New Mercedes EQB City Version evaluate: electrical SUV is beginning to present its age

High quality is a combined bag. It principally feels effectively screwed collectively, though there are some cheaper supplies inside arm’s attain – notably across the centre console, forward of the center cubby. The seats really feel plush sufficient, and so they’re supportive on longer drives.

No adjustments have been made to the way in which the EQB handles, however this model’s bigger 20-inch wheels imply there’s somewhat extra fidgeting and a few additional highway noise in contrast with the bottom Sport Version mannequin. It’s not sufficient to render the automobile uncomfortable; the City Version is completely agreeable on the motorway, with cheap refinement contemplating its blocky form.

This isn’t a very enjoyable automobile to drive, nonetheless. The front-mounted electrical motor generates sufficient punch with only a driver on board, however the steering is mild and fairly imprecise. Sport mode does the EQB no favours in any respect, and even the usual Consolation setting can really feel a bit spiky at instances. Eco dulls the motor’s responsiveness to the opposite excessive, which is a disgrace.

The SUV feels fairly wafty at instances, and the poor brake-pedal calibration that plagued early Mercedes EVs remains to be evident right here. It’s fairly disconcerting at instances, in actual fact, with a regen system that doesn’t at all times act as you’d hope. There’s no one-pedal drive mode, both.

Effectivity is cheap contemplating that is very a lot based mostly on the agency’s first-generation EV tech. We managed 3.6mi/kWh in gentle situations, leading to a real-world vary of round 250 miles – roughly 50 miles shy of the Merc’s WLTP-rated most. A Kia EV9 will (formally) do extra, however its sheer measurement means it’ll value you extra to purchase and run.

Charging speeds are pegged at simply 100kW, nonetheless – one other compromise attributable to the actual fact the EQB has been round for fairly a while now, and relies on an outdated multi-fuel platform. Nonetheless, Mercedes claims a 10-80 per cent prime up is feasible in round half an hour; an 11kW on-board charger means a full cost takes simply over seven hours in case you’ve bought a quick sufficient house wallbox.