Mercedes goes EV crazy, shows off another electric SUV

One of the surprise highlights of the 2020 motoring year was the Mercedes-Benz GLB. Not only did it have all of the brand’s recent tech advancements and features, but it was also packing much more character than most of the brand’s other SUVs via its curious proportions. We quite liked it.

Now, there’s a new one. Overnight Mercedes showed off a fully electric version of the GLB, called the EQB. This continues the German brand’s ongoing trend of releasing EV equivalencies of existing SUV nameplates, each sporting new styling and a new powertrain. The EQB gets a new face and back end derived from what’s been seen on other recent electric models from the marque.

These pair nicely to the chunky, squared-off proportions from the GLB. The nose gets a huge black panel instead of a grille, the headlights integrated into its lines. The rear, meanwhile, gets a taillight light bar that spans the full width of the car.

Despite switching to Mercedes’ new Modular Electric Architecture, the EQB retains similar dimensions to its GLB cousin, including an identical 2829mm wheelbase. The cabin is also largely the same, but with the addition of rose-gold-looking highlights in some models.

When it comes to powertains, it’s a little complicated for the EQB. China gets a 208kW motor variant, while information for what will be sold in markets like Europe has yet to be confirmed. Battery sizes will start from 66.5kWh, with the European mid-spec EQB 350 4Matic rated for 419km of range per charge.

Clearly, a lot is still to be fleshed out regarding the model’s details across different continents. What Mercedes has confirmed is that front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will both be available, and a long-range version is in the pipeline, which should prove popular.

“With the all-new EQB we have created an iconic electric SUV that takes the heritage of our boxy off-road vehicles and transforms this into the future. We combine the significant boxy silhouette with futuristic elements such as the black-panel front to create the extraordinary look of the vehicle”, said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler Group.

The EBQ is the latest announcement in a sea of Mercedes electric-vehicle updates. Last week the firm announced local pricing for the EQA, the electric equivalent of the GLA. It also launched the new EQS; a sleek high-tech sedan that sits as a silent EV equivalent to the S-Class.