Test Drive: Mercedes-Benz EQB300 2022 | Daily driving | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300 metallic gray Mountain Gray
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
Class: High-end compact crossover
Color: Metal gray mountain
Driving miles: 141
| Corporate Governance Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Rooms and Facilities | B+ |
| Power and performance | B+ |
| match and finish | ONE- |
| energy saving | ONE |
| Value | b |
| Scores in the report card are taken from the consensus of the test driver’s assessments. All classes are compared to other vehicles in the same class. The value type is for the specific trim level evaluated and may not reflect the Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire product line. | |
| Comfortable Big & Tall | |
| Big guy | One |
| Tall guy | ONE |
| The Big & Tall comfort rating is for the front seats only. The “Big” rating is based on a male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, the “Tall” rating is based on a 6’6″ tall male tester. | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine Specifications | 225 hp |
| Engine type | electric motor |
| Transmission process | Automatic transmission |
| wheel drive | AWD |
Battery capacity: 70.5 kWh
estimated EPA MPGe: 104 cities/98 highways/101 combined
EPA estimated driving range: 243 miles
Estimated Range Consumer Guide (ideal conditions): more than 243 miles
cost: $54,500 (excluding $1050 destination fee)
Optional on test car: Special paint ($750), charging cable ($250), AMG steering wheel ($360), Enhanced Video ($350), Panoramic Roof ($1500), Speed Limit Assist ($300), front seats with heating ($500), AMG Night Package ($2890) D8A and D9C credits for standard equipment missing* (-$800)
Like a test: $61,650
*Functional attribution limits the supply chain at the time of vehicle assembly. D8A credit for the Navigation Services live traffic feature is missing. Customers who lack this feature can purchase it on the Mercedes me connect app for $50. D9C credit for the driver without power and the front passenger seat with memory.
Quick hits
Wonderful thing: Make great use of space, provide delicate energy
Good: Quiet cabin, impressive car quality, classy interior
not so good: Can use more options, more expensive
Tom calls for:
There are four EV models in Mercedes-Benz’s 2023 lineup, the most practical and attractive of which may well be the most affordable.
The top-of-the-line EQS is offered in sedan and full-size SUV variants, both with a $100,000 threshold. Consumer Guide recently spent a week with Vehicle EQS 580, and leaving very impressive. Also on offer for 2023 is the EQE midsize sedan, which starts at just under $70,000.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
It’s worth noting that all EQS and EQE variants use Mercedes-Benz’s dedicated EVA electric vehicle architecture and are not EV variants of existing gasoline-powered cars or crossovers.
That’s not the case with the EQB, which is based on the manufacturer’s GLB compact crossover and modified to run on electricity. And, we should add, becoming a much better vehicle in the process.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
New in the US for the 2022 model year, the EQB is offered in two power levels. The EQB 300 starts at around $56,000 and is rated at 225 hp. Rated at 288 horsepower, the EQB 350 starts at around $60,000. Every EQB comes standard with AWD.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
To complicate things a bit more, both the 300 and 350 are offered in Premium, Exclusive, and Peak trim levels. Consumer Guide recently spent a week with the “baseline” EQB 300 Premium. Here are ours:
Despite being the least expensive option in the EQB lineup, we found our test crossover luxurious and well-equipped enough to deserve the Mercedes badge, and to be honest, it does. It’s also a pleasure to drive.
This is not entirely true of GLB250 we re-evaluated in 2020, numbered among its drivability flaws were the stubborn gearbox – shifting gears too often and often at awkward times – and the engine too raw for a vehicle of its price. You can read that review this.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
But with a seamless and refined electric powertrain in place of the GLB’s grungy four-cylinder petrol engine and cranky transmission, the EQB shines and the basic perfection of the small crossover’s design can be appreciate.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
Like the GLB, the EQB is surprisingly spacious in both the front and rear seat areas. The sense of openness is enhanced by the large amount of glass surrounding it, which also enhances the view to the outside. And, despite being one of the most affordable vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the EQB’s cabin looks luxurious. We’re disappointed with the “regular” plastic used on the lower door panels and around the center console, but none of that is visible from the driver’s seat.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
In progress EQB shine. While the 225hp sounds a bit light by modern standards, throttle response is immediate and there’s plenty of thrust to steer traffic around the city, as well as passing and enter the highway. The cabin is very quiet, even at highway speeds, and the EQB’s sport-tuned suspension and responsive steering make commuting a pleasure. Also, unlike many electric vehicles, the EQB offers excellent downhill climbing at low speeds, something that is appreciated in stop-and-go traffic.
All EQBs are powered by a 70.5 kWh battery, matching EPA estimates of 243 miles for the 300 and 227 miles for the more powerful 350. miles, which is consistent with the cold-weather power loss we’ve observed in other EVs under similar conditions. Note that the Consumer Guide level 2 charger is located outside, which reduces battery capacity somewhat as temperatures drop.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
Also of note, the standard sound system is excellent, something important for this author, as I’ve been receiving a number of new jazz downloads recently. I was impressed by both the stereos—do we even call them stereos?—and my new Jimmy Smith albums.
There’s a bit of bad news regarding choosing an electric-powered EQB over a gas-powered GLB, which is the loss of the three available options.rank– Row seats. $850 option on GLB, 3rank-the row of seats expands the seating capacity from 5 passengers to 7. Unfortunately, the space available for the last row has been consumed by the EQB’s battery pack.
For the bottom line, our light yet well-equipped EQB 300 costs $61,150, including destination charge. That price includes an $800 credit for features missing from our test vehicle due to supply chain issues. Unfortunately, one of those items is the keyless entry. Hopefully such nuisances will soon be behind us.
At around $60,000, the EQB is about the same price as the well-equipped versions of the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, and both vehicles offer more power and range. That said, this little electric Mercedes is tweaked, very space-saving, nicely equipped and bold in its own right. For a small, healthy family ready to dive into an EV, the EQB might just be the ticket. It’s also a pretty practical and affordable way to buy into the German luxury scene.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB300
Mercedes-Benz EQB300 showroom 2022
(Click below to enlarge the image)
