Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+

While the Mercedes-Benz EQB is the cheapest way into an electrified Mercedes, the range of options available and the top quality finishes presented in the EQB makes it feel premium when compared to the competition.

Exterior

In terms of design, the EQB is unashamedly an SUV. There’s no swooping roofline, letterbox windows or shoulder-high window line trying to blur the lines between hatch and SUV here. This is a boxy, back to basics SUV that pulls no punches.

Looking at the EQB from the outside, the polished aluminium roof rails catches ones’ eyes. A further distinctive design feature of the all-electric world of Mercedes-EQ vehicles is the continuous light strip at the front and rear. The LED tail lights merge seamlessly into the tapering LED light strip. This underlines the horizontal sense of width of the EQB in the rear view. In addition, the number plate is placed on the bumper, allowing for a beautifully sculpted tailgate. The front black panel grille is now a stylized glass panel with multiple three-pointed stars.  

Interior

Step in to the driving seat and you will be surrounded by the panoramic sliding sunroof; and in front of you is the galvanized steering-wheel / gearshift paddles with multifunction sports steering wheel covered in Nappa leather and the stylish all-digital instrument display. The ARTICO leather upholstery with MICROCUT microfibre black inserts give the interior a solid purposeful feel. Rose gold-coloured elements and the backlit trim characterize the modern high-tech ambience in the interior of the EQB. Targeted design accents such as tubular elements in an aluminium look also reinforce the solid, robust and high-quality overall impression.

The EQB that we drove was a 5-seater; however one could opt for the 7-seater where the folding third row of seats offer space for up to two additional people with a maximum body height of 1.65 metres. When the third row of seats is completely folded, an almost flat surface is created - ideal for transporting bigger loads. The standard load compartment package offers a wide range of stowage options: among other things, nets and a tensioning strap in the side panels that make it easier to secure cargo.

On the fully digital instrument display, you can choose between multiple display styles depending on your mood between Modern Classic, Sport or Progressive with informative colour changes. 

Technology

The duo of Active Parking Assist and 360° camera will help you when looking for a parking space as well as when entering and leaving a parking space and maneuvering. One could also opt for the head-up display which will transform the windscreen into a digital cockpit. The virtually generated image is projected into the driver's natural field of vision - so you always keep an eye on important traffic information while driving.

Two matching 10.3-inch displays handle instrumentation and infotainment duties. Voice control, navigation, and wireless smartphone compatibility come standard. Mercedes’s MBUX software is responsive and easy to navigate. To help EV owners on road trips, the navigation system includes a database of charging stations and will calculate the best stops on the way to your destination. The EQB that I drove kept on prompting me of school zones and to reduce speed – a good thing indeed.

The MBUX Interior Assistant is an innovative system that reacts to your movements: activate selected functions such as the vehicle's lights with hand and arm movements. For added ease of use, the touchscreen controls are highlighted when your hands come close to the display.

Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beams, and driver attention monitors are all standard equipment.

There is a Voice Control system with the command words "Hey Mercedes" which activates the system. It obeys your every word - giving you access to a wide range of functions such as temperature control, range monitoring and forecasting systems.

Driving the EQB

We tend to think of EV’s as mostly “small” cars that will mostly carry 5 people. Well, the Mercedes EQB is an EV and you can have seven seats. In many respects, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQB is exactly what you’d expect of a Mercedes EV. It’s quiet, composed, well equipped, and handsome.

The power comes from 140 kw motor driving the front wheels. While it will do 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds, it is said to have a range of some 400 kms when fully charged. To put that in to perspective, you could drive your fully charged EQB 250+ from Colombo to Jaffna non-stop. Charge it overnight in Jaffna, and you could drive back to Colombo the next day – non-stop.

The steering feel is excellent, and the cabin is ultra-quiet. It’s maneuverable, the visibility is great over that square bonnet and the cabin is nice and plush.

If the “Schedule charging stops” route option is enabled, the optimal route based on time is calculated by the EQB with the required charging stops. The charging stops are determined taking into account the route and charging times and are set as intermediate destinations for route guidance.

Navigation with Electric Intelligence constantly checks a large number of influencing variables, e.g. specifications for the climate control in the vehicle interior or changes in the weather. For each section of the route, the current energy requirement is calculated from the high-voltage battery. The multimedia system determines the ideal charging stations along the route based on availability and charging power.

For each charging stop, the required amount of energy and the expected charging time is calculated and displayed. If you wish, you will be informed by a notification on your mobile phone when the required state of charge is reached. The high-voltage battery will continue to charge until the process is interrupted by you.

The regenerative brake system has three different settings or recuperation levels. Depending on the selected recuperation level, the electric motors are operated as an alternator when in overrun mode and during braking in order to charge the high-voltage battery while driving. As soon as you take your foot off the accelerator pedal while driving in transmission position D or R, recuperation starts in overrun mode. The higher the recuperation, the more sharply the vehicle is braked when coasting and the more electrical energy is fed into the high-voltage battery.

The deceleration in overrun mode is mostly sufficient to slow the vehicle down without braking in most normal driving conditions. Hence although one foot driving (throttle peddle only) is possible in the EQB at most times, it is not recommended to get used to this type of driving due to obvious safety reasons.

Final Words

If you are in the market for a premium brand SUV; albeit at the bottom of the range, the full electric Mercedes-Benz EQB should be at the top of your list. This is the least expensive (tad under Rs. 36,000,000) EV that Mercedes currently sells. It also has some appealing qualities such as a surprisingly spacious, stylish and quiet interior with a small third-row seat (we would think mostly suitable for children). We also like its impressive digital instrumentation and infotainment displays that give the EQB a fully modern look. Mercedes says that the 2025 EQB also comes with what it calls Plug & Charge technology that makes it easier to connect to a compatible public charging station for no-hassle recharging. 

If you need that additional people-carrying capacity but want an electric vehicle that doesn't look like a van - and isn't huge and very pricey - the EQB isn't just your only option at the moment - it's a very good one, at that.