Today, I’ve got something very special for you, and it is truly thrilling to drive.
Wow! That really is quite clever, isn’t it? It makes life very easy.
Hello. I’m Amanda Stretton, and it’s great to see you again and welcome back to Spain.
Today, I’ve got something very special for you because I am spending the day with this: the new EQB from Mercedes-EQ.
And it is the latest all-electric, compact SUV from Mercedes-EQ.
This car has everything you could possibly need: intelligent technology, comfort, safety and loads of space.
It’s even available with seven seats, so it’s the ideal family package.
I’ve got one day to spend with this incredible car, so let’s get into the detail.
In this video, we’ll be diving into its space and storage capabilities, the exterior and interior design, driving and charging, ...
... MBUX, safety and assistance systems and the connectivity of Mercedes me.
Now, I’m about to put the EQB through its paces on a stunning coastal drive.
So, do keep watching, or you can jump straight to the chapter that interests you most by clicking on the timeline below.
And don’t forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell. Let’s get going.
The EQB is perfect for families, those with active lifestyles, or those who just need an awful lot of room in their lives...
...because this is one of the most spacious, compact, electric SUVs out there,
and, with the option of up to seven seats, offers considerable versatility.
There is nothing quite like it on the market.
The EQB’s third row of seats are roomy enough to accommodate people up to 1.65 metres tall. And they’re really easy to access. Let me demonstrate...
You can even mount up to four child seats here securely.
The second row of seats is easily adjustable, with enough leg- and headroom for taller adults.
It’s a really flexible space back here. There’s also a very generous amount of boot space, with a maximum capacity of 480 litres,
with both rows of seats in the upright position, or up to 1,710 litres, with all the seats folded flat.
If you’re carrying a heavy load, your hands are full, or you just can’t get your keys, you can open and close the tailgate of your EQB by moving your foot under the rear bumper like this.
This is one of those comfort systems you will never know how you lived without.
And another thing: I love this high seating position; it gives me incredibly good visibility as well as being really comfortable.
And you get amazing visibility from every seat in this car.
The new EQB combines the angular form and confident dimensions of an SUV with some typical Mercedes-EQ design elements for this thoroughly modern look.
So, let’s have a little look at the detail.
Now immediately marking out that the new EQB is a member of the Mercedes-EQ family is this: the signature black panel grille around the central Mercedes-Benz star as well as these gorgeous LED headlights.
The front and rear LED lightbands also make the EQB instantly recognisable as a Mercedes-EQ model.
Another elegant touch are these door sills, which are illuminated with EQB lettering.
It’s these small details that just add to the overall luxurious feel of this car.
This EQB which comes with a stunning Electric Art Line has these cool seats accented with rose gold and titan grey.
Even the air vent turbines are rose gold. It's all very classy and modern.
The electric art interior also features this beautiful backlit spiral-look trim element in the cabin.
It’s a really lovely touch.
This EQB has the AMG Line interior and exterior, which adds some very sporty features to both the outside and the inside of the car.
So now, it’s time to see what the EQB is like to drive. Let’s hit the road.
Mercedes-Benz launched their first premium SUV in 1997 with the M-class, and this EQB, with its all-electric drivetrain, carries on with that illustrious tradition.
This EQB 350 4MATIC has got 215 kilowatts of power, and it is truly thrilling to drive.
Just watch this...
The EQB’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system distributes power to the wheels that need traction the most in all manner of driving conditions.
So, I can be sure that whatever the weather or road surface is like, the car will improve traction and driving stability.
Like a number of other Mercedes-Benz cars, the EQB offers the driver four different driving modes through the Dynamic Select switch.
These allow you to change the car’s performance and handling characteristics between sport and comfort, while always providing a high level of ride comfort.
To experience this, you just need to drive the EQB for yourselves.
And as well as driving locally emission-free, it’s almost completely silent.
It really is an amazing experience to be behind the wheel of this electric car.
And the other amazing thing is the range of the EQB because it can do up to 423 kilometres on a single charge. That is impressive.
And the EQB’s thermal management system ensures that the car’s battery is always kept within the optimum temperature range,
by cooling or heating it as required via a coolant-fed plate that's situated underneath it. Very clever stuff!
And if you want to charge your car at home, overnight for example,
then I recommend using the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox, which comes with a brand new Mercedes-EQ design.
You can also control the Wallbox through the Mercedes me App.
The EQB can be charged at up to 11 kilowatts with alternating current using the onboard charger, if you’re charging at home, or at a public AC charging station.
Public DC stations allow higher charging performances.
