If you’re looking at a Mercedes EQS in 2025, whether you already own one or you’re eyeing a used example, the big, uncomfortable question is resale value. This six‑figure luxury EV has delivered S‑Class levels of comfort, but it’s also become a poster child for how aggressively some electric flagships can depreciate. Understanding Mercedes EQS resale value in 2025 isn’t just trivia; it’s the difference between a bargain and a financial face‑plant.
Quick take
Where the Mercedes EQS sits in the EV resale pecking order
Mercedes EQS resale in context
On paper, the EQS is everything legacy‑luxury buyers said they wanted from an EV: quiet, plush, logo‑heavy and loaded with screens. In the used market, though, it behaves more like a tech gadget than a blue‑chip Mercedes. Recent data suggests the EQS retains only about 31% of its value after five years, compared with mid‑40s for some Teslas and roughly low‑50s for standout luxury EVs like the Porsche Taycan wagons. That puts it squarely in the “ultra‑premium, ultra‑depreciation” bucket rather than the safe, slow‑decline camp.
Reality check on “Mercedes holds value”
Hard numbers: what a Mercedes EQS is worth in 2025
Let’s anchor the conversation with real pricing and cost‑to‑own estimates available in early 2025. Exact numbers will swing with mileage, trim, and condition, but market‑wide data paints a clear picture.
Indicative Mercedes EQS values in 2025
Approximate U.S. market ranges based on major pricing guides and listing data, assuming typical mileage and clean condition.
| Model year / trim | Typical price range (used) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 EQS sedan | ≈ $52,000 | CarGurus average used price for 2023 EQS hovers around low‑$50k, down several percent in recent months. |
| 2024 EQS sedan | ≈ $78,000 | Recent used model years are averaging high‑$50k to upper‑$70k depending on trim; some asking prices still cluster near $80k. |
| 2025 EQS (5‑yr outlook) | 5‑yr residual ≈ $45,700 | KBB’s 5‑year Cost‑to‑Own for a new 2025 EQS implies almost $60k in depreciation, leaving mid‑$40k residual value. |
| 2025 AMG EQS (early used) | ≈ $100,000–$115,000 retail | Edmunds appraisal tables show clean AMG EQS examples in the low‑to‑mid six figures on dealer lots in 2025. |
Use these as directional ranges; your VIN‑specific value will depend on options, mileage, region, and history.
Market‑wide, CarGurus reports an average used EQS price around $50,700, with “recent model years” closer to $58,800. At the same time, KBB’s cost‑to‑own modeling for a 2025 EQS shows about $59,864 in depreciation over five years and a five‑year residual value of roughly $45,686. Put differently: if someone buys a new EQS today at around $100k, there’s a decent chance their car is worth mid‑$40k in 2030.
How to sanity‑check your EQS value
Why the Mercedes EQS depreciates so fast
If you come from the S‑Class world, 60–70% value loss in five years might feel like a glitch in the matrix. It isn’t. It’s a combination of EV economics and some EQS‑specific headwinds.
Key drivers of EQS depreciation
Most are structural EV issues, but a few are specific to Mercedes’ strategy.
1. Tech moves faster than luxury cycles
2. Charging ecosystem and range competition
3. Heavy discounting and incentives on new EQS
4. Ultra‑premium segment math
The compounding effect you can’t see on a window sticker
How battery health affects Mercedes EQS resale value
Underneath the leather and LEDs, resale value for any EV, including the EQS, ultimately comes down to confidence in the battery. Mercedes covers EQS high‑voltage packs with a long warranty window, but used‑market buyers (and lenders) want more than a brochure promise; they want evidence that a specific pack is aging gracefully.
- Mercedes’ battery warranty on EQS models typically covers around 10 years or 155,000–160,000 miles (varies by market) to a defined capacity threshold.
- Real‑world degradation on modern packs has generally been modest, but extreme fast‑charging habits, heat and high mileage can accelerate wear.
- A healthy pack supports range estimates close to original EPA ratings; a degraded one can turn a 300‑mile flagship into a 220‑mile headache.
Why lenders care about your battery as much as buyers do
This is exactly why Recharged has made verified battery health a centerpiece of our used EV marketplace. Every vehicle listed gets a Recharged Score Report with battery diagnostics, range estimates, and cost‑of‑ownership context so both buyers and sellers can negotiate based on data, not guesswork.
Incentives, price cuts and production changes: shockwaves for EQS values
EV resale values in 2025 don’t exist in a vacuum; they’re being buffeted by policy lurches and OEM strategy pivots. The EQS is caught in the middle of both.
Federal EV tax credit sunset
The $7,500 federal EV tax credit is scheduled to disappear on October 1, 2025. That created a spike in EV demand ahead of the cutoff, followed by expectations of a softer market afterward. Fewer new‑EV buyers and tighter incentives can push manufacturers to cut prices or sweeten financing, which ultimately works its way down into used values.
