EQB is Mercedes' Model X rival

The EQB, which has just made its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show, is a battery version of the GLB, the boxy and high-riding compact that’s as much MPV as it is SUV. That’s reinforced with the EQB for the UK where all models will come as standard with seven seats. 

It’s not pretty but it does promise to be practical, in a family-orientated way. With third-row seats said to be useable for people up to 5ft 4in – and able to accept child seats – and a maximum flat-floored luggage space of 1,620 litres, the EQB may not be unique among electric cars but it is certainly a rarity. 

Tesla’s £80,000-plus Model X is a seven-seater and there’s a sprinkling of van-based all-electric people carriers – including Mercedes’ own £70,000 EQV eight-seater. But until the EQB if you wanted seven seats and electrification you would have to plump for one of the petrol-electric hybrids. There’s no price yet for the EQB but when confirmed in a few months expect it to be around half the Tesla’s cost.

The first electric Bs should arrive towards the end of this year. There will be two variants to start with, sharing the electric underpinnings of the EQA hatchback on which this car is based. It will be made in Hungary, where some versions of the A-Class are already made, and also in China which is likely to be the EQB’s biggest market. 

In the UK, there will be a front-drive single-motor model and an all-wheel-drive dual-motor variant, with power ratings up to 288PS (215kW) for the AMG version. Useable battery capacity for European models is 66.5kWh and a special longer-range model will be able to drive 297 miles on a single charge. Other models will be able to go up to 260 miles.

There’s a great deal here that’s both signature Mercedes – including the widescreen digital cockpit – and signature electric car. For the later, look no further than the continuous light strips front and rear, the cool blue hue to everything and the flush wheels. 

MPV-style touches include a fore/aft slidey rear bench seat with reclinable backrests, lots of stowage options and a facility for up to five child seats to be securely fitted.

New hero of the school run with no emissions and room for everyone in a compact package? Mercedes could be on to something with this. Now all they need to do is come up with that electric sportscar…