Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-EQ EQB

There’s quite a bit to unpack with the 2022 Mercedes-EQ EQB all-electric small SUV. Let’s start with the last letter of its name.

As anyone familiar with the GL line of Mercedes-Benz SUVs will know, the GLB is a fairly recent addition that, predictably, is bigger than the GLA yet smaller than the GLC compact luxury SUV. This new EQB is based on the GLB.

The Mercedes-EQ aspect is a new-ish sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, specializing in electric vehicles. There’s also an EQS luxury sedan (an all-electric equivalent of the S-Class) and an EQA based on the GLA (that may or may not go on sale in the United States).

The 2022 EQB is, therefore, a small luxury SUV running on battery power. Like the gasoline GLB, it offers the option of a third seating row. More on that later.

It’s a family car, with the typically high levels of safety for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned. Yet the new EQB is also subtly ingenious, planning the most efficient routes and even working out how much time to spend at a charging station.

The EQB has few direct competitors in the electric luxury SUV class, but its closest rivals are the Tesla Model Y and the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Based on the time we spent driving the Mercedes-EQ EQB, we’re happy to report that this electric SUV does a good job driving like a regular SUV. Driving an EV can sometimes be jarring if you’re not used to it, but the EQB comes with a minimal learning curve. It’s heavy but not unwieldy, and its acceleration is quick but not too snappy in the standard drive mode.

If you stab the throttle, the instant torque is a delightful reminder that you’re driving an EV. It’s fast when driven aggressively, even with the base powertrain. Upgrading to the EQB 350 adds excitement, but you sacrifice some range for the added performance.

The ride quality is excellent, as you’d expect from a luxury vehicle in this price range. The smooth ride and quiet cabin make for a pleasant drive around town and on the highway.

Overall, the EQB would make a good first EV for luxury SUV drivers on the fence about going electric. In our experience, it has a lot in common with the driving character of the gas-powered Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, which is a good thing.

When we step inside the Mercedes-EQ EQB, we instantly notice the close family resemblance to the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. However, there are a few quirks that make the EV stand out. Rose gold interior accents are a signature of the Mercedes-EQ line and they look good in the cabin of the EQB.

The EQB has what Mercedes calls a “Widescreen Cockpit,” which is a fitting name for the display you see from the driver’s seat. One display integrates the digital gauge cluster and the MBUX infotainment system, both of which are 10.25-inch screens. Navigation with augmented reality comes standard, which can superimpose arrows and street names on a view of the road.

Thanks to its boxy profile and space-saving electric powertrain, the EQB is very roomy for its size. Tall adults will be comfortable in the first and second rows of seats, but the optional third row is a little tight. That said, it’s impressive that a third row is available at all in an SUV this size.

Cargo room is generous in the 5-seat configuration but a bit compromised if you get a 3-row model.

Despite a certain boxiness — creating a spacious and practical interior, so that’s not a complaint — the 2022 EQB SUV still manages to be impressively streamlined, with a drag coefficient of 0.28.

This is made possible by things like specially designed alloy wheels, a smooth underbody, and a meticulously sculpted front end. Aerodynamics become particularly significant in electric vehicles because of the need to conserve energy in as many aspects as possible.

1. Navigation with Electric Intelligence
A standard feature in the 2022 EQB SUV, this is not a typical navigation system. It’s enhanced with augmented reality to help drivers make the correct turns, and it’s programmed to choose the most efficient route — with stops for charging factored in. It’s also dynamic, so if there’s a sudden snarl-up caused by an accident, it will re-calculate the route while still keeping the state of battery charge in its virtual mind.

2. ECO Assist
This feature takes into account all the various factors that have an effect on energy consumption, such as hills, bends, and intersections. It will then make the driver aware of what’s coming up and make recommendations. For example, it may advise easing off the accelerator when a speed limit is looming.

3. Optional 3-row seating
3-row seating is a rare option in this class and it’s nice to see it available in the Mercedes-EQ EQB. Granted, the optional third row is best reserved for smaller, nimbler humans, but it’s nice for when you need extra seating in a pinch.

4. Driving Assistance Package
This option package is easy to recommend because of the helpful driver assistance tech features it adds to the EQB. This package includes adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, traffic sign assist with active speed limit assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and the Pre-Safe Plus system.

5. Mercedes me Charge
Get two years of complementary charging through Mercedes me Charge. This makes it easy to find charging stations from various providers with an integrated payment function and a simple billing process.

6. Burmester Surround Sound
This feature included in the Pinnacle trim brings new life to your music. The rich sound quality combined with the hushed cabin makes for an immersive audio experience that few SUVs in this class can match.

Both the 2022 EQB 300 4Matic and EQB 350 4Matic have two electric motors and all-wheel drive, the latter indicated by the 4Matic nomenclature. The EQB isn’t much of an off-roader, but this is good to have in bad weather.

The EQB 300 has 225 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque. The EQB 350 enjoys 288 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque.

Both have the same size battery (70.5 kWh). According to Mercedes-EQ, the EQB 300 has a range of 243 miles and the EQB 350 achieves a 227-mile range.

Since the two models share the same battery pack, charging times are identical. Using a 240-volt home charger, it takes 11 hours and 15 minutes for a full replenishment starting from 10% capacity. A public DC fast charging station can go from 10% to 80% (the recommended maximum in this situation, to optimize battery life) in 31 minutes. That’s assuming there are no freakishly high or low temperatures.

2022 Mercedes-EQ EQB 300
70.5-kWh lithium-ion battery
225 horsepower
288 lb-ft of torque
EPA range: 243 miles

2022 Mercedes-EQ EQB 350
70.5-kWh lithium-ion battery
288 horsepower
384 lb-ft of torque
EPA range: 227 miles