Here's something that's hard to find: an electric version of a car that costs less — at least to start — than the engine'd version of the same car.

That would be the Mercedes EQS.

But there might be a reason for that ...

What It Is

The EQS is essentially an electrified S-Class sedan, which is Mercedes' top-of-the-line (and full-size) luxury sedan.

The body of the EQS is more streamlined, with a sleeker profile — but the two are very close in size and otherwise, with the main difference (other than its electric drivetrain) being that the EQS costs several thousand dollars less to start than its S-Class sibling: $104,400 to start for the rear-wheel-drive (and single motor) EQS 450 versus $111,100 for the S 500.

A top-of-the-line EQS 580, which has dual motors and so is AWD, stickers for $125,900.

What's New

The EQS is a new model for Mercedes.

What's Good

Opulent and supremely comfortable.

Accelerates like the Enterprise from "Star Trek" when it goes into warp.

Maximum potential range (340-350 miles) on a full charge is far enough to make this electric almost as practical to drive as an engine'd car ... with a caveat.

What's No So Good

The caveat is finding a place to instill a full charge — and having the time to wait for it.

Sleeker profile cuts down some on headroom in both rows versus the engine'd S-Class sedan.

Chief rival Tesla S comes standard with substantially more range (405 miles).

Under The Hood

The rear-drive EQS 450 has one motor driving the rear wheels directly — as is generally the case with all modern electric vehicles. There is no transmission and so no gears and no shifts. The motor spins; the wheels turn. It's similar with the EQS 580 except there are two motors, one in between the rear wheels and another one up front.

This is how you get all-wheel drive in an electric car.

The single engine'd EQS 450 is rated as delivering 329 horsepower and 417 foot-pounds of torque. The dual-motor'd EQS 580 ups the output to 516 horsepower and 631 foot-pounds of torque.

Interestingly, both versions of the EQS come standard with the same 108 kWh battery pack, so you don't have to pay extra to get a stronger battery. Also interestingly, you get more advertised range (350 miles) with the base EQS 450. The EQS claims a 340-mile maximum range on a full charge. This runs contra the usual when it comes to electric vehicles, where it's usually the case that you have to pay more to get more range.

Instead, you get what is usual — with nonelectric cars — when you pay extra. That being more power and higher performance.

The EQS can go a little farther because it is lighter, having one less motor. But it is also a little slower because it has less power. This version of the EQS takes 5.9 seconds to get to 60 mph.

Both, however, require at least overnight (11 hours) to fully charge at home using 240V current — and much longer if all you have is a 120V household outlet.

On The Road

If you are old enough (or retro enough) to remember the Jetsons, the '60s cartoon about life in our future, you will recognize the sound made by the EQS when you floor it. Focusing on it is hard to do, especially the first time you floor it because the electric Benz seemingly dilates space and time as it warps forward.

But as you are warp-speeding, the Benz drives like a Benz ought to. It is dead quiet. You hear only the wind and the road and very little of that unless you're really listening. Or just listen to the excellent Burmester audio rig while the seats massage your back. You don't even have to touch that dial. Just ask the EQS to turn on the massagers and turn up the volume.

At The Curb

The EQS is 207.3 inches long overall, which is just a bit shorter than its S Class nonelectric sibling, which is 208.2 inches long overall.

Other than that — and the more lozengelike shape of the EQS — the main differences between these two Benzes are inside, where there's an entirely flat "Hyperscreen" screen dash/center stack in the EQS — it looks like Geordi LaForge's control panel on the Enterprise — versus the more conventional layout in its nonelectric sibling, which still has a separate main gauge cluster and a tablet-style center stack. Optionally available is a similar 12.3-inch display for the front seat passenger, too.

There is also one more thing — and it is not a small thing.

The EQS has almost twice the cargo space as the nonelectric S-Class has: 22 cubic feet behind the back seats and 63 cubic feet in total versus only 12.9 cubic feet inside the trunk of the S-Class.

The Rest

Mercedes put the plug-in port on the passenger side rear quarter panel. This is a common place to put the fuel door in nonelectric cars. But electric car "fast" chargers are sometimes arranged such that you cannot plug in with a car like the EQS unless you back it up, so as to reach the "pump."

The Bottom Line

If the range were more and the recharge time less, the EQS would likely sell better than the engine'd S-Class. As it is, the EQS is limited by how far it can go — and by how long it takes to get going again.

View the Mercedes EQS this week.

Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.