2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic AMG Line X243

Nice but niche – 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic AMG Line.Of course, it’s not a real seven-seater, but that was never why you were considering it in the first place. So, where does it fit in?

Several years ago, while some commentators were quick to accuse fledgling Chinese auto manufacturers of shamelessly copying their trendsetting German counterparts – from luxo-hatches or land yachts built by BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz – what we’re seeing now, in truth, is no different.

Ownership of niches by a sole competitor is simply not allowed. The binary nature of segmentary leadership or imitatorship is a never-ending round of roulette exclusively determined by the swiftness and the madness of marketing executives.

Since launching in 2021 (locally in 2022), Mercedes has enjoyed a category-specific monopoly in its positioning of the EQB as an EV crossover with its optional seven seats. Based on the GLB SUV, the EQB’s transformation from diesel dinosaur to voltage vulture was a simple one, with mixed effect, it has to be said. It ditched the conventional powertrain in favour of an electric motor at each axle and it was fuelled by a rather small (and ahem, by extension, range-limiting) 66.5 kWh battery.

Curiously, MBSA opted to offer only one power specification in the EQB, which develops 215 kW and 520 N.m. This means, as with the more compact EQA entry EV, the three available derivatives are distinguished only by equipment grade. They ranging in price from R1 379 000 to R1 523 400.

Price-wise, our R1 432 000 AMG Line tester straddles the range and is most easily identified by its 20-inch spoke wheels (said to swallow nearly three per cent of the range when compared to the smaller variants) and inside, mixed leather seats as well as gofast blistered aluminium pedals.

All models come standard with self-dipping LED headlamps, keyless entry, navigation and parking assistance. Thereafter, buyers can brave the complicated Mercedes ladder of package-specific bundled enhancements comprising tech, safety, comfort and lighting features … more than 100 unique configurations. For both front- and secondrow occupants, courtesy of its SUV underpinnings, the EQB is bounteous in space and the views are panoramic.

Curiously, despite Mercedes’ unique selling proposition of the EQB as a seven-seater EV SUV, the test unit was not equipped as such. This is likely owing to the battery’s placement around the rear-axle area, which elevates the rearmost section of the cabin so only passengers shorter than 1,65 m can be accommodated. As a result, the claim of a game-changing seven-seater is open to interpretation.

The battery is another let-down. Apart from its limited storage capability (real-world demands such as highway speeds and extreme cabin climate control guzzle up to a third of capacity), when DC charging, it’s able to charge to a maximum speed of 100 kW only. Currently, its rivals are nearly doubling or tripling this rate.

The Volvo XC40 recharges at 150 kW and overseas, the Hyundai Ioniq charges at 350 kW. However, Mercedes-Benz claims getting from 10% to 80% should take about 32 minutes, which is acceptable.

A useful range-extending hack – for all EVs – is to precondition the cabin temperature to the preferred level while charging, not taxing the battery once on the move. After setting off in near silence and at slow speeds, the EQB will change direction surprisingly crisply, although the directness of its steering seems at odds with the height of the vehicle. There is the obligatory EV party trick – hot-hatch-humbling bursts of peak torque – before physics and battery preservation prematurely spoil the party.

Limited demand means the torque allocation is sent primarily to the rear axle before a playful right ankle awakens the front. While this does not stretch the G-force, the shuffle of front/rear torque (measured 100 times per second) makes for a pleasing, albeit neutral experience, which is dominated by the heavy tugging of magnetic motors.

As in Audi e-trons, the steering-wheel- mounted paddles manage the severity of the regenerative braking. There’s no way to disable it in the Mercedes. Even its default mode – there are three – is quite aggressive. In its most extreme mode, true one-pedal driving is possible, although dead stops demand finishing off with a brush of the brake pedal.

It is worth noting that the two-plus-tonne EQB was the first car we have tested – in over a year – to record a worst braking time from 100 km/h to a dead stop of over three seconds. Equally unusable is Eco mode, which slashes power to maximise range, and feels as if the car is trawling through mud while cyclists and pedestrians overtake. Contrary to this, Sport mode sharpens the usual tactile driving indicators, without adding any power.

TEST SUMMARY

Although the Mercedes-EQB exists far more convincingly as a slamdunk five-seater than a half-baked seven-seater, the virtue of a third row of seats, when fitted, places it without peers.

On the other hand, price and performance rivals such as the BMW iX3 may have bigger batteries, and the Volvo XC40 P6 may outsprint the EQB, but none of them is perfect. All are undermined by distance distrust aggravated by incompatibility with the heavy demands of long-distance driving in South Africa.

Before being delivered to CAR’s offices, the EQB had spent a weekend in George and required two recharging stops to ensure it would reach Cape Town.

