New electric SUV promises up to 257 miles of range and is alone in coming with seven seats On sale Now Price from £53,610
Max Adams Max.Adams@haymarket.com
BUYERS AFTER A seven-seat electric car have so far only had the choice of the Tesla Model X (which isn’t available new in the UK at present) or something in the shape of a van, such as the Mercedes-Benz EQV. The introduction of the EQB seems like great timing, then, because it’s based on Mercedes’ large seven-seat SUV, the GLB, but swaps the combustion engines for two electric motors that drive all four wheels.
There’s a choice of power outputs: 225bhp in the EQB 300 and 288bhp in the EQB 350. Whichever version you choose, you get a battery with a 66.5kWh usable capacity that delivers an official range of 257 miles in entry-level AMG Line trim, or 250 miles if you go for top AMG Line Premium.
The 350’s extra punch cuts the 0-62mph time from 7.7sec to 6.0sec, but both versions feel nippy enough on the way up to motorway speeds, with instantaneous response in Comfort and Sport driving modes.
With steering that’s precise and well weighted, the EQB is easy to place accurately on the road. Regenerative braking harvests energy under deceleration to help eke out the range, and you can vary the strength of this with paddles behind the wheel to help slow the car down. However, stopping smoothly using the inconsistent conventional brakes can be tricky.
There’s a caveat when it comes to comfort, because our Launch Edition test car came with adaptive suspension that can be softened off for a better ride. This version is no longer available to order, and every other EQB comes on regular suspension, with no adaptive option. A similar set-up in the GLB yields an unsettled ride; if the EQB is similar, we’d stick with entry-level AMG Line trim, because it has smaller (18in) wheels than AMG Line Premium (19in). In our test car’s spec, the EQB is comfier than the Tesla Model Y, though.
Refinement is strong, with just a hint of motor whine under acceleration that fades away at a cruise. There’s very little tyre and suspension noise, either.
The EQB doesn’t provide the most commanding view of the road ahead, but visibility is still good due to relatively slim front pillars and sizeable rear windows, and finding a comfortable driving position is easy, with supportive sport seats up front and plenty of steering wheel adjustment.
