This is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC. When Mercedes-Benz launched their “EQ” line of electric vehicles with the EQS we thought it would be a sure-fire winner – renowned S-Class luxury combined with EV power delivery. As it turns out, the “S” in EQS is more spaceship than S-Class with a dashboard fit for the Starship Enterprise. We were shocked to find that they had somehow got it wrong; not with the EV side of the equation rather the sort of things we take for granted like steering, braking and ergonomics.
Somewhat disappointed by the flagship EQS models, we approach the next wave of EQ vehicles with some trepidation. Whether or not the silver arrows can make an EV worthy of the brand falls next to the 2023 EQB 350, a compact crossover poised to deliver some redemption.
At first glance the EQB 350’s styling is reminiscent of the GLB luxury crossover on which it’s based. The EQB does stand out on its own with the continuous light strips front and rear, a Mercedes-EQ signature along with the solid transparent black grill panel exposing the Mercedes star. The other identifier is the 19-inch alloy wheels with blue decorative trim.
Inside it’s all GLB, and that’s not a bad thing. High quality materials and excellent fit and finish are things we expect in a Mercedes, and the EQB does not disappoint. Like the GLB, the EQB keeps all the modern Mercedes-Benz touches as well – High resolution displays with beautiful graphics, ambient lighting to make even the most hardcore gaming PC jealous and those fancy jet turbine climate vents that look straight up expensive. Dash trim that looks to be machined from a solid block of aluminum and a glossy pixel patterned accent panel add even more visual interest.
Controls for the MBUX infotainment system are abundant. It seems Mercedes has raided the Blackberry parts bin equipping two trackpads in the steering wheel to navigate menus. If those don’t do it for you, you can directly interact with the touchscreen, use voice commands, or center console mounted touchpad with haptic feedback.
The EQB 350 provides a versatile cabin for passengers and cargo available in both five and seven seat configurations. The third-row option adds two leather seats that fold flat into the floor when not being occupied, creating 495-liters of cargo area, expandable to 1,710 litres with the second row folded.
While Mercedes’ are generally well insulated from NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), EVs are inherently quiet which makes the EQB 350 that much more of a luxury experience. To take full advantage, our tester is equipped with the Premium Package which includes a surround sound system by Burmester, makers of the absolute best sounding factory systems. The 12-speaker system on offer here certainly upholds the reputation with excellent staging, clarity and power.
The premium package also includes other useful features like augmented video for navigation which overlays useful tidbits of information over live video, an excellent 360-degree camera and a fully configurable head-up display.
The EQB 350 runs two electric motors, providing it with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive. It defaults to “Comfort” mode but the drag from the engines for energy recovery is too aggressive for our liking. The inconsistent brake pedal from the EQS rears its ugly head as the EQB always seems to be decelerating, and adding more braking with the pedal feels like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. It’s easy to adjust the amount of drag via the steering wheel mounted paddles though we have to assume Mercedes set the car up like this for reasons of maximizing battery efficiency to stay within range estimates.
The other way to overcome this issue is to flip the dynamic switch into “Sport” mode, which immediately feels like you are unlocking a cheat code to unleash the full potential of the EQB. Throttle response becomes razor sharp and the vehicle feels like it shed a full tonne of weight. Though 288 horsepower might not sound like much for a 4,600-pound SUV, it delivers 384 lb-ft. of torque instantly which results in some intoxicating acceleration.
Electrification has not had any noticeable negative effect on handling and the suspension is about as firm as you’d want in a luxury crossover to balance comfort but minimize body roll. Steering weight feels natural and appropriate for the mode you select.
The EQB 350 carries a 70.7 kWh battery, good for 365 km of range in ideal conditions. The battery is smaller than competitors like the BMW iX and Genesis GV70 which puts the EQB 350 behind both in range and power. We hooked the EQB up to a Level 2 charger for three hours and gained about 32 kilometers of range, and a Level 3 charger got us charged up from 15% to 80% capacity in one hour. It’s important for EVs to provide accurate real-time range estimates and we found the EQB was reliable even in cold weather conditions.
The EQB 350 starts at $75,700, about $26,800 more than the gas powered GLB, or $14,000 more than AMG GLB. Add the $5,000 Premium Package, $3,500 Intelligent Drive Package (all the active safety and assist features you could possibly imagine) and $1,300 for third row seats and our well-equipped tester tallies up to $85,500. This price point is right in line with the BMW iX (starting at $79,990) and electric version of the Genesis GV70 (starting at $84,150).
It was a bit disappointing to find Mercedes had not replaced the traditional internal combustion engine with an electric one for the EQS. It did provide the wow factor that an all-new line of vehicles needs, but the driving dynamics and ergonomics simply did not deliver. Thankfully the marque has redeemed itself with the EQB. With the exception of the unpredictable brake pedal, this EV is just about perfect. The crossover EV segment is growing, and while we’d probably take the increased range and power of the BMW iX or Genesis Electrified GV70, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC is a solid alternative and proof Mercedes-Benz can build an EV worthy of their name.
