Mercedes

EQB

The Mercedes EQB is a fully electrified seven-seater that oozes class with a beautifully designed interior. The driving range is decent enough provided the car is not driven too aggressively and there is a wealth of tech to explore.

The good

Practical seven seater with good EV range

The bad

Some rivals offer better driving range between charges

Tech Specs

Price from

£52,145

Combined Fuel up to

EV driving range

0-62 from

6.0 seconds

max speed up to

99mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

Mercedes EQB 350 4MATIC AMG Line Launch Edition (2022)

Seven-seat SUVs are few and far between and fully electrified models are even rarer, which makes the Mercedes EQB quite unique in the industry.

Boasting a decent driving range of 250-257 miles between charges, the EQB is priced from £52,145 and available in trim levels called AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Launch Edition.

Customers then need to choose between the EQB 300 delivering 225bhp or the EQB 350 with 288bhp. Both models feature a 66.5kWh battery and a 100kW DC on-board charger allowing it to be rapid charged from 10 to 80 per cent in about 32 minutes.

We opted for the range-topping EQB 350 4MATIC AMG Line Launch Edition costing £62,645 (Rose gold metallic paint added an extra £895 to the price). Despite weighing in at just over 2.1 tonnes, the EQB is no slouch with 370Nm of torque on tap and can power its way from 0-60mph in just 6.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 99mph.

Our test car was certainly a head-turner with stunning 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, AMG Line bodystyling, an electrically-operated panoramic sunroof, blue EQ badging to highlight the vehicle’s electric powertrain, roof rails and heat-insulating dark tinted glass.

The interior is beautifully designed and oozes class with two 10-inch infotainment screens behind a single pane of glass being the main focal point. There are powered, heated seats, a 10-speaker sound system, sat nav, a head-up display, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with a wireless charging pad and lots more besides.

Another feature worth noting is the Navigation with Electric Intelligence, which is included free for three years. This clever system calculates the fastest route to get the car to its destination while taking into account charging times.

All the instrumentation can be personalised to taste and readouts include data concerning the battery charge levels and the remaining driving range.

Navigating the many on-board features is achieved via a touch-pad, voice activated personal assistant or gesture control – all of which mean less driver distraction.

Then when it comes to performance, the EQB offers sublime levels of comfort but easily cruises at 70mph on motorways. It can be pushed hard into twisting country lanes and is deceptively agile in busier city centres.

There is a constant stream of power on tap to make light work of overtaking and drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual alter the reactions of the car. There are also five levels of recuperative braking used for boosting the battery levels on the move.

The electrically-adjustable damping system smooths out uneven road surfaces and the cabin is beautifully refined with barely a tyre rumble or wind sound filtering through.

There is ample room for three adults to sit in the second row of seats and the duo of rear seats can quickly be raised or lowered. These are suitable for anyone under 5ft 4ins in height and they also come with Isofix child fixtures.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can swallow 465 litres of kit, increasing to 1,710 litres when the seats in rows two and three are dropped flat. And there are numerous storage compartments scattered around the cabin, including front and rear cup holders, practical door pockets, seat back nets, a deep central cubby and a glovebox.

The EQB also comes fully loaded with safety systems to protect occupants and other road users alike. It was awarded a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating.

And if Mother Nature has an unpredictable mood swing, the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system will keep you moving in more testing driving conditions.

All in all, the EQB, which sits neatly between the EQA and EQC in Mercedes’ EV line-up, is a fabulous all-rounder. It looks dynamic, drives beautifully and boasts one of the best interiors around.