Quality is a mixed bag. It mostly feels well screwed together, although there are some cheaper materials within arm’s reach – particularly around the centre console, ahead of the middle cubby. The seats feel plush enough, and they’re supportive on longer drives.
No changes have been made to the way the EQB handles, but this version’s larger 20-inch wheels mean there’s a little more fidgeting and some extra road noise compared with the base Sport Edition model. It’s not enough to render the car uncomfortable; the Urban Edition is perfectly agreeable on the motorway, with reasonable refinement considering its blocky shape.
This isn’t a particularly fun car to drive, however. The front-mounted electric motor generates enough punch with just a driver on board, but the steering is light and rather vague. Sport mode does the EQB no favours at all, and even the standard Comfort setting can feel a bit spiky at times. Eco dulls the motor’s responsiveness to the other extreme, which is a shame.
The SUV feels quite wafty at times, and the poor brake-pedal calibration that plagued early Mercedes EVs is still evident here. It’s quite disconcerting at times, in fact, with a regen system that doesn’t always act as you’d hope. There’s no one-pedal drive mode, either.
Efficiency is reasonable considering this is very much based on the firm’s first-generation EV tech. We managed 3.6mi/kWh in mild conditions, resulting in a real-world range of around 250 miles – roughly 50 miles shy of the Merc’s WLTP-rated maximum. A Kia EV9 will (officially) do more, but its sheer size means it’ll cost you more to buy and run.
Charging speeds are pegged at just 100kW, however – another compromise caused by the fact the EQB has been around for quite some time now, and is based on an old multi-fuel platform. Still, Mercedes claims a 10-80 per cent top up is possible in around half an hour; an 11kW on-board charger means a full charge takes just over seven hours if you’ve got a fast enough home wallbox.
| Model: | Mercedes EQB 250+ Urban Edition |
| Price: | £55,070 |
| Powertrain: | 70.5kWh battery, 1x e-motor |
| Power/torque: | 187bhp/385Nm |
| Transmission: | Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive |
| 0-62mph: | 8.9 seconds |
| Top speed: | 99mph |
| Range: | 299 miles |
| Max charging: | 100kW (10-80% in 32 mins) |
| Size (L/W/H): | 4,687/1,834/1,701mm |
| On sale: | Now |
