Before going over the top crazy with electrification, the first electric luxury SUVs from Mercedes-Benz is heading to the market. This new model is the EQB, a boxy SUV based on the GLB-Class. This new EV SUV joins the limes of the EQA coupe and super-luxurious Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan as part of the electric future of this brand.

No dedicated EV platform for this new electric Mercedes-Benz

Taking a bit of a departure to the old-school EV building, the new EQB does not use the same all-electric platform as the EQS or the upcoming EQS SUV. According to Edmunds, this new model shares the gas-powered platform with the current GLB-Class SUVs. Even so, this little EV model is everything you want from a Merc. It’s loaded to the gills with the technology and luxury features that make driving more of a pleasure cruise than a chore.

The EQB offers desired versatility in an SUV

This new Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV takes the capability factors from its gasoline counterpart and provides them in an EV. You’ll have the option of a third row of seats, even though this vehicle is smaller than most three-row SUVs in the market. This simple factor could make the EQB the most popular electric Mercedes in our market, according to Motor 1.

What powers the Mercedes-Benz EQB?

We’ll see an asynchronous electric motor in the front and a permanently excited synchronous electric motor in the rear, giving this new luxury SUV standard AWD. These two motors combine to produce 225 horsepower and 288 lb.-ft. of torque. With fully charged 66.5-kWh batteries, you can drive this SUV for up to 230 miles before you need to recharge them.

Using a DC fast charger, the batteries of the EQB charge from 10-80 percent in only 31 minutes. Home charging takes more than 11 hours using a 240-volt charging port. New owners of this electric SUV receive one year of Mercedes me Charge, which offers a network of up to 60,000 chargers.

Does the cabin of the EQB luxury SUV fit the brand?

Yes, it does. This new EV Mercedes-Benz SUV offers the GLB-class cabin with a few updates. Car and Driver tells us this area has a standard five-seat configuration with the optional pop-p third-row to give you a little flexibility for cargo or passengers. The door panels are trimmed right in soft leather upholstery, making them look and feel right at home in this luxury vehicle. You’ll find bright metal trim, advanced technology, and excellent finishes in this impressive SUV.

You’ll find more in the American version

The new Mercedes-Benz EQB luxury SUV launches in Europe and China first, but it will be in North America before the end of the second quarter of 2022. According to MotorTrend, we should see both the 255-horsepower EQB300 and a higher performance EQB350 version. This higher performance model should deliver 288 horsepower. Mercedes-Benz has plans for a single-motor FWD version, but that model will join the mix later.

Should you drive this new Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV?

If you’ve admired the GLB-Class, this new electric version could be ideal for you. The EQB has an expected starting price of $57,000, making it a relatively affordable electric luxury SUV. On the other hand, if you don’t like that the EQB doesn’t use a dedicated EV platform, you might want to check out the Tesla Model Y or Audi Q4 e-tron.

The new Mercedes-Benz EQB feels familiar while offering something new. It doesn’t take things too far, making it an inoffensive electric luxury SUV.