Jonathan Gitlin
IMMENDINGEN, GERMANY—You have to be very observant to spot the difference between Mercedes-Benz’s new EQB electric crossover and its GLB crossover that has been around for a couple of years now. Most obviously, there’s that big glossy black panel in place of the traditional grille, now a common feature on all Mercedes EVs, but you’ll also note slightly more aerodynamic wheels and the lack of any exhaust pipes, plus the EQ badges on the back, of course. And a look underneath the car reveals a flat underfloor that helps the flow of air around the vehicle in motion.
It’s the latest EV from Mercedes-Benz, and it’s the cheapest EV on sale to wear a three-pointed star, starting at $54,500.
The biggest difference between the GLB we tested in 2020 and the EQB is the powertrain. Open the hood and you’re greeted by a mess of mechanicals, although a closer look reveals this to be the EQB’s front electric motor, plus control electronics and HVAC componentry instead of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. For the US, there’s a single choice of lithium-ion traction battery with a useable capacity of 66.5 kWh (70.5 kWh gross), operating at 420 V.
There are two powertrain configurations available for the US market: the $54,500 EQB 300 4matic and the $58,050 EQB 350 4matic.
Jonathan Gitlin
As the name suggests, both are all-wheel drive, twin-motor EVs, with one drive unit per axle. The front motor uses an asynchronous design, allowing it to be decoupled from the powertrain when necessary simply by de-energizing it. (This reduces the drag from the powertrain and makes it slightly more efficient.) At the rear is a permanently excited synchronous motor that does most of the work where possible. In EQB 300 trim, peak power and torque output are 225 hp (168 kW) and 288 lb-ft (390 Nm); the EQB 350 generates 288 hp (215 kW) and 384 lb-ft (520 Nm).
Beyond that, the EQB is essentially identical to the GLB, barring some interior trim differences. That means the same MBUX infotainment is displayed on a pair of 10.25-inch screens, one for the driving information and a second for interacting with the infotainment.
Button fans will be glad to see there are plenty of discrete controls for things like the climate, and there’s a trackpad on the center console that obviates the need to leave fingerprints on the screen. MBUX also features some of the best voice recognition in the industry, allowing the driver or passenger to forget about touching an interface entirely—simply say, “Hey Mercedes,” then tell the car what to do—invariably, it will understand you and carry out that command.
