Mercedes-Benz EQB Electric EQB350 4MATIC AMG Line 66.5 kWh 7-Seater (A) Review
06 Oct 2022|8,911 views
What We Like
Attractive exterior design
Generous space within
Strong and quiet drivetrain
Plenty of seating configurations available
What We Dislike
Energy consumption could be better
Poor brake pedal feel
It's not hard to see the appeal of this Mercedes-Benz EQB. Its compact dimensions, combined with a strong boxy design, are currently all the rage here. Look from the front and you'll spot that it comes with a mighty appealing badge, and look from the rear and you'll note that it offers seating for up to seven, so practicality is assured.
Throw in the fact that there's currently no other all-electric luxury seven-seater available here in Singapore and it looks as if this crossover has it all in the bag. Could this be your do-it-all electric car?
Tall and strong
Early impressions certainly show a lot of promise. Opt for this EQB350 we are testing here and your electric crossover will also come with plenty of shove. With a total of 288bhp and 520Nm of torque to deploy, this EQB always feels light-footed on the road, despite its hefty 2,175kg weight.
Suspension pliancy here is also high, so all seated within will be ferried around in comfort. And the EQB also makes for an accomplished long-distance vehicle, with a well-judged speed to its steering rack, and good weight at the steering wheel so that it feels as relaxed as any large SUV on the highway, despite its compact car underpinnings.
This is further complemented by the fact that you can quickly alter the amount of regenerative braking offered via the steering wheel pedals, or press and hold the right one to let the car decide for itself what is appropriate based on your distance from the car ahead.
It is only when you opt for a more urgent turn of pace does the car will reveal some of its dynamic flaws.
That soft suspension and heavy body leds not only to a fair share of body roll in the corners, but also mean the car takes time to settle down after cresting larger obstacles. And the brake pedal in out test car was also lacking in resistance at the top end of its travel, which made bringing the car to a precise stop difficult.
Spacious and impressive
Slow things back down and you'll find there's quite the impressive cabin in this Mercedes-Benz EQB.
That tall body translates into generous space for all seated in the first and second row of this crossover. And while space at third is cramped, in all fairness, Mercedes does state that space here will be comfortable only for those that are less than 1.65m tall.
If you're not using those rear seats, the rest of the cabin is plenty adaptable. You can slide the second row a total of 140mm to adjust between more knee room or luggage space, and those seated here will also get to choose their preferred backrest angle.
Making all these adjustments is easy enough, but even if you find yourself sweating after getting the cabin layout just right, the EQB will quickly cool you down, with air-conditioning vents provided even for second-row passengers. These were sorely missed when we drove both the GLA or the GLB.
Sit further up front and you'll notice that Mercedes' twin 10.25-inch MBUX system continues to serve duty here, now updated with a dedicated 'EQ' sub-menu so you can easily monitor your energy consumption, set charging limits, and most importantly, adjust the time for the car to switch on the climate pre-conditioning.
Quite the energy consumer
With an average energy consumption of 4.1km/kWh, you'll be visiting the chargers more often in this EQB350 than rival electric crossovers will. The 402bhp XC40 Recharge, for example, achieved an energy economy of 4.3km/kWh, while the 201bhp UX300e reached 6.0km/kWh.
The EQB's battery capacity of 66.5kWh meanwhile, is just about par compared to the 69kWh unit in the new 231bhp all-electric XC40, or the 64.7kWh one that will serve duty in the upcoming new BMW iX1.
However, none of these rivals offer the ability to ferry seven. Couple this with the EQB's strong powertrain and generous interior space, and it's certainly not hard to see its wide appeal.
Shopping for an electric crossover? There's also these options to consider:
The Mercedes-Benz EQA offers a quiet cabin alongside plenty of badge appeal
The Volvo XC40 Recharge meanwhile, will appeal to those that want to go green without being noticed
There's also the Lexus UX300e, with its quality cabin and isolated drive
We have just the thing if you need to see just how much space this Mercedes EQB can offer!
