Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its all-electric EQB midsize SUV will arrive in Australia within the third quarter of this year – between July and September 2022.
The three-row EQB – which is based on the petrol-powered GLB SUV – was originally confirmed to be released in Australia within the second half of the year. Mercedes-Benz is now confident of a third quarter date.
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the EQB will go on sale in Australia by the third quarter of this year
Exact details on the local specification are yet to be confirmed but globally the EQB is available in both five- and seven-seat configurations, with the latter giving it an edge over midsize rivals such as the BMW iX3 and Genesis GV60.
Overseas, the EQB is available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, though only specifications for the dual-motor AWD cars have been provided at this time.
The EQB is set to join the$78,513 EQA small SUV and $124,300 EQC midsize on sale in Australia, with the EQS luxury sedan and EQE large sedan set to follow later in 2022 to bolster Mercedes-Benz’s electric portfolio.
The EQB will likely be positioned lower than the EQC midsize SUV in terms of price
Pricing is expected to fall between the EQA and EQC. The EQB will give buyers a larger and more practical premium alternative to other electric SUVs like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and forthcoming, five-seat Tesla Model Y.
When it launches in Australia, the EQB is expected to be, in effect, the top-specification GLB variant – at least in EQB350 guise. The GLB range tops out in Australia with the $97,569 AMG L
EQB range and charging
Like the GLB midsize SUV on which it is based, the Mercedes plans to offer the EQB globally with a choice of front- and all-wheel-drive options – and has currently outlined two grades for the latter option in Europe.
The EQB 300 4Matic kicks off the range and features a dual-motor setup producing a combined 168kW of power and 390Nm of torque to achieve a 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.0 seconds.
Buyers can also opt for the EQB 350 4Matic with a combined output of 215kW/520Nm, which cuts the 0-100km time down to 6.2 seconds.
Both variants feature a lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 66.5kWh providing a range of up to 419km when tested according to WLTP standards.
Dual 10.25-inch screens sit up front in the cabin
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed a ‘longer range’ version is also on the way – likely with a front-wheel-drive setup and a larger battery.
Once flat, the EQB can be charged at speeds of up to 100kW when using a DC charger, providing the ability to top up the 66.5kWh battery from 10-80 percent in 30 minutes.
Drivers can also use a 11kW AC charger at home that should charge the battery from flat to full within about six hours.
What does the EQB include?
Australian buyers typically gravitate towards a high level of specification on their Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs so we can expect the EQB to be fully-loaded.
In the cabin, drivers can expect to see two 10.25-inch screens with one acting as a multimedia system and the other as a digital driver’s display.
Other features such as wireless phone charging, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather interior, premium stereo and a choice of either 18 or 20-inch wheels are all expected to be offered as well.
While the EQB doesn’t quite have the shed-like 1800-litre load capacity of its combustion-powered GLB sibling when the second and third-row seats are folded flat, it can still hold up to 1620-litres and fit people of up to 1.65-metres in height in its third row.
