Mercedes-Benz has launched the EQB in India at Rs 74.50 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The brand had already opened bookings for the electric luxury SUV and its ICE counterpart, the GLB, in early November at a token amount of Rs 1.5 lakh. The EQB, which is positioned below the EQC SUV and the recently launched EQS sedan, is Mercedes’ third EV in India.
- EQB offered in sole 300 guise
- Shares same platform as GLB
- Equipped with a 66.5kWh battery pack
Mercedes Benz EQB: exterior, interior and features
The EQB shares the same architecture as the GLB and also retains the basic design silhouette as well. However, there are a few design elements on the EQB, previously seen on the EQC and EQS, that make it stand out from the GLB. These include details like a blanked-off front grille, a tweaked design for the headlights and tail-lights, reprofiled front and rear bumpers and a full-width LED light bar at the front and at the rear. The EQB sports 18-inch alloy wheels and is available in 5 colours – Cosmos Black, Rose Gold, Digital White, Mountain Grey, and Iridium Silver.
On the inside, the EQB’s overall cabin layout is very much similar to the GLB and GLA, apart from the splash of gold paint on the turbine-like air vents. Similar to the GLB, the key highlight of the EQB's interior is the 7-seat layout which enhances the practicality. Some of the electric SUV’s feature highlights include the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen system, a panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, a powered tailgate, and electrically-adjustable front seats.
Mercedes Benz EQB: powertrain, battery, and range
Globally, the EQB comes in two variants with different power outputs – the EQB 300 that makes 228hp and 390Nm, and the EQB 350 that makes a healthier 292hp and 520Nm. Mercedes-Benz however, has introduced the former in our market. The EQB gets an all-wheel drive layout, where power is sent to all four wheels via dual electric motors, one on each axle. This allows the EQB to accelerate from 0-100kph in a claimed 8 seconds until it reaches a top speed of 160kph.
Equipped with a 66.5kWh battery pack, the electric SUV offers a WLTP rated range of up to 423km. The brand is offering an 8-year warranty on the battery pack and claims that the EQB can be charged from 10 percent to 100 percent in 6 hours 25 minutes using a 11kW AC charger. The electric SUV can also be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in a claimed 32 minutes using a 100kW DC fast charger.
We’ve already driven the EQB in India, and to get a more in-depth look at it, you can read our review by clicking here or watch our video review by clicking here.
Mercedes Benz EQB: rivals
As the only three-row electric SUV in the market, the EQB has no direct competitors. Despite being introduced via the CBU route, the EQB undercuts the EQC by Rs 25 lakh. However, it costs Rs 17.60 lakh more than the only other luxury electric SUV in India, the locally assembled Volvo XC40 Recharge.
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