Developing any vehicle from the ground up is a very expensive proposition, so sometimes it makes sense to adapt an existing model. The upside is it gets the vehicle in question to market in more timely fashion. This is exactly what Mercedes-Benz did with the EQB 350 4Matic. Aside from some slick stylistic updates, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB mirrors the gas-powered GLB crossover in just about everything including the fact it’s offered in both five- and seven-seat models.
Beneath the brightwork, the gas engine and automatic transmission go in favour of two electric motors and a 70.7-kilowatt/hour battery. The two motors combine to produce 288 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque from rev one. That’s enough juice to get the riders from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 6.2 seconds. What’s interesting is, unlike the United States that has a second model in the form of the EQB 300 4Matic, Canada’s second model will be the front-drive EQB 250. When it arrives next year, it will do so with a single electric motor producing around 187 hp and 283 lb-ft of torque.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
As for charging, a 100-kilowatt DC fast charger pumps an 80 per cent charge into the battery in 32 minutes, while a Level 2 home charger take 6.25 hours. Both are pretty good times. However, the EQB’s 365-kilometre range is on the low side of today’s norm. One of the big factors is aerodynamic-efficiency. Looking at the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 show the role aero plays. These two EVs share many parts including the twin high output electric motors and battery, but have they different range capabilities because of the drag factor. The Ioniq 5 has a drag coefficient of 0.288 and a range of 414 km; the Ioniq 6 has a drag coefficient of 0.22 and a range of 499 km. It should come as no surprise the EQB has a drag coefficient of 0.28.
The range the battery provides proved to be pretty accurate. On the test drive, the day started with a range of 363 kilometres. After the 156-km route, the distance-to-empty was 196 km. Yes, there was an 11-km discrepancy, however, this is explained by the fact the first 65 km was on the autobahn where the flow of electrons was all one way — out of the battery. On the rest of the route, the regenerative braking helped to recoup much of the loss and improve the overall range.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
On the subject of regenerative braking, the EQB’s setup is a mixed blessing. It has four basic modes. The D+ setting has virtually no regen, D is moderate, while D- is pretty aggressive. However, as the regen in D- begins to peter out when vehicle speed reaches about 10 km/h, it is far from a proper one pedal drive. Maintaining a predictable, uniform amount of regen all the way to a stop tends to make city driving so much easier. The other mode is Auto. It uses intelligence to determine the right amount of regen for the situation based on the topography, traffic and other data.
The EQB 350’s two motors give it an electric 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, although the operation is more one-sided than the mechanical version. The rear permanently excited synchronous motor does most of the work; the front asynchronous motor activates when more traction is needed. The good news is the rear-biased nature does not hamper the manner in which the EQB performs. The system checks things 10,000 a second, so it is always making the best of the available traction.
There are a number of driving modes that do alter the feel by a wider than usual margin. Eco is soft, Comfort is perfect for the city and Sport is for the fun times, as it firms everything from the steering to the two-stage adaptive damping. The last mode is Individual. It allows the driver to tweak the suspension, steering, stability control and electric motors according to taste. Ironically, M-B forgot to delete the engine icon and replace it with an electric motor.
During the test, the EQB lived in Comfort with the exception of the twisty section heading back towards Stuttgart. Remarkably, and in spite of the large increase weight at play, the EQB 350 4Matic (2,175-kg) has a better overall driving feel than the GLB 250 4Matic (1,705-kg). The suspension does a very good job of controlling body roll while remaining comfortable when out for a cruise. Likewise, the steering is nicely weighted, although I did prefer the feel in Sport mode when pressing on down a twisty road. All in all, a very impressive setup that marries divergent needs nicely.
Inside, the differences between the gas and electric models are small. On the tester, the rose gold vents and flashy ambient lighting stood out. The more important changes are tied into the electrics and range. The instrumentation shows what the system is doing in a clean, no-nonsense manner. Likewise, the navigation system features Electric Intelligence. When a destination is plugged into the navigation it begins checking things to ensure the battery has the juice needed to reach to the desired location. If needed, it directs the driver to DC fast charger for a splash-and-go and prompts them to shift into a more economical driving mode when the battery gets low.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Photo by Graeme Fletcher
Finally, Augmented Reality for the navigation is now a standard feature for the 2023 EQB. It uses the forward-facing camera and puts the view into the 12.3-inch multimedia screen. It then overlays the driving instructions over the real-time view, so when a left turn is called for there are arrows directing the driver in that direction. The blend of real and virtual data is a neat extension to the mapping.
While the temptation is to view the EQB as nothing more than a GLB with a big battery, the work has transformed it into a solid contender. Yes, it could do with a one pedal drive, but that nit aside it has plenty of power, solid handling, excellent ride comfort and, of course, the versatility demanded by a growing family.
Keyword: First Drive: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic