Mercedes-Benz EQB | Review

There are not many options for drivers who want a seven-seat electric car right now, especially one with a compact footprint. The Mercedes-Benz EQB, therefore, is a rather unique proposition.

It forms part of the brand’s range of EQ electric models that are based on existing Mercedes platforms. The EQB is an electric version of the GLB SUV.

Like the smaller EQA, the EQB has minimal visual changes compared with its GLB counterpart. There’s a gloss black panel in place of the front grille and full width light bars at the front and rear, to help set it apart from a regular petrol or diesel Mercedes.

The changes remove some of the ruggedness on the outside, but the GLB’s premium interior remains intact. The dashboard is classy, with a mixture of gloss black and matte silver trims. It feels upmarket and offers plenty of space.

With seven seats, there’s not a great deal of boot space. But folding the rearmost chairs into the floor opens up a reasonable 495 litres. Legroom in the third row is limited, so only kids will be comfortable there, but it does have Isofix points to secure baby seats.

Prices start at £52,800, making the EQB the cheapest seven-seat SUV on the market, at the time of writing.

There are three powertrain options to choose from, starting with the front-wheel-drive EQB 250+.

The entry-level 250+ uses a 70.5kWh battery pack, giving a range of 291 miles (WLTP). It is brisk enough, managing a 0-62mph sprint in 8.9 seconds.

Our testing resulted in 3.5mi/kWh, suggesting a real-world range of 250 miles is possible.

The other EQB models both use a twin-motor all-wheel drive setup and a smaller 66.5kWh battery. The EQB 300 has 228PS, while the EQB 350 has 292PS. Both have a WLTP range of 248 miles.

In our experience the twin motor cars can achieve around 3.0mi/kWh, or around 200 miles of real-world driving.

With either battery, the car can be recharged from 10-80% in as little as 32 minutes, using a 100kW DC charger. There is also AC charging at up to 11kW.

Drivers are presented with a best and worst case range figure in the instrument cluster display, which helps to demonstrate how driving style and use of features such as the heating can sap battery power.

The EQB’s dual-motor powertrain provides suitable traction for ample acceleration, with 350 achieving 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds. It’s a tad excessive for a family SUV and we expect the single motor 250+ will suit the majority of fleet customers just fine.

At motorway speeds the EQB is well-mannered, with a little wind noise audible despite its boxy stature. It also feels relatively nimble and compact around town for a car that can seat seven.

Drivers can specify one of four trim levels, starting with a fleet friendly Sport Executive. It comes with a generous specification that includes LED headlights, blind spot monitor, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and electric folding door mirrors.

There’s also a the MBUX twin-screen arrangement, which combines an infotainment touchscreen and instrument cluster into a single panoramic display.

AMG Line models are available in Executive, Premium and Premium Plus grades. These have a lightly sportier aesthetic and improved levels of kit.

The EQB is an impressive package, offering decent performance and a premium feel, combined with the space and practicality of a mid-size SUV.