It’s kind of a tribute to the pace. As quickly as Mercedes wants to electrify its cars, the platforms don’t even get going. Because the customers – despite all the climate debates – are screaming for SUVs, but reason bids farewell to combustion engines, it has to be a kind of compact mix for the electric EQB. It shares the drive with its smaller battery sister, the EQA, while the chassis, including the 2.82 meter wheelbase and the optional seven seats, are shared with its big brother, the GLB.
Visually, the gap closer between the EQA and EQC therefore comes as no surprise – apart from a few color accents. The innovations are one and all under the sheet metal. At the market launch, two all-wheel drive versions provide propulsion, fed by a battery with 66.5 kWh (usable). The differences are not huge. The EQB 300 has a fully sufficient 168 kW, the EQB 350 215. It takes 8.0 seconds for the smaller model to display the three-digit speedometer, and 6.2 for the larger one. A front-wheel drive and a variant with a particularly long range are also planned.
On the road, the EQB cuts a fine figure despite almost 2.2 tons and maintains its poise even in fast corners. Dampers and steering can be adjusted according to taste between sporty and comfortable – and if the seating position weren’t so sublimely high, you’d think you were in a sedan. However, if you try to get into tight corners too quickly, you have to experience that, despite the latest technology, masses now take the path in the direction of the Tangente.
In any case, the opposite is more sustainable: the well-groomed and, above all, smooth ride. For reasons of consumption, only the rear electric motor whirrs as often as possible, the front one only switches on when needed – but then in a fraction of the blink of an eye. If you don’t get too close to the maximum speed of 160 and diligently use the recuperation that can be adjusted via the steering wheel paddles, you could travel 419 kilometers according to WLTP. With a reasonably brisk driving style, however, the expectation should not be too much above 300.
But you don’t have to think too much. The standard navigation system has an “Electric Intelligence” function. This means that the EQB calculates the optimal charging points and the shortest possible stay, depending on the desired battery remaining during stopovers or at the destination. The electronics focus on the topography, the current weather and personal driving style – and bring the battery to the optimal charging temperature in good time. It doesn’t get much smarter than that. Always in the navigation image: the “range potato” – flippant expression at Mercedes for the remaining, but very rarely circular radius of action.
Either way, however, the battery will eventually run out of juice. The EQB charges with up to 100 kW on a DC column and gets from 10 to 80 percent in just over half an hour. 15 minutes is enough for 150 kilometers. A good six hours pass on the wall box with a maximum of 11 kW. Included with the purchase of the car is a one-year membership to “Mercedes Me Charge”, where you have access to more than 200 vehicles in Europe.000 charging points from more than 400 operators. Also included during this time is the Ionity fast charging network.
Mercedes has not yet announced the exact price of the EQB. However, if you add the difference between the GLA and GLB to the EQA, the basic model will probably be around 56.move 000 euros. There would then only be the slightly reduced subsidy of 7500 euros, but the typical Mercedes customer should get over it.
And the future of platforms? From 2030 there will only be three of them, says Koert Groeneveld, Head of Global Product and Technology Communication. All electric – and divided into e-cars, performance cars and vans. In between, however, a common generation will probably come at the end of 2024. The requirement: “electric first”. That means: electric drive has priority – and if compromises are due, Mercedes will make them with the combustion engine. “With 138 markets worldwide,” says Groeneveld, “we will then no longer be offering every car at every price.”
Related articles
-
KIA e-Soul MJ 2022: test, impressions & experiences
body:not(.rtl) body.rtl body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) E t was April 2019 when KIA…
-
Hyundai Ioniq 5: Our Test, Impressions & Experiences
Body.RTL Body.RTL Body: Not (.RTL) Body: Not (.RTL) Body.RTL Body.RTL Body: Not (.RTL) Body: Not (.RTL) Body.RTL Body.RTL Body: Not (.RTL) Body: Not…
-
Aiways U5: Experiences, impressions & conversation with Aiways expert
AIWAYS is a provider of individual mobility solutions based in Shanghai. And yet the company manages to bring its first Stromer to Europe in 2020, three…
-
Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 AW: Impressions and experiences
Body.RTL Body.RTL Body: Not (.RTL) Body: Not (.RTL) Body.RTL Body.RTL Body: Not (.RTL) Body: Not (.RTL) @ Media (Max-Width: 767px) {} Just over half a…
-
BMW iX3: Our test, impressions & experiences
body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) – Advertising – A slightly different electric car test…
-
Ford Mach-E GT: The rampant Mustang – Our impressions
For a long time there was no real excitement at Ford when it came to electric cars. Technology outside of combustion chambers was considered less…
-
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250: impressions & experiences
body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) body.rtl body.rtl body:not(.rtl) body:not(.rtl) “Hey Mercedes, drive me to the next charging station”,…
-
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Plug-in hybrid or star with plug
The claim is clear for research director Markus Schafer. The best automobile in the world wanted to build, he says. And actually only missing: point. But…
-
Nissan Leaf 30 kWh Tekna – my experiences and impressions
: Root {- Page Title Display: None;} Thus, the Nissan Leaf is 30 kWh Tekna in everyday life – my experiences and impressions Thumbnail, my colleagues…
-
Mercedes Charging Set: So that it does not fail on the plug
Electromobility is on the rise, more and more customers opt for a sustainable drive – either as plug-in hybrid or as a solid electric vehicle. However,…
All-wheel drive with 2 motors (1 front, 1 rear), or the complex, error-prone mechanical variant?
I’m not sure if the German manufacturers have heard of the 2 engine concept..
“Tribute to the Tempo”; “Innovations under the sheet metal”; “Material mix a bit colorful” – and such a vehicle should buy the typical Mercedes customer for about 60 mille? A star burns up in orbit before it reaches anyone..
I can’t quite understand why you choose such a simple, functional and pleasing design on the outside and then such a pompous, baroque design on the inside. I felt the same way with the EQA. I like both from the outside, but I think I could only sit in with sunglasses.
A combustion engine SUV converted to electric is certainly not the best thing on the market. At least that’s what he looks like.
“The best or nothing”, then just nothing (from Mercedes)
I’m afraid the EQx series will damage Mercedes‘ image in the long term, since buyers will only be moderately satisfied with the electrical qualities of these vehicles.