Mercedes-Benz EQB pricing confirmed for NZ

Mercedes-Benz New Zealand has announced full pricing and spec information for its new EQB electric SUV, confirming two trim levels for local sale.

The local line-up comprises the single-motor rear-wheel drive EQB 250 and the dual-motor all-wheel drive 350 4Matic. The 250 starts at $99,900 for the five-seater variant, with an extra pair of third-row seats available for an additional $2900. The 350 4Matic, meanwhile, is exclusively a five-seater, and is priced from $109,900.

There’s also an Edition 1 grade available for either the 250 or the 350; the former priced from $109,000 and the latter from $113,800. All of this means the EQB sits above the $90,000 EQA 250 and below the $151,300 EQC 400 4Matic.

Regardless of the model you choose, you get a 66.5kWh lithium-ion battery, rated to travel either 360km (350 4Matic) or 371km (250) on the WLTP cycle. It’s capable of being charged at speeds of up to 100kW when plugged into a DC fast charger, with Mercedes also offering a 22kW AC wall box for home charging for around $2000 extra.

The dual-motor 350 is unsurprisingly the quicker of the two. With a motor on top of each axle it produces 215kW/520Nm, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds. The 250, meanwhile, settles for 140kW/375Nm from its single motor and a 100km/h sprint of 8.9 seconds.

The new plug-in is built on the Mercedes MFA 2 platform, meaning the EQB is not only directly tied to its petrol-consuming GLB cousin, but also shares its platform with the EQA.

While it’s the same width as an EQA, it’s also longer and taller than both the EQA and the EQC. This helps with accommodating the additional row of seats if specified, while also ensuring a larger 1710L total boot space (130L/670L in 7-seater models and 650L in 5-seater models, with the seats up).

Mercedes boasts that the EQB’s dimensions also result in a 32mm headroom gain for front occupants. The rear seat is more versatile, too, with seven levels of incline adjustment and 140mm of sliding ability (in part making it easier to access the third row).

Although the EQB  borrows its proportions from the GLB, it looks quite different. It wears the three-pointed star’s EQ corporate face (featuring the chrome-outlined front fascia) and gets a sleeker rear end arrangement; punctuated by the full-width LEV curved light strip and lower badge and boot lid.

The 350 4Matic can be spotted via its AMG-Line Sports Package (which includes two gaping air curtain vents on the flanks, a rear diffuser, and 20-inch turbine-style wheels), although 250 buyers can also add the visual package as a $4300 optional extra.

Standard, the 250 gets heated front seats, wireless charging, adjustable ambient lighting, Thermatronic dual-zone climate, a 10-speaker 225W sound system, and Mercedes’ now signature dual 10.25-inch screens with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

An electric hands-free tailgate, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights with adaptive assist, parking assist with a 360-degree camera, and Artico upholstery are also included in the foundation variant.

The 350, meanwhile, adds the aforementioned AMG elements (which also include a flat-bottomed steering wheel, red stitching, AMG buckets, and more), plus Dinamica upholstery options, a panoramic sunroof, and more.

The Edition 1 kit varies depending on whether you’re getting one based on a 250 or a 350. The Edition 1 250 includes the AMG-Line Sports Package that’s already standard on the 350. Common additions across both Edition 1 models include unique Rose Gold wheels, a rose golf key fob, black exterior trim elements, blue interior upholstery accents, Edition 1 badging, and more.

Mercedes-Benz’ local arm hopes that the arrival of four new electric vehicle models, including the newly priced up EQB, could quench strong local demand for dedicated plug-ins.

Speaking at the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz EQB in Melbourne, head of Mercedes-Benz Australia Jerry Stamoulis said New Zealand’s uptake of plug-in Mercedes models was strong, but underlined familiar concerns around securing supply.

“It’s been very positive, it’s just stock issues. If we could get more stock we could sell more without a doubt,” he said.

The brand aims to pick up the slack with the upcoming launch of four new fully electric models; the EQA 350, EQB, EQE sedan, and EQE SUV.

“The [EQB] will obviously help, with got more EQAs coming with the 350 coming on board. And obviously next year the EQE is arriving as well,” Stamoulis added.

The first EQBs have already arrived in New Zealand. The EQE sedan is set to follow in the first quarter of 2023, with the EQE SUV scheduled to arrive in the second quarter.