Jack Quick
Mercedes-Benz's cheapest electric cars receive updated looks
The Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQB electric SUVs have received minor changes inside and out. They're set to arrive here early in 2024.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB
Used from
$71,500 excl. on-roads
7.8
CarExpert Rating
Safety Rating
-
Warranty
5 years
Fuel Efficiency
NA
About the Mercedes-Benz EQB
Last updated Dec 18, 2024The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB is at dealers now, and has become Australia’s most affordable electric vehicle with seven seats.
The range opens at $87,800 before on-road costs for the base, front-wheel drive EQB 250. Only this variant can be had with an optional third row of seating, pushing the price to $90,700 before on-roads.
That puts it roughly $25,000 above the most affordable version of the seven-seat GLB it’s based on, and around $12,000 higher than the related, two-row EQA.
The EQB comes in a choice of single-motor, front-wheel drive 250 guise, with an electric motor producing 140kW of power and 385Nm of torque, or dual-motor all-wheel drive 350 guise with 215kW and 520Nm.
Range is 371km on the stricter WLTP cycle for the 250 and 360km in the 350.
Pros
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Mercedes-Benz EQB Rating
Mercedes-Benz EQB News
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Reviews
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Price
Base
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| Automatic Electric FWD 5d Suv | $87,800 |
| Automatic Electric 4x4 5d Suv | $106,700 |
Edition 1
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| Automatic Electric FWD 5d Suv | $96,900 |
| Automatic Electric 4x4 5d Suv | $110,600 |
*excl. on-roads
All Mercedes-Benz EQB Pricing
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Specs
See our comprehensive details for the Mercedes-Benz EQB
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Dimensions
1667mm
1834mm
4684mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Dimensions2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Boot Space
Boot space in the seven-seat model is a claimed 110L with the rearmost seats in place (130L loaded to the roof), 670L to the roof with the second row in place, and 1620L to the roof with both rows folded flat.
The five-seater has 675L of space to the roof with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1710L with them folded flat.
Mercedes-Benz says the loading lip is 50mm higher than in the EQA. That should make it easier to load heavy items and slide them straight in.
The boot itself is broad and flat, and the upright tailgate means you’ll actually be able to load in boxy items in a way you can’t in more style-oriented alternatives.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Gallery
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Exterior
Explaining how the EQB fits into the sprawling Mercedes-Benz range is a bit tricky. Under the skin it’s built on an elongated version of the chassis underpinning the A-Class, but it’s a whopping 221mm longer than the EQA SUV.
It’s barely smaller than the more expensive EQC electric SUV, which led Mercedes-Benz’s electric charge in Australia. Although it’s built on small car bones, this is a chunky SUV
Along with boot space, the bigger body on the EQB opens the door for a seven-seat option.
This is designed to appeal to families who need a reasonably sized car with big boot most of the time, but also demand the flexibility a pop-up third row offers.
Given you can’t yet buy a seven-seat Tesla Model Y in Australia, let alone a pure-electric version of segment stalwarts such as the Nissan X-Trail, the EQB is quite a unique beast.
As you’d expect of a Mercedes-Benz it’s a polished, practical package – even if it doesn’t move the game on when it comes to range or performance.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Interior
You’d have to be a proper Mercedes-Benz trainspotter to notice any major differences between the EQB and its petrol-powered GLB sibling.
It’s a polished, high-tech space behind the wheel, although it lacks the futuristic, almost otherworldly feeling present in new EVs from the likes of Kia and Hyundai.
Our testers were all fitted with the AMG package, which brings comfortable and supportive sports seats with more bolstering than the standard units, and microsuede inserts for a sportier feel than faux leather alone. We spent a long time behind the wheel and hopped out feeling fresh.
Rear seat space is one of the major calling cards of the EQB on paper, and it delivers in practice. The boxy profile frees up an impressive amount of headroom, and with the 40/20/40 folding bench slid to its rearmost position you’ll be able to slot a full-sized adult behind a full-sized driver.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Infotainment
By now, we’re familiar with the dual-screen MBUX infotainment system. It can be controlled with a touchpad, steering wheel controls, or ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice inputs.
Both screens are pin-sharp, with impressively quick responses and deep, vivid colours. In the age of smartphones with ultra-high-resolution screens and lightning refresh rates, they feel like an extension of the tech we’re already using in the best way possible.
Once you’re attuned to how the menus work it’s not hard to jump around, although the fact Apple CarPlay is wired-only and sits in a tiny window is disappointing. Newer iterations of MBUX allow it to work full-screen.
