In the world of electric vehicles, Mercedes is quick to adapt and has already released an assortment of electric vehicles in their line up. The newest addition to the line up is the EQB which is built on the GLB, a compact SUV that first came out in 2019.
EQB slots between the smaller GLA and the bigger GLC and has a boxy shape and looks more rugged than the GLC. EQB has three trim levels: 250, 300 4Matic and 350 4Matic. As the name suggests, 300 and 350 come standard with all-wheel drive while 250 is front wheel drive. My tester is the 300 4Matic that produces about 225HP and 288lb-ft of torque, with a driving range of about 330km per charge. The 0-100km/hr acceleration is a rather disappointing 8 seconds. It lacks the surge of instant power found in other EV such as Tesla Model Y but what makes up for it is likeable driving dynamics, fairly sharp turns and supple suspension. EQB is very easy to drive and maneuver in tight corners. Visibility is good and the 360 camera is high resolution and crisp.
My tester is equipped with several packages, such as the AMG Line with Night Pack, the Exclusive Trim and Technology Package, which ultimately puts this $65k base vehicle to be close to $80k. That’s a lot of money for an EV that isn’t powerful and doesn’t deliver more than 400km per charge. The packages that I would recommend getting is the AMG Line ($3500) that comes with sport steering wheel, sport seats, AMG styling and AMG 18” 5-spoke wheels. The $1100 surcharge of Burmester audio is also worth the money; it delivers crisp sound but a little lacking in bass.
The interior is where EQB shines. It looks so sleek, contemporary, colorful and upscale. Mercedes has a magic hand to create interiors that feel luxurious yet modern and attractive. EQB takes ambient lighting to the next level where it has small Mercedes logos that emit light in additional to the typical LED strips that run around the door, dashboard and center console. There are also pre-set programs that change the color automatically. It’s’ not over the top but rather a nice touch and perfect for an EV.
Some minor things that I wish EQB would offer are bigger LCD screens, included ventilated seats at this price point, three-zone climate control again at this price point
EQB is quite practical for a compact SUV. There is just enough legroom and headroom in the back and the trunk is boxy which makes it quite practical. We were able to carry a new dishwasher in the trunk which we think Model Y wouldn’t be able to due to the sloping roof. However, EQB is narrow, so it wouldn’t be able to accommodate three adults in the back. EQB also offers optional 7 passenger configuration but do check it out in person before placing that order because the trunk is not huge.
Some competitors in this category include Genesis GV60 which I reviewed last year and is a very strong competitor, Model Y is a competitor that offers more interior space and trunk space, Audi Q4 e-tron is another choice. Check out the gallery below to see if EQB can capture your heart.
