Nicolas, a 50-year-old resident of Soissons in the Aisne region of France, has been driving an electric Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic sedan for over two years and considers it the best car he has ever owned. His lease is set to expire next year, and he has already chosen a replacement model. He estimates that his monthly rental payments for the new car will be more than two times lower than what he currently pays for the EQS. "I had a kind of love at first sight," he said. Nicolas has attended every Motor Show since 1986 and was initially skeptical about electric vehicles. Before the EQS, he drove a G 500 AMG Line. His interest in the EQS was sparked after an invitation from his dealer to a Relais & Châteaux event in early 2024, where different models were presented. At the event, he considered the Mercedes S-Class, SL 43, and 63 roadsters, as well as a Classe A and an EQS 450+. After testing the EQS on a 600 km trip to La Rochelle, he decided on the EQS 580 4Matic, preferring a dark blue model with a light gray interior over a gray one with a black interior. He was initially concerned about the 122 km difference in range between the EQS 450+ and 580 4Matic models, with the latter having a range of 692 km compared to 814 km for the 450+ in the mixed WLTP cycle. The Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic has a power output of 385 kW or 523 hp, compared to 245 kW / 333 hp for the 450+. It has a torque of 855 Nm, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 4.3 seconds, and a top speed of 210 km/h. The car is 5.22 meters long and 1.93 meters wide, equipped with an 11 kW AC charger and a direct current charging curve that can reach up to 200 kW. Nicolas used the EQS for various purposes, including daily errands, business trips, and mid-length trips such as to Paris or Reims. His longest trip was to a professional show in Dortmund, Germany, about 500 km from home. He noted that the car can handle speeds up to 220 km/h on German highways, with an average consumption of 22 kWh/100 km on that trip. Since March 2024, the average consumption has been around 23 kWh/100 km, which Nicolas attributes to his driving style, including frequent speed peaks for overtaking. He appreciates the car's spacious interior, quietness, safety, and powerful chassis, as well as its rear-wheel steering for easier parking. However, he points out some ergonomic issues, such as the central screen being too low and difficult to use with Apple CarPlay, Waze, and YouTube Music. He also criticizes the dashboard layout, the smartphone app's reliability, and the commercial policies that limit some services over time. Nicolas is considering the Polestar 4 as his next car, having rented a Polestar 2 in Miami and been impressed by its One-Pedal system, dynamic chassis, and interior condition despite the high mileage. He also considered the Lexus RZ but found its range insufficient for his needs. The Polestar 4 offers a range of 600 to 650 km with a 102 kWh battery and a consumption of about 22 kWh/100 km on the highway. He noted that the Polestar 4 will be in the Dual Motor Long Range version, offering excellent internal comfort and a sound system. With the move to the city center, the Mercedes EQS has been driven much less than the 15,000 km per year allowed by the lease contract, with only 32,000 km driven so far. He noted the increased insurance cost for electric cars, paying 2,200 euros per year for the EQS compared to 1,500 euros for the previous Mercedes G 500. The rental costs for the Polestar 4 are expected to be much lower, around 796 euros per month with a 20% discount after a 20,000 euro down payment.