Like all cars in the Mercedes-EQ range, the designers of the new EQB have focused on creating a car that embodies technology, intelligence, and ease of use.
And nowhere is this more apparent than when you get into the cockpit because you are confronted with this:
the Mercedes-Benz User Experience multimedia system or MBUX, and this is the heart of many of the technologically advanced driving features.
The system is operated through two 10.25-inch displays which merge to form this sleek widescreen cockpit.
It really feels very futuristic in here.
The MBUX can be operated with voice control, the touchscreen, or this central touchpad, and it's very simple to use with multi-finger gestures.
One of the most amazing features in the EQB is augmented reality for navigation,
which uses a camera in the windscreen to capture street signs, points of interest, and street names in order to create an enhanced map display.
Imagine going through heavy city traffic with six noisy passengers on board, and I guarantee you’ll never want to drive without it.
The head-up display is another great feature, with directions, speed and other vital info right in my line of sight.
I don't have to take my eyes off the road or my hands off the wheel.
As with all Mercedes-Benz cars, the new EQB makes everything easier, safer and more comfortable for the driver and passengers alike.
The EQB comes with a Driving Assistance package which features a host of technologically advanced systems
that have been designed to keep me and everyone else in the car safe on the road.
Most important to me is the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
It acts like a very smart cruise control because it can automatically maintain a desired distance from the car in front of me,
and I can change the distance via these Touch Control buttons, and the display shows me the distance that I have set. Very intuitive!
And then, there is the Active Steering Assist. Now this works by supporting keeping you in the centre of a lane,
by using gentle steering interventions.
Now this is a really reassuring feature; it works on straight roads, highways, and on slight bends, by gently turning the steering wheel.
It’s just like the car is looking after me.
Now, parallel parking isn’t everybody’s favourite activity, but thankfully you don’t need to worry because the EQB comes with Active Parking Assist.
This brilliant feature will not only find your parking space, but it will also help you to reverse into it,
while taking all the hard work out of the steering, accelerating, braking, and changing gear. Incredible!
Wow! That really is quite clever, isn't it? It makes life very easy indeed.
Now, let’s turn our attention to some of the EQB’s other technological marvels.
We’re going to start with Mercedes me, and then we’re going to go into the incredibly easy charging process.
The new EQB comes with all the connected technology functions of Mercedes me – the digital world around your Mercedes.
And, without doubt, my favourite function is Smart Home Integration.
Via the MBUX, I can open or close my garage doors remotely,
as well as monitoring or controlling other functions like the lights or the heating.
Hey Mercedes!
How may I help you?
Could you check if I left my lights on at home?
Let me check it out for you. Right now, all lights are on. Do you want me to turn them off?
Yes, please!
Wow! I cannot believe you can do that from the car.
The MBUX also supports Navigation with Electric Intelligence in the EQB. So here, let me show you...
Hey Mercedes!
How may I help you?
Please navigate to Avignon.
Here is what I found. Where do you want to go?
Number one, please.
I will show you the way.
Now, the system works out the fastest and most convenient route to my destination while automatically calculating necessary charging stops along the way. That’s very impressive!
And even if you reach your destination without a charging stop, the system always keeps an eye on your battery status and remaining range throughout the trip.
Alternatively, you can ask the voice assistant for some help.
Hey Mercedes!
How can I help?
What’s the state of my battery?
The battery is charged to 82 percent.
And of course, charging the EQB using Mercedes me just couldn’t be easier.
Thanks to Mercedes me Charge, I have easy access to over 600,000 charging stations worldwide,
including those of the IONITY high-performance charging network.
The Mercedes me App allows me to find charging stations wherever I happen to be on my journey,
whether I’m in the city driving on the highway, or parked up to run some errands.
And the payment process is really straightforward as well.
I can also use the MBUX whilst I’m navigating to find the nearest charging station and to authenticate at a station from within the car.
Mercedes me also comes with Green Charging.
Any used electricity will be replaced with electricity gained from renewable sources,
which will subsequently be fed into the grid for the quantities charged via Mercedes me Charge. Isn’t that great?
Thanks to Green Charging, you don’t need to worry at all about the energy source when you use public charging.
Well, sadly, that’s the end of my day with the new EQB.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling electric driving, the fantastic tech and of course that luxurious and spacious interior.
I really should have brought some friends with me.
Now I’d like to know what you liked best about the new EQB.
Please do leave a comment in the box below, or you can let me know what car you’d like me to test next.
Right guys, should we go for dinner? There’s loads of room in here.