Mercedes-Benz isn’t hanging around when it comes to launching electric models. In fact, the new EQB is the fifth from the German carmaker’s EQ electric car offshoot, following on from the EQC, EQA, EQV and EQS – all within the last two years.
- Solid dual motor performance
- Efficient energy regeneration properties
- Excellent refinement, impressive quality
- It weighs over two tonnes
- Small battery can’t match range of some rivals despite good economy
- High price in comparison to petrol siblings
-
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic -
-
-
-
As its appearance suggests, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB is based heavily on the GLB. And just like its internal combustion engine sibling, the new SUV offers the choice of either five seats as standard or seven seats as an option.
This is a factor Mercedes-Benz is banking on to provide it with wider sales appeal than any of its key premium brand rivals, the Audi Q4 E-Tron, BMW iX3 included, both of which offer a conventional five-seat layout only.
The EQB and GLB share the MFA (Modular Front Architecture) platform used across Mercedes-Benz’s compact car line-up. It has been modified in a number of areas to accommodate the new electric-powered model’s dual electric motor driveline, a lithium-ion battery and associated power electronics. All of which are mounted low within the high-strength steel and aluminium structure to give it a suitable low centre of gravity.
The modifications also extend to the outer body, albeit on a very subtle scale. To help provide some minor visual differentiation between the EQB and the GLB, Mercedes-Benz has given its latest EQ-badged model a blanked-off grille, a lightly reworked front bumper, and badges within the front fenders and tailgate. Plus, there are full-width tail lamps and a revised rear bumper without the integral tailpipes of its petrol and diesel engine siblings.
While officials suggest aerodynamics played a crucial role in the development of the new model, drag-inducing elements such as the roof railings and raised ride height remain. Despite this, the addition of improved sealing measures within the front end, and flat panelling within the underbody, see the EQB equal the drag co-efficient of the outwardly more shapely Audi Q4 E-Tron Quattro at 0.28 and undercut the 0.29 of the BMW iX3.
| Key details | 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic |
| Price (MSRP) | $90-95,000 EST (pricing details are not yet confirmed) |
| Colour of test car | Hyacinth Red |
| Rivals | Land Rover Discovery Sport | BMW iX3 | Volvo XC60 Recharge |
For now, there are two EQB models. Mirroring the layout of the larger EQC, they feature an asynchronous (ASM) electric motor up front and a synchronous (PSM) unit at the rear, endowing them both with four-wheel-drive capability. They also receive a lithium-ion battery that operates at 420 volts and boasts a nominal capacity of 190Ah, giving the new Mercedes-Benz model usable electric energy storage of 66.5kWh.
The price-leading EQB300 4Matic delivers a combined 186kW and 390Nm of torque. It is the more powerful 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic that we’re in here, though. It offers 215kW and 520Nm of torque for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2sec and a limited 160km/h top speed.
By comparison, the dual-motor Q4 E-Tron 50 Quattro serves up 200kW and 460Nm, while the single-motor iX3 delivers 210kW and 400Nm, and the Tesla Model Y 258kW and 527Nm.
A base single-motor/front-wheel-drive EQB250 model is also under development and set to join the line-up in early 2022, according to Mercedes-Benz.
Inside, the dashboard design and its switchgear are closely related to that of the GLB. The only obvious change is the inclusion of model-specific digital instruments and new energy consumption and energy flow functions for the infotainment system, which operates via the same-generation MBUX system found in all of Mercedes-Benz’s current compact car line-up.
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic | |
| Seats | Five (seven optional) |
| Boot volume | 465L to second row / 1620L to first row |
| Length | 4684mm |
| Width | 1834mm |
| Height | 1701mm |
| Wheelbase | 2829mm |
It is all suitably premium in feel and the material mix is agreeable with soft-touch plastics and galvanised trim elements throughout.
Accommodation is on par with the GLB with space for five in two rows of seats and up to 465L of nominal boot space, or alternatively room for up to seven in three rows of seats.
You require a good deal of dexterity to thread your way around the second seat row before you reach the rearmost seats. But they do offer a reasonable, if not generous, amount of room.
The second seat row adjusts longitudinally through 140mm, so you can alter the rear leg room at the expense of load capacity. With the second and third seat rows stowed away, you get up to 1710L of boot space. That’s some 220L more than that claimed by Audi for the Q4 E-Tron Quattro and 150L more than BMW quotes for the iX3. No lack of versatility, then.
