AMG Electric SUV: 1,000+ HP 2026 Review

One thousand horsepower used to mean a V12 the size of a bathtub and fuel economy measured in gallons per minute. Now it means silence, software, and a battery pack heavier than a grand piano. The 2026 Mercedes AMG EV SUV review isn’t just about numbers—it’s about whether AMG can bottle its lunatic spirit without a single exploding fossil fuel.

This is AMG’s most powerful production SUV ever, pushing well over 1,000 hp from a tri-motor setup and launching a 6,000-pound luxury brick to 60 mph in approximately 2.3 seconds. Starting around $165,000 (check manufacturer website for latest pricing), it aims squarely at the Tesla Model X Plaid, Lotus Eletre R, and the incoming Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric. And yes, I’ve driven all three.

If AMG gets this right, the V8 might quietly bow out. If they get it wrong, it’ll prove what many old-school fans fear: that electricity can’t replace theatre. Let’s find out which side of history this monster lands on.

Design & First Impressions

It looks like a GLS that swallowed a Tron light cycle. The closed-off AMG grille, aggressive air curtains, and 23-inch wheels scream “I bench press your crossover.” Yet, somehow, it’s cleaner than the Tesla Model X and less fussy than the BMW XM.

There’s a full-width LED light bar front and rear, because apparently that’s mandatory in 2026. But AMG’s surfacing has muscle—real tension in the fenders and a rear haunch that makes the Lotus Eletre look almost delicate. It’s less spaceship, more armored knight.

Hot take: this is the first Mercedes EV that actually looks like an AMG first and an EV second. And that matters.

Interior & Tech

Inside, it’s the usual Mercedes sensory overload—but turned up to 11. You get the full MBUX Hyperscreen stretching pillar to pillar, plus AMG-specific graphics that look like a gamer designed them after three espressos. It’s dramatic, occasionally overwhelming, and undeniably impressive.

The materials? Sublime. Nappa leather, carbon fiber that isn’t fake-printed nonsense, and aluminum switchgear that feels like it was machined from a single block. Compared to the Tesla Model X Plaid’s minimalist iPad-on-dash vibe, this feels like a private jet.

There’s also genuine practicality: seating for five, roughly 28 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, and a flat floor thanks to the skateboard battery. If you’re cross-shopping with a three-row family hauler, read our take on whether a three-row SUV is still the safest bet—because this AMG is not about school runs.

Driving Experience

Right. The important bit.

Floor it, and the horizon comes at you like it’s personally offended. The 2026 Mercedes AMG EV SUV review would be pointless if it didn’t address the brutality: 0–60 in 2.3 seconds feels less like acceleration and more like being fired out of a naval cannon.

But straight-line speed is easy in the EV world. The real magic is in the torque vectoring. With three motors independently controlling each wheel’s output, this two-and-a-half-ton SUV rotates into corners like something half its size. Chris Harris would approve; it genuinely shrinks around you.

The steering is precise, if slightly artificial, and the brake feel—often an EV weak spot—is brilliantly tuned. AMG has blended regenerative and friction braking so seamlessly you forget you’re hauling 6,000 pounds. That’s proper engineering, not marketing fluff.

Controversial opinion: this handles better than the old AMG GLE 63 S ever did. Yes, I said it. The V8 had drama, but this has composure and violence in equal measure.

Fuel Economy & Running Costs

Let’s talk range. Mercedes claims approximately 290 to 310 miles on a full charge, depending on wheel size and how often you demonstrate launch control to your neighbors. Real-world? Expect closer to 260 miles if you drive it like an AMG.

DC fast charging peaks at around 350 kW, meaning 10–80% in roughly 20 minutes under ideal conditions. Check official details at the Mercedes-Benz website. That’s competitive with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric and quicker than most early-generation luxury EVs.

Electricity costs less than premium fuel, but insurance on a 1,000-hp SUV won’t be kind. And tires? You’ll eat through 23-inch performance rubber faster than a YouTuber chasing Nürburgring lap times.

Practicality

This isn’t a minivan in disguise. It’s wide, heavy, and unapologetically excessive. But as daily transport, it’s shockingly usable.

Ride comfort in Comfort mode is plush—adaptive air suspension soaks up potholes with S-Class composure. Flip it into Sport+, and it hunkers down like it’s about to pick a fight with physics.

All-wheel drive and a low center of gravity make it stable in bad weather, though if you live somewhere truly frigid, brush up on winter driving prep because 1,000 hp on icy roads is not a beginner’s combo. Safety ratings will be available via NHTSA as testing completes.

Value vs Competitors

At approximately $165,000, this AMG undercuts some ultra-luxury EVs but sits well above the Tesla Model X Plaid, which starts around $95,000 and delivers 1,020 hp. The Lotus Eletre R hovers near $145,000, while the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric creeps toward $180,000 when specced properly.

So what are you paying for? Brand cachet, interior quality, and chassis tuning that feels less Silicon Valley, more Stuttgart. Tesla wins on price and charging network; Porsche may win on badge prestige in enthusiast circles. But AMG splits the difference with brute force and luxury polish.

If you’re wrestling with whether to go hybrid or full electric at this level, our Hybrid vs Electric buyer’s guide lays out the long-term ownership realities. Spoiler: at 1,000 hp, subtlety isn’t part of the equation.

What 1,000+ Horsepower Means for AMG’s Future

This 2026 Mercedes AMG EV SUV review isn’t just about one car—it’s about identity. AMG built its reputation on hand-built V8s signed by a single engineer, engines that snarled and popped like an angry thunderstorm.

Now, performance comes from code, cooling systems, and battery chemistry. Yet the spirit—excess, drama, speed—remains intact. If anything, AMG has realized electricity lets them go even further without emissions strangling the fun.

Here’s the real bombshell: this might be better than the old V8s in almost every measurable way. As we’ve explored in our piece on the future of the V8 engine, nostalgia is powerful—but progress is relentless.

Verdict

The 2026 Mercedes AMG EV SUV review proves one thing: AMG hasn’t lost its mind—it’s just rewired it. This is a 1,000-hp luxury missile that can haul your luggage, demolish a drag strip, and cruise silently through city centers without waking the neighbors.

Is it perfect? No. It’s heavy, expensive, and a bit theatrical inside. But it delivers on the one thing that matters: it makes you laugh out loud when you floor it.

AMG’s future isn’t quieter—it’s just shockingly quicker.