There’s only one choice in the Malaysian market right now if you’re looking for an electric vehicle (EV) that also sits 7 people. Launched in September this year, the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC fetches a price of RM328,888 and is offered in one variant only.
Based on the Mercedes-Benz GLB, the EQB gets an electrified ‘EQ’ styling that changes the front end and rear end of the GLB to give it a more roundish look. It also gets continuous LED lights on the front and back like the rest of the EQ family.
The main giveaway that the EQB is an electric car is the non-existent grille which has been replaced by a black panel that gets two horizontal bars. All around, the EQB has blue accents seen in the headlight cluster, the ‘EQB’ lettering on the front fenders, and the 19-inch wheels. Even with electrification, the EQB maintains the rugged look of the GLB with the plastic claddings and roof rails.
In the performance department, the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC gets a dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup as hinted by the ‘4MATIC’ moniker. That system makes 292 hp and 520 Nm and accelerates the EQB from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The front motor is an induction motor while the rear motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor.
No engine, but also no frunk here.
The EQB houses a 66.5-kWh battery pack that provides 423 km of range (WLTP). Charging can be done at a maximum rate of 11 kW with AC charging and 100 kW with DC fast charging (DCFC). 11-kW AC charging brings the state of charge (SOC) from 10 to 100% in 5 hours and 45 minutes. 100-kW DCFC brings the SOC from 10% to 80% in just 32 minutes. Charging is done via a Type 2/CCS2 socket that is located on the rear left panel of the car.
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 is very familiar as it is reminiscent of the GLB/GLA/A-Class interior. What’s a bit unique for the EQB that we get are the rose gold accents in the air conditioning vents that match the rose gold key fob that it comes with. For Malaysian customers, the EQB 350 4MATIC comes with one rose gold key fob and one ‘standard’ key fob.
Perched on the dashboard is a twin 10.25-inch display with one being the infotainment head unit and one being the digital instrument cluster. The head unit comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Naturally for a modern Mercedes-Benz, the EQB also features the multi-colour active ambient light system that has become synonymous with the brand. The interior upholstery is a combination of Artico man-made leather, Cupertino fabric, and genuine Nappa leather.
The EQB sits 7 people although the third-row seats are not quite suitable for lanky passengers. With all 7 seats occupied, the boot space can fit several hand carry-size luggage. There’s a tonneau cover for when the third-row seats are folded down but there is no dedicated space to store it when not in use. Of course, with both third- and second-row seats folded down, cargo space is plenty in the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC.
Safety features in the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC include Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active lane keeping assist, Active steering assist, Active blind spot assist, Exit warning function, Active Brake Assist, Adaptive high beam assist, 360° camera, and PARKTRONIC parking assist.
GALLERY
Keyword: Gallery: Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC, RM329k 7-seater EV