The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC SUV

Everything is going electric and the Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC shows that some do EVs better than others. The EQB350 4MATIC is one of the latest EV SUVs to join the party and brings with it, equal parts of luxury, technology and driving economy in one fell swoop. We at Napleton News are all charged up over the possibilities. Read on to find out what we thought.

The Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC is Plugged In, not plugged up.

The Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC is a battery-electric Sport Utility Vehicle from the Mercedes-EQB subdivision. Think of the naming convention of the MB brand: The S and GLS are the largest vehicles within the lineup. On the EV side, there is the EQS sedan. The EQB is similar in size to the Small-Luxury GLB SUV. (Both can carry up to seven passengers.)

It is available in EQB300 and EQB350 trim levels.

The EQB300 4MATIC gets its power from two motors and all-wheel drive. Total output from the 70.5 kWh lithium-ion battery is 225 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque with an EPA-estimated range of 243 miles.

Our EQB350 4MATIC test vehicle featured a similar all-wheel drive package, but this time the motors have been tweaked to deliver 288 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. The EPA got 227 miles on a charge but we exceeded 250 miles on a single charge. Mercedes says that when using a 240-volt home charger, you’ll get a full charge in just under 12 hours. A super charger can get up to 80 percent in just a hair over 30 minutes. Please remember that ambient temperature (the current temperature where you are charging) can affect your charge time and capacity.

How does the EQB350 look?

Although it possesses the aerodynamic qualities of a Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator, the Mercedes EQB cuts through the air like buttah. It’s a handsome look, and features M-B’s grille-not-grille front end that fakes the opening, because, uh, well, it’s not needed.

Our EQB was equipped with Rose Gold Metallic, which is as beautiful as it sounds.

How does it look inside?

Our tester featured a smart but somewhat spartan interior equipped with MB-Tex, which is a faux leather material that others have been called “vegan leather.” These seats don’t have Mercedes’ famous massage functions, but use “seat kinetics” to subtly adjust the front seats to avoid fatigue when driving.

The Widescreen Cockpit of the EQB is a new feature that places two 10.25-inch high-definition display screens side-by-side within the cockpit. They don’t join as some screens do but offer close contact to reach the touchscreen functions of the navigation, comfort, media and communications functions that are built in. The Mercedes-Benz Navigation with EQ-Optimized Routing is a “smart system” with augmented reality, street signs and the ability to plan your trips along routes with charging stations. The system tells you where the chargers are located and how much time to charge before heading to another spot.

The Mercedes EQB is complete with an under floor storage space that holds the portable charger and tire changing tools. Our five seater offered a generous amount of cargo space in the wayback. We think it was large enough to swallow up to six roll-aboard suitcases.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC

It’s like a regular SUV, only better. That’s a bit simplistic, but the reality is the EQB drives like a regular SUV. So much so, in fact, that other than the safety “gong” the SUV makes when reversing, you wouldn’t know you are behind the wheel of a BEV. There are times, though, where braking reverts to regenerative mode to help transfer energy back to the battery.

The steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers provide a sportier drive than the set-it-and-forget it gear selector stalk. It actually provides some drama for those who like to row it themselves.

As with most EVs, a quick squeeze of the accelerator provides a brisk launch or passing function to get past the slower also-rans. It gives that feeling of superiority that some Tesla owners may get behind the wheel of their go-karts.

But this is a Mercedes-Benz. Like their company slogan says, “it’s the best or nothing.”

Specifications