Mercedes EQ price cuts and U.S. production shifts
Mercedes has already responded to softer demand by trimming MSRPs on its EQ lineup and signaling cuts of up to the mid‑teens percent range on some EQE/EQS models for upcoming model years. The company has also telegraphed reduced U.S. EQ production. In the short term, deep discounts undercut used EQS pricing; over a longer horizon, constrained supply could help stabilize resale values once the market finds a new equilibrium.
Volatility is the headline
Buying a used Mercedes EQS in 2025: smart move or money pit?
From a pure value perspective, 2025 might be the sweet spot to buy a used EQS. First owners and leasing companies have eaten a massive chunk of the depreciation curve, yet most cars on the market are still well within warranty windows. The trick is separating “cheap” from “good value.”
Used Mercedes EQS buyer checklist (2025)
1. Start with battery and charging health
Ask for a recent battery health report rather than relying on seat‑of‑the‑pants range impressions. Look at DC fast‑charge history and typical state‑of‑charge usage. Recharged’s Score Report bakes this into a simple rating so you don’t need to be an engineer.
2. Confirm warranty coverage and in‑service date
EQS battery and drivetrain warranties are generous, but the clock starts when the first owner took delivery, not model year. An early‑build 2022 titled in late 2021 is on a different warranty runway than a late‑titled example.
3. Scrutinize software and feature set
Check for completed over‑the‑air updates, ADAS calibrations after any body repairs, and subscription‑based features. Some EQS functions that were standard at launch became paywalled or option‑only later; that affects both usability and resale.
4. Look at real transaction prices, not just asks
Late‑model EQS listings can sit with ambitious asking prices, but auction data and aggregated sales show a different reality. If you’re shopping outside a marketplace like Recharged, assume the first offer you see isn’t the true market clearing price.
5. Model your 5‑year cost of ownership
Use KBB/Edmunds calculators and your local power and insurance rates to estimate 5‑year cost. With an EQS, depreciation will dwarf energy and maintenance; make sure your purchase price reflects that reality.
6. Decide upfront how long you’ll keep it
The EQS makes the most sense if you can enjoy the car and amortize its steep early depreciation over a longer holding period. Flipping out in 2–3 years is where you’re most exposed.
When a used EQS is a screaming deal
Selling or trading your Mercedes EQS for top dollar
If you’re on the other side of the transaction, staring at a six‑figure MSRP on your original purchase paperwork, the resale numbers can sting. You can’t fight the market cycle, but you can absolutely improve where your car lands within it.
Strategies to protect EQS resale value
You can’t reverse depreciation, but you can move your car toward the top of the pricing band.
1. Detail like you mean it
High‑end EV buyers expect cosmetic perfection. Professional paint correction, interior reconditioning, and wheel repair can move your EQS up a condition tier and tighten the gap between trade‑in and retail values.
2. Sell the story with documentation
Service records, tire receipts, charging‑habits logs, and any battery health reports help separate your EQS from anonymous auction cars. Organized documentation justifies a stronger ask.
3. Choose the right exit channel
Instant offers, trade‑ins, consignment, and private sale all land at different price points and hassle levels. A specialist marketplace like Recharged can combine expert pricing guidance with nationwide exposure and EV‑savvy buyers.
Timing your sale around incentives and model changes
How Recharged helps de-risk high-end EV resale
High‑ticket EVs like the EQS magnify every uncertainty in a used‑car transaction: battery health, software behavior, true market pricing, and residual value. Recharged exists to take friction and opacity out of exactly this kind of deal.
- Recharged Score battery diagnostics give both sides a transparent view of pack health, estimated range, and degradation risk, critical for an EQS whose value is so battery‑sensitive.
- Our fair‑market pricing engine leans on real transaction and listing data so your EQS is priced where it will actually sell, not just where it looks flattering.
- With financing, trade‑in, instant offer or consignment options, you can choose whether you want simplicity, maximum proceeds, or something in between.
- Nationwide delivery and an EV‑specialist support team mean you’re not limited to the handful of local buyers who understand a six‑figure EV sedan.
If you’re considering selling or trading an EQS, or stepping into one on the used side, starting the process with a data‑rich Recharged Score Report and expert guidance is the closest thing you’ll find to an anti‑anxiety pill for high‑end EV transactions.
FAQ: Mercedes EQS resale value in 2025
Frequently asked questions about Mercedes EQS resale value
Bottom line: is a Mercedes EQS worth it if you care about resale?
In 2025, the Mercedes EQS is not a resale hero. If your top priority is minimizing depreciation, there are safer bets in both the EV and ICE worlds. But that’s only half the story. For the right buyer, a used EQS represents a rare arbitrage: an ultra‑luxurious, tech‑forward electric flagship that someone else has already paid handsomely to depreciate.
The key is to treat resale value as a system, not a single number. Battery health, policy changes, new‑car incentives, and your own holding period all interact to shape your real cost of ownership. If you approach it with clear eyes, good data, and the right partners, you can enjoy the best parts of the EQS while dramatically reducing the chances of an ugly exit.
That’s where Recharged is designed to help, whether you’re buying your first used EQS, trading out of one, or simply trying to understand how this new era of EV economics affects the car in your driveway.