As mentioned, we drove the top-of-the-line EQB350 4Matic. It is engineered to favour the rear electric motor at lower speeds around town, where it operates mostly in rear-wheel-drive mode for added efficiency. The front electric motor is introduced during periods of strong acceleration and at higher speeds, giving it four-wheel-drive capability when it needs it most.
There are three driving modes, as well as an Individual setting that allows you to tailor the characteristics of the driveline, steering and damping to your liking.
In Eco and Comfort, the throttle response is quite relaxed and the speed limited to 130km/h before the engagement of kickdown, giving the new Mercedes-Benz model smooth, quiet and calm qualities that will likely suit the majority of prospective buyers. The overall balance between performance and refinement here is quite appealing.
In Sport, the response is noticeably sharper. There is no extra power, but the calibration of the throttle is such that the initial tip-in elicits far more urgent acceleration. So configured, the step-off performance is quite strong, endowing the most powerful of the two EQB models with engagingly nippy qualities around town. On more open roads, progress is swift without ever feelingly luridly fast like in some electric-powered rivals when pushed hard.
A very effective energy-recuperation function allows you to alter the amount of kinetic electricity harvested on a trailing throttle via steering-wheel-mounted paddles. It offers three defined modes, as well as so-called “situation optimized recuperation” available in combination with the Eco driving mode. In the highest setting, D–, the braking force is quite strong, allowing one-pedal driving and an impressive amount of on-the-run energy storage.
The EQB 350 4Matic’s battery is smaller than that offered by its rivals at 66.5kWh versus the 76.6kWh of the Q4 E-Tron Quattro, and 74.0kWh each, for the iX3 and Model Y. This is reflected in the official WLTP range of the new Mercedes-Benz model, which at 419km is 78km less than that claimed by the Audi, 21km less than the BMW, but 10km more than the Tesla, despite average consumption of 16.2kWh/100km.
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019 as GLB) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Despite the added weight brought on by the battery, the EQB350 4Matic manages to serve up characteristic Mercedes-Benz-like dynamic qualities and plenty of comfort owing to its long-travel suspension and, on our test car, optional variable damping control. They combine to provide it with impressive resistance to lean during cornering, greater overall compliance than the electric car norm, and good isolation of road shock.
There’s also plenty of grip and strong traction thanks to the standard 4Matic four-wheel-drive system. You sense the weight, but the EQB is quite agile and very precise in its actions.
The steering is of note too – direct off centre, well-weighted in each of the driving modes, and with a decent amount of feedback. You do tend to get a touch of torque steer when you unleash the combined reserves of the two electric motors from standstill, though.
With charging times such an integral part of the electric car experience, the EQB’s 100kW maximum charge rate might appear somewhat disappointing next to the electric-powered SUV competition, nearly all of which offer higher charging rates and faster charging times.
Mercedes-Benz claims a full charge takes just 32 minutes on a high-powered DC system. You’ll need considerably more patience on an 11kW AC system, though, which takes up to five hours and 45 minutes to deliver a full charge.
| At a glance | 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 25,000km |
| Energy use. (claimed) | 18.1kWh/100km |
| Range (WLTP claimed) | 419km |
| Battery size | 66.5kWh |
The EQB is a worthy rival to the likes of the Q4 E-Tron, iX3 and Model Y in many key areas. It brings the overall versatility of its combustion engine sibling together with agreeably punchy performance, a class-competitive if not outstanding range, and the sort of relaxed and comfortable driving traits that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.
You’ll need regular access to a charger, though, because its range and charging power are both behind the ever-improving class standards.
It also won’t be cheap. Official pricing is yet to be announced, but if the EQA is any guide, expect to pay a handsome premium over similarly specified GLB models, with the EQB 350 4Matic driven here likely to cost well over $100,000 when Australian deliveries get underway in 2022.
| Key details | 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic |
| Engine | Twin electric motors (Asynchronous front, Permanently excited synchronous rear) |
| Power | 215kW |
| Torque | 520Nm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Single-speed transmission |
| Power to weight ratio | 98.9kW/t |
| Weight | 2175kg |
| Turning circle | 11.7m |
The post 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic review appeared first on Drive.