There’s a range of electric-only readouts, but this feels very much like any other Mercedes-Benz on the technology front. That extends to the digital instrument binnacle, which offers the right blend of information and at-a-glance readability.
From the flashy backlit trim on AMG Line models to the trio of turbine-style air vents dominating the dash, this is an attractive interior. It does feel a bit cheap in spots, though.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Safety Rating
The Mercedes-Benz EQB has a five-star rating from ANCAP with a 2019 date stamp, though this applies only to the EQB 250. The EQB 350 is unrated.
It received an adult occupant protection score of 95 per cent, a child occupant protection score of 91 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection score of 78 per cent, and a safety assist score of 74 per cent.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Active Steering Assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot assist
- Surround-view camera
- Adaptive cruise control with active speed limiter
- Safe exit warning
- Traffic sign recognition
- Nine airbags
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Fuel Economy
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 has 371km of electric range on the stricter WLTP test cycle, while the EQB 350 has 360km of range.
Energy consumption is 16.7kWh/100km in the EQB 250, and 18.8kWh/100km in the EQB 350.
The EQB can be charged at up to 11kW using an AC charger and up to 100kW using a DC charger.
Both models come with a Type 2 CCS charging socket and charging cables.
| Mercedes-Benz EQB | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Electric 4x4 5d Suv | Electric | - |
| Automatic Electric FWD 5d Suv | Electric | - |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a Mercedes-Benz EQB?
While Mercedes-Benz hasn’t released service pricing yet, the related EQA can be had with three-, four- and five-year service plans costing $1600, $2200 and $2650, respectively.
How does the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB drive?
Our expert take on Mercedes-Benz EQB drivability.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 features a front-mounted electric motor producing 140kW of power and 385Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 9.2 seconds.
The EQB 350 4MATIC features an electric motor at both the front and rear, with total outputs of 215kW and 520Nm. It’s all-wheel drive, and has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds.
The EQB features a 66.5kWh lithium-ion battery, which weighs 469kg.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Colours
What colours are available for the Mercedes-Benz EQB
Polar White and Night Black are the standard exterior colours, with the following optional:
- Denim Blue metallic
- Rosé Gold metallic
- Digital White metallic
- Iridium Silver metallic
- Mountain Grey metallic
- Cosmos Black metallic
- Manufaktur Mountain Grey Magno
The EQB 250 and EQB 350 comes standard with black interiors, though a Macchiato Beige/black interior is optional on the EQB 250, while Edition 1 models come with a Neva Grey and Cyber Cut blue interior.
Spiral-look interior trim elements are standard, with open-pore wood tri moptional
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Warranty
The Mercedes-Benz EQB is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 25,000km, whichever comes first.
Should you buy the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
Tight supply means every EQB to hit Australia for the foreseeable future is likely to be snapped up, but even without our market’s slightly skewed EV market there’s a niche for it here.
Although it doesn’t have the same surefooted, punchy feel as the more expensive EQB 350 4MATIC, the entry-level EQB 250 shapes as the smart pick for families looking for a spacious, premium electric SUV.
The seven-seat option is a proper point of difference at the moment, and adds a degree of flexibility not even larger cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can match – don’t be fooled by the compact exterior dimensions, the EQB is a genuinely usable 5+2 SUV.
As for the 350? It’s priced very close to the bigger BMW iX3 if it’s a spacious five-seat EV you want, while the Genesis GV60 is a more dynamic option if it’s performance you’re after.
It’s very nice, but it feels a bit lost in a way the more practical 250 doesn’t.
Mercedes-Benz EQB FAQs
The cheapest Mercedes-Benz EQB is the 250 that starts from $71,500.
The most expensive Mercedes-Benz EQB is the 350 4MATIC EDITION 1 that starts from $107,100.
The best towing capacity of a Mercedes-Benz EQB is null kg offered by the following variants: 250, 250+, 350 4MATIC, 250 EDITION 1 and 350 4MATIC EDITION 1.
The largest Mercedes-Benz EQB is the 350 4MATIC which measures 1834mm wide, 4684mm in length and sits 1698mm tall.
The most powerful Mercedes-Benz EQB is the 350 4MATIC which has 215kW of power from its ELECTRIC engine.
The Mercedes-Benz EQB is built in Hungary and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Mercedes-Benz EQB is the 350 4MATIC which weighs 2580 kg (kerb weight).
The Mercedes-Benz EQB uses Electric.