Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic

The Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic combines design elements typical of Mercedes EQ, uber practicality and advanced connectivity.

Considered as the electric vehicle (EV) version of the regular GLB, this fully-imported (CBU) e-SUV comes in a sole EQB 350 4Matic variant for Malaysia. 

Priced at MYR 328,888, on-the-road without insurance, each purchase sees a standard four-year/unlimited mileage warranty, and an eight-year/160,000 KM battery warranty.

Dashboard of the EQB350 4Matic is sporty and premium. The two-tone (Rose Gold - Titanium Grey Pearl) layout, and the backlit trim (64-colour ambient lighting) characterise the modern high-tech ambience. 

Targeted design accents such as tubular elements for the air-conditioning vents and other trimmings in an aluminium look, also reinforce the solid, robust and high-quality overall appeal.

Part of the MBUX Multimedia System, it features a 10.25-Inch fully digital instrument cluster with a head-up display that has three display styles (Modern Classic/Sport/Progressive).

Premium and comfortable, upholstery of the seven-seater e-SUV is made up of Artico synthetic leather and Cupertino fabric. 

Front seats feature power-adjustment with memory functions, and a four-way lumbar support. Rear seats get a 40:20:40 split-folding and sliding second row, and a 50:50 split-folding third row.

With a third row that takes passengers up to 165 CM in height, it offers uber head, shoulder and legroom, thus front and rear occupants get ample space. The space is very generous due to the stocky and bulbous design of the body. 

It has numerous storage areas including large sized door pockets, a cavern storage space and a stowage compartment with a retractable cover in the centre console, and a decent-sized glove box.

There are four cup holders, two located in the front centre console, while the other two are located in the rear.

It features one 12-V power socket up front and one in the boot, a wireless charging pad up front, and one USB-C port in the second and third row each.

Boot space is between 465-Litres to 1,710-Litres, with a sliding second row bench (140 MM), offering another 190-Litres.

Weighing in at 2,175 KG, the EQB350 4Matic stands at 4,684 MM long, 1,834 MM wide, 1,667 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,829 MM.

It exudes a stocky and sporty exterior with a front look that’s angular and strong in character. 

Featuring a fairly large and closed-off, black panel grille, it is very characteristic of the EQ family, notably with the grille-integrated continuous light strip design. 

Robustly striking, the rear features an angularly-contoured outlook, with clean and neat arrangements of other trim elements.

Grabbing the attention is the same characteristic EQ lighting design, stretching the tailgate’s width, matching the front.

It gets a pair of sharp and slender-looking headlamps, combined into a one-piece look via the integrated light strip design. 

They are full LED High Performance units with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and feature Adaptive Highbeam Assist and surround lighting with brand logo projection.

Tail lamps are full LED units. The slim light strip design matches the front, providing a more futuristic outlook to the width emphasising back layout. 

The side mirrors are electronically adjusted and folded with turn- and blind spot-indicators.

It rides on a set of 19-Inch five-spoke star-style alloy rims, wrapped in factory standard Bridgestone Turanza T005 235/50 R19 tyres.

The EQB350 4Matic gets the Driving Assistant package that comes with Active Distance Assist Distronic, Extended Automatic Restart In Traffic Jams, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Exit Warning Function, and Active Brake Assist. Others are Adaptive Cruise Control With Steering Assist And Stop & Go, Parking Assist Parktronic, 360-Degree Parking Camera, and Adaptive Highbeam Assist.

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver and passenger, driver knee, front side, front and rear curtain), seven three-point seat belts with reminders, four ISOFIX (second and third rows), six front and four rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, blind spot information system, hill start assist, Autonomous Braking System With Active Brake Assist, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), interior monitoring system, security alarm, and immobiliser.

There are five drive modes available, e.g., Comfort, Eco, Eco Assist, Sport, and Max Range.

The Driving Assistant package will make long journeys less tiresome, while the other accompanying systems will make manoeuvring the fairly stocky e-SUV an easier task. 

It features a ten-speaker, 255-W sound system. 

The EQB350 4Matic harbours two electric motors, an asynchronous motor on the front axle and a permanent magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle. This setup makes for a total output of 288 HP/215-KW and 520 NM of torque.

It gets a single-speed fixed ratio automatic transmission.

Power from the electric drivetrain (eATS) is transmitted to all four wheels (4WD) via the fully variable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

It can go from 0 to 100 KM/H in 6.2 seconds and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 160 KM/H. 

Powering the e-motors is a 66.5-KWH, 420-V Lithium-Ion battery, providing between 388 KM to 423 KM (WLTP) of driving range.

Using the AC 11-KW three-phase charging outlet, it fully charges the battery in five hours and 45 minutes. 

While DC charging at 100-KW, the 10% to 80% state of charge (SoC) takes around 32 minutes, while a 15-minute charge offers 140 KM of range.

Energy consumption is rated at 18.1 to 19.4-KWH for every 100 KM.

The EQB350 4Matic has Keyless Go comfort package and hands-free access, Easy-Pack tailgate (contactless), Thermotronic dual-zone climate control, multi-function steering wheel, steering tilt and telescopic functions, power adjustable with lumbar support and memory front seats, load compartment package and luggage net, surround-view camera, six front and four rear parking sensors, rain sensing headlights and wipers, and auto high-beam. 

There are rear air vents located in the rear cabin for the second and third row seats.

It is very spacious and extremely comfortable. Handling is refined and agile. Overall, the ride quality is good and has a wonderfully smooth e-motor delivery. 

Good sound insulation with most of the NVH aspects accounted for. Insulating material has been added to the areas surrounding the e-motors, while components that generate vibration such as the air-conditioning compressor gain rubber dampeners, and new rubber bushings and bearings have been fitted to the front and rear suspension.

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well and make them barely noticeable even when cruising through bumpy asphalts. 

The Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic is a marvel of its class. It is built with a sporty and elegant outlook, while still being able to offer space and practicality.

Its striking exterior is very well designed, with the robustly sharp yet harmonious proportions donating a powerful overall contour, emphasising its wide body scale. 

Quality of the equipment and materials installed inside of the car is also impressive with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing. 

Overall, offering more than just a strong character, it also provides an absolute driving pleasure with its fully electric drive.