With that in mind, as an alternative-powered, unattainable-for- most suburban runabout, the EQB provides a snapshot of the foibles of contemporary EV motoring, but does not make a strong case for picking it over a far cheaper diesel-powered GLB. Much of this has to do with its under-spec battery.

This should be better addressed as the next-gen version appears designed from the ground up as a dedicated EV in 2025 and sports increased aerodynamic efficiency and battery density.

Price: R1 423 000 0–100 km/h: 5,79 seconds Top speed: 160 km/h Power: 215 kW

Max Torque: 520 N.m Energy consumption: 18,1 kWh/100 km Range WLTP: 367 km

TECHNICAL DATA

A polished, if pricey reminder of the pleasures and pitfalls of contemporary EV ownership — Braam Peens Mercedes-Benz hit the sweet spot, building an EV that looks like a compact SUV Kyle Kock

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic AMG Line X243

Built in Hungary

ELECTRIC MOTOR

Electric motor type: asynchronous front, permanently excited synchronous rear

ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTPUT

Max power ISO: 215 kW

Power peak/Red line: 4000–12000rpm

Max torque: 520 N.m

Torque peak: 0–3500rpm

TRACTION BATTERY

Type: Lithium-ion

Overall voltage: 420 V

Capacity: gross/net: 79,9 kWh/66,5 kWh

Onboard charger AC/DC: 11 kW/100 kW

TRANSMISSION

Type: single speed

Reduction/reverse gear: 9,8

Drive wheels: all

Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start

BRAKES

Front: 330 mm ventilated discs

Rear: 320 mm solid discs

Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA

WHEELS AND TYRES

Tyre make: Pirelli P Zero Elect

Tyre size: 235/45 R20

Spare – type and location: none, mobility kit

STEERING

Type: rack and pinion, electric power assist

Lock to lock: 2,9 turns

Turning circle diameter: 11,7 m

SUSPENSION

Front: independent, MacPherson struts, coil

springs, anti-roll bar

Rear: independent, multilink, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

WARRANTY & SERVICE INTERVALS

2-year/unlimited km warranty

8-year/160 000 km battery warranty

5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan

Services according to onboard computer

Airbags: front/side/curtain/knee Air-con: dual-zone climate Audio system:

radio/USB/Bluetooth/voice control/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Cruise

control: standard Sat-nav: standard Park assist: standard, incl. camera

Windows: all-electric Trip computer: standard Driver seat adjust:manual, incl. height Folding

rear seat: 60:40 split Upholstery: part-leather Isofix anchorages: outer rear Steering adjust: rake

+ reach Steering audio controls: standard Tyre sensors: standard Wipers auto-on: standard

Headlamps auto-on: standard, incl. camera Head-up display: no

TEST RESULTS

TOP SPEED

Manufacturer’s figure: 160 km/h

PERFORMANCE

FACTORS

Test conditions**: Ambient temp/barometric pressure: 27 °C/1 013 hPa Test car’s odometer: 1 387 km

FEATURES

CHECKLIST

ACCELERATION (sec)

SPEEDO CALIBRATION (true speed)

Odometer error: 0,5% over

60 80 100 120

58 78 97 118

0–60 0–80 0–100 0–120 0–140

2,79 4,10 5,79 7,93 10,68

POWER SPECIFICATIONS & TORQUE ENGINE SPEED

OVERTAKING ACCELERATION (sec)

BATTERY CHARGING TIME

standard wall socket to 100%: 34 hrs

home wallbox charger to 100%: 7,25 hrs

DC quick charge to 80%: 32 minutes

Manufacturer’s figure (WLTP Combined)

18,1

kWh/100 km

Test route

15,7

kWh/100 km

Estimated range (WLTP Combined)

367 km

PARTS PRICES*

BRAKING TEST

Best/worst stop: 2,95/3,08

Average of 10 stops/rating: 3,02/good

Average stopping distance: 45,90 m

10 stops from 100 km/h measured in seconds.

Width (excl.mirrors): 1 834mm Track front/rear: 1 585/1 584 mm Towrating (unbraked): n/a

Gross frontal area: 2,75 m2 Drag coefficient: 0,28 Seating: 5

40–60

60–80

80–100

100–120

120–140

DRIVE

0,97

1,31

1,71

2,17

2,73

Power/mass: 104 W/kg

Cabin noise level at idle: 31 dB

Engine speed (at true 120 km/h in top gear): 8 932 r/min

Weight: 2 069 kg

4 684 mm

2 829mm

1 667 mm

49% 51%

248/1 000 L

Headroom:

824/870 mm

Headroom/Kneeroom:

950/750 mm

154 mm

725 mm

Left headlamp: R13 373,26 Left rear tyre: R7 140,00

Windscreen: R13 407,71 Brake pads (front set): R2 170,00

Total parts basket: R36 090,97