Compare the2026 Rolls-Royce SpectreVS 2026 Mercedes EQS

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Spectre. But it costs extra on the EQS.

Both the Spectre and the EQS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Rolls-Royce Spectre weighs 678 to 943 pounds more than the Mercedes EQS. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Spectre comes with a full 4-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The EQS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

Rolls-Royce pays for scheduled maintenance on the Spectre for 4 years and unlimited miles. Rolls-Royce will pay for brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EQS.

The Spectre has more powerful engines than the EQS:

As tested in Car and Driver the Rolls-Royce Spectre (base engine) is faster than the EQS 450+ electric motor:

For better stopping power the Spectre’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EQS:

The Spectre stops much shorter than the EQS:

For better traction and acceleration, the Spectre has larger standard rear tires than the EQS (285/40R22 vs. 255/45R20). The Spectre’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the EQS (295/35R23 vs. 265/40R21).

The Spectre’s standard 285/40R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EQS’ standard 45 series tires. The Spectre’s optional 295/35R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the EQS’ optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Spectre has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the EQS. The Spectre’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the EQS.

The Spectre has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The EQS doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Spectre offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the EQS.

The Spectre handles at .93 G’s, while the EQS 580 4MATIC pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

With its coupe body style and remote trunk release lockout, the Spectre offers cargo security. The EQS’ hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

The Spectre has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the EQS.