Compare the2026 Mercedes EQSVS 2025 Rolls-Royce Spectre

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes EQS are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Rolls-Royce Spectre doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The EQS has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Spectre doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The rear seatbelts optional on the EQS inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Spectre doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The EQS has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Spectre doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EQS has a standard Maneuvering Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Spectre doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Spectre doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the EQS and Spectre have rear cross-traffic warning, but the EQS has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Spectre’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the EQS and the Spectre have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The EQS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Spectre’s (5 vs. 4 years).

There are over 10 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EQS’ warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the EQS gets better mileage than the Spectre:

The EQS can travel longer on a full charge than the Spectre on a full charge:

The EQS AMG offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Spectre doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the EQS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Spectre (265/40R21 vs. 255/40R23).

The EQS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Spectre doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The EQS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Spectre’s (47% to 53%). This gives the EQS more stable handling and braking.

The EQS 580 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Black Badge Spectre pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the EQS 580 4MATIC’s turning circle is 5.7 feet tighter than the Spectre’s (36 feet vs. 41.7 feet). The EQS’ turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Spectre’s (39 feet vs. 41.7 feet).

The Mercedes EQS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 950 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Spectre.

The EQS is 7.9 inches shorter than the Spectre, making the EQS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes EQS amounts to more than styling. The EQS has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .2 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Spectre (.25) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the EQS get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the EQS uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Spectre doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the EQS a Large car, while the Spectre is rated a Compact.

The EQS has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Spectre can only carry 4.

The EQS has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Spectre (103 vs. 94).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EQS’ rear seats recline. The Spectre’s rear seats don’t recline.

The EQS’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Spectre doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EQS’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Spectre doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The EQS’ front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Spectre’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The EQS has two rear doors to provide better access for cargo and rear passengers. The Spectre doesn’t offer rear doors.

The EQS’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Spectre’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Spectre doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The EQS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Spectre doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the EQS and the Spectre offer available massaging front seats. The EQS also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the Spectre.

The EQS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Spectre’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The EQS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Spectre doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Mercedes EQS outsold the Rolls-Royce Spectre by over six to one during 2024.