What We Like
Attractive exterior design
Generous space within
Strong and quiet drivetrain
Plenty of seating configurations available
What We Dislike
Energy consumption could be better
Poor brake pedal feel
It's not hard to see the appeal of this Mercedes-Benz EQB. Its compact dimensions, combined with a strong boxy design, are currently all the rage here. Look from the front and you'll spot that it comes with a mighty appealing badge, and look from the rear and you'll note that it offers seating for up to seven, so practicality is assured.
Throw in the fact that there's currently no other all-electric luxury seven-seater available here in Singapore and it looks as if this crossover has it all in the bag. Could this be your do-it-all electric car?
Tall and strong
Early impressions certainly show a lot of promise. Opt for this EQB350 we are testing here and your electric crossover will also come with plenty of shove. With a total of 288bhp and 520Nm of torque to deploy, this EQB always feels light-footed on the road, despite its hefty 2,175kg weight.
Suspension pliancy here is also high, so all seated within will be ferried around in comfort. And the EQB also makes for an accomplished long-distance vehicle, with a well-judged speed to its steering rack, and good weight at the steering wheel so that it feels as relaxed as any large SUV on the highway, despite its compact car underpinnings.
This is further complemented by the fact that you can quickly alter the amount of regenerative braking offered via the steering wheel pedals, or press and hold the right one to let the car decide for itself what is appropriate based on your distance from the car ahead.
It is only when you opt for a more urgent turn of pace does the car will reveal some of its dynamic flaws.
That soft suspension and heavy body leds not only to a fair share of body roll in the corners, but also mean the car takes time to settle down after cresting larger obstacles. And the brake pedal in out test car was also lacking in resistance at the top end of its travel, which made bringing the car to a precise stop difficult.
Spacious and impressive
Slow things back down and you'll find there's quite the impressive cabin in this Mercedes-Benz EQB.
That tall body translates into generous space for all seated in the first and second row of this crossover. And while space at third is cramped, in all fairness, Mercedes does state that space here will be comfortable only for those that are less than 1.65m tall.
If you're not using those rear seats, the rest of the cabin is plenty adaptable. You can slide the second row a total of 140mm to adjust between more knee room or luggage space, and those seated here will also get to choose their preferred backrest angle.
Making all these adjustments is easy enough, but even if you find yourself sweating after getting the cabin layout just right, the EQB will quickly cool you down, with air-conditioning vents provided even for second-row passengers. These were sorely missed when we drove both the GLA or the GLB.
Sit further up front and you'll notice that Mercedes' twin 10.25-inch MBUX system continues to serve duty here, now updated with a dedicated 'EQ' sub-menu so you can easily monitor your energy consumption, set charging limits, and most importantly, adjust the time for the car to switch on the climate pre-conditioning.
Quite the energy consumer
With an average energy consumption of 4.1km/kWh, you'll be visiting the chargers more often in this EQB350 than rival electric crossovers will. The 402bhp XC40 Recharge, for example, achieved an energy economy of 4.3km/kWh, while the 201bhp UX300e reached 6.0km/kWh.
The EQB's battery capacity of 66.5kWh meanwhile, is just about par compared to the 69kWh unit in the new 231bhp all-electric XC40, or the 64.7kWh one that will serve duty in the upcoming new BMW iX1.
However, none of these rivals offer the ability to ferry seven. Couple this with the EQB's strong powertrain and generous interior space, and it's certainly not hard to see its wide appeal.
Shopping for an electric crossover? There's also these options to consider:
The Mercedes-Benz EQA offers a quiet cabin alongside plenty of badge appeal
The Volvo XC40 Recharge meanwhile, will appeal to those that want to go green without being noticed
There's also the Lexus UX300e, with its quality cabin and isolated drive
We have just the thing if you need to see just how much space this Mercedes EQB can offer!
Car Information
Mercedes-Benz EQB Electric
CAT B|Electric|5.3km/kWh
Horsepower
215kW (288 bhp)
Torque
520 Nm
Acceleration
6.2sec (0-100km /hr)
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