First Look: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC

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MUNICH, Germany — In addition to four electrifying world premieres at IAA Mobility 2021 , Mercedes-Benz amped up the EV content for the Canadian market with the announcement that the EQB will be available in Canada next year. The EQB 350 4MATIC is an all-electric compact SUV with up to three rows of seating, a horsepower rating of 288 and an estimated fuel charge range up to 419 kilometres (using Europe’s WLTP guidance, so figure two-thirds or so of that under EPA testing conditions).

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While those four aforementioned global debuts were all about the wow factor — including an all-electric AMG sport sedan, the first-ever electric G-Wagen and the first-ever electric Maybach, granted those latter two concepts — the EQB is all about the utility, particularly when it comes to moving families and their stuff. We drove the EQC three years ago and have been waiting ever since for an EV Benz SUV to be available to Canadian consumers.

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The EQB will come as either a two-row or three-row hauler, and the two seats in the third row can accommodate passengers up to 1.65 metres tall. For that growing family, up to four child seats can be fitted in rows two and three, plus one more in the front passenger seat. To increase luggage space, the third-row seats can be lowered flush into the cargo floor.

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The all-new EQB borrows heavily on the design language and style of the more luxurious EQ models, including the black panel grille with central star, an EQ trademark. Other EQ-centric design features are the continuous light strip at the front and rear, and blue colour highlights within the headlamp.

But the EQB also has some exclusive features all its own, such as light-alloy wheels in a bi- or tri-colour design, up to 20 inches in size and available with rosé gold-coloured or blue decorative trim.

Key numbers that have not been released include pricing and battery size. However, Mercedes has reported the EQB will be able to be charged at up to 11 kW with alternating current using the onboard charger. And utilizing fast-charging (D) the EQB will charge at a DC charging station with a maximum power of up to 100 kW. According to the automaker, the charging time is then just over 30 minutes from 10-80 per cent. For AC and DC charging, the EQB is equipped as standard in Canada with a CCS (Combined Charging Systems) connector in the right-hand side panel.

With the addition of the EQB to the Canadian marketplace in the coming months, Mercedes-Benz will so have three all-electric models for sale here, including the EQE and EQS sedans.