kW AC wall box charger and roadside assistance are part of the package.

India is such a nascent EV market that the playing field is levelled in the end. Moreover, both the automakers have started from scratch and the offerings don’t really hold an upper hand against each other. If Merc was competing with the Jag in a different market then both automakers would’ve gone all out with their strategies. In India, however, Mercedes-Benz surprisingly came off as an unannounced ally for the British automaker.


In a tweet on Tuesday, the German automaker, in a very quirky way, welcomed the I-Pace in the Indian market and announced that customers can charge their I-Pace at any of the Mercedes-Benz dealerships that offer a charging facility. The market is growing, and this kind of healthy competition can take the Indian EV scene to a whole different level.


Finally, the price, the

Mercedes

starts at Rs 1.04 crores (ex-showroom) against the

Jaguar

at Rs 1.06 crores (ex-showroom). Both cars are expensive and pit them against some premium petrol-powered, performance cars. However, the above comparison isn’t to find a winner rather to throw light upon an electric revolution, which is brewing at the top of the ladder. Both cars have stuck to their respective manufacturer’s philosophies, and that should be a good thing for their niche audience.
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