The 2023 Mercedes EQB provides an easy transition point for a lot of gas-powered car owners. It is an attractive SUV with a ton of high-end features. If you’re looking to buy a family electric car, Mercedes-Benz EQB will not disappoint you. Some changes have been made to the base variant of EQB this year. However, the top and mid variants remain unchanged.
Read the detailed 2023 Mercedes EQB review!
The Best of Mercedes EQB
- It is one of the few 7-seater electric cars.
- EQB offers a comfortable ride.
- Mercedes EQB has an attractive interior and a spacious cabin.
- Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 offers swift acceleration and steady handling.
- The build quality is premium.
The Worst of Mercedes EQB
- It has a driving range of 250 miles only.
- The price is on the higher end if you consider its driving range.
- The touchy brake pedals are a big question mark towards safety.
Pricing and Trims
To provide its users with enough options, the Mercedes EQB is offered in at least three different trim levels. The basic trim is called EQB 250+, whereas the mid-trim is called EBQ 300. The third and most powerful of all is the EQB 350. Let’s briefly see the differences between the three.
The prices of all three trims are expected to stay somewhat similar this year. The price for an entry-level Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+ is set at $53,900. This makes it the cheapest Mercedes SUV on the market. Next up, EQB 300 is offered at a price of $58,050. Finally, the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 is priced at $61,700 in the North American markets.
These prices are quite similar to the pricing of last year. The main reason behind this is that there is very minimum upgradation in terms of features, efficiency, and range. This makes the survival of Mercedes-Benz EQB very hard in a competitive EV market.
Motor Power, Performance, and Top Speed
Having three different trim levels ensure that users have a lot of choices when it comes to motor power and configuration. The base variant Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+ has been introduced this year to attract the masses. Coming with a lower price tag, EQB 250+ is laced with a single electric motor. The front-wheel drive electric motor is capable of producing a respectable 188 hp.
The mid variant, Mercedes-Benz EQB 300, has been paired with two electric motors, one on the front axle and the other one on the rear. Needless to say that it feels a lot quicker and more powerful in comparison to the base EQB 250. The dual motors in the all-wheel-drive configuration can produce a combined output of up to 228 horsepower.
At last, you have the most powerful EQB 350+, which features a dual-motor arrangement. The all-wheel drive variant can provide 292 hp to your wheels. This is enough power to take you past the 60 mph mark in less than 5.4 seconds, much faster than its lower trim, EQB 300, which takes 7.7 seconds to do the feat. The top speed of both top variants is capped at 99 mph.
Range and MPGe
Sadly, range and MPGe are not the strong suits of the Mercedes-Benz EQB. Don’t get us wrong, EQB has got a decent range, but we feel like its true potential is much higher. The gas-powered counterpart of the EQB provides a much longer range per fuel tank as compared to EQB.
The base variant Mercedes EQB 250+ boasts the longest range of 250 miles among all trims. The next best thing is the EQB 300, which can go up to 242 miles on a single charge. Provided that it has a better acceleration response, EQB 300 becomes the obvious choice for most buyers.
The driving range between charges drops to 227 miles for the top-of-the-line dual motor variant, EQB 350. However, these are just estimated numbers by the company. There is a fair degree of variation between the real-road range and estimated figures. You would be lucky to squeeze even 80% of this range while driving on a highway.
The major reason behind these disappointing range figures for Mercedes-Benz EQB is its poorly designed exterior. The exterior design sure helps to make the cabin spacious. But poor optimization results in a number of sharp edges that provide constant resistance to airflow. Due to the increased air drag, the real-road driving range of EQB is significantly reduced.
Battery Size and Charging Time
Mercedes-Benz EQB is laced with a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack consists of 300 cells with a nominal voltage of 367V. It is placed under the floor to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. Many people raise questions about the efficiency of this battery pack because a Tesla battery with similar specifications will take to up to 270 miles on a single charge.
However, in comparison, the battery pack of the Mercedes EQB is only good for 227 miles or even less in certain cases. The good thing is that the battery pack of EQB supports DC fast charging, but the maximum DC power is locked at 112 kW. Although other companies allow for higher DC charging power, we don’t see a problem there due to a smaller battery pack of 60 kWh.
You can charge a Mercedes EQB at a rate of 306 miles per hour at a DC fast charger. At this speed, it takes only 29 minutes to fully regain your driving range. Whereas at a domestic charger, it might take you up to 7 hours to charge.
Interior Design and Cargo Space
Mercedes vehicles are known for their classy interior design. The overall vibe is pretty amazing when you board the car. You are welcomed by artificial leather seats decorated with red stitching that adds a lot of character. The infotainment system has a very user-friendly interface. The only problem is with the touch-sensitive control buttons on the steering.
Cargo space might not be a strong suit of Mercedes EQB. It is much smaller than the Mercedes GLB, and some people are finding the addition of a third row of seating pointless because the legroom and headroom for the third row are highly compromised.
Exterior and Dimensions
Mercedes-Benz EQB has got fine looks, but it is far from aerodynamic. The spacious cabin of EQB comes at the cost of compromised efficiency. But it is what it is. EQB follows the traditional design ideology of a Mercedes SUV. It features AMG line body styling, including a front apron, integrated air curtain, and rear apron with diffusor optics. Another highlight of the exterior of EQB is the polished aluminum roof rails which give it a distinctive look.
Some of the most prominent features of the exterior of Mercedes EQB are aluminum rubber studs, heat-insulating dark tinted glass, rear side wing doors, front, and rear LED light band, LED high-performance headlamps with adaptive high beam assist, and a third LED brake light. Mercedes EQB is laced with 19 x 7.5-inch wheels and all-season tires.
The wheelbase extends up to 111.3 inches, while the length, width without mirrors, and height of the Mercedes EQB are 184.4, 72.2, and 65.6 inches, respectively. The curb weight of the Mercedes EQB is around 4,795 lbs with a 66.5 kWh battery pack.
Safety Rating and Features
Mercedes EQB has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP). Thanks to the satisfactory score in all subcategories, Mercedes EQB has achieved the maximum overall safety rating. It was tested in the categories of adult occupant safety, child occupant safety, vulnerability to road users, and safety assistance technology.
EQB scored an excellent 95% and 91%, respectively, in the adult and child occupant category. The score for vulnerable road users was 78%, whereas the safety assistance systems were awarded 74% points. This goes on to show that Mercedes EQB is overall safe for driving on the road. It will not be the cause of a serious injury, even in the case of a severe accident.
A variety of driver and safety assistance systems have been provided in the Mercedes Benz EQB. Some of these systems include blind spot assistance, active lane keeping assist, active braking assist, distance assist, attention assist, crosswind assist, and speed limit assist.
Final Verdict, Should You Buy Mercedes EQB?
So, this was all from the Mercedes EQB review. It has garnered negative reviews from almost all prestigious car reviewing platforms. The major reason behind negative reviews is its below-average range and above-average pricing. It is true that while you’re looking for 7-seater electric cars, there are only a handful of options. But a tight third row of seating is not the solution.
If you’re looking to buy a 7-seater electric car, please read our article on electric cars with 7 seats. To be honest, there are a bunch of other options in the electric SUV category. Some of the more exciting options are Audi Q4 e-Tron, Volvo XC 40, and Genesis GV 60.
What do you like the most about the all-new 2023 Mercedes EQB? Would you like to buy it? Let us know in the comments below.
