Mercedes EQB350 4MATIC AMG Line Review: Only New 7-Seater BEV In Singapore Right Now

What we like:

It's quite big inside

Fast

Only 7-seater BEV in the market

What we dislike:

Quite excessive as a 350 4MATIC

Interior materials

If you wanted 7 seats in an electric vehicle, choices are thin. In fact, you only have the Mercedes EQB.

Based on the hugely popular GLB, the EQB is sure to win the hearts and minds of the family man (and woman). There’s the SUV ride height, large interior room with adjustable furniture and, of course, the badge. Many laymen thought it operates in the Q7/X7/GLS-Class space because of its 7 seats, which certainly gives the car and its driver a useful morale lift.

There’s so much going for the EQB that it doesn’t really need to perform to succeed. But the good news is that it has a fair bit going for it.

For one, its long wheelbase of almost 2.9 metres means that the car rides like a much bigger car, when it is actually rather compact. Also, it actually feels quite big inside. The 2nd row of seats can move front and back by 140 mm, and the rear floor is almost flat. Third row seats are good for those up to 1.65 metres, or who are taller but have gained such scorn of the driver that they had to be relegated to the Third Row. There are provisions to fit a child seat at the last row too, and there are charging ports as well for those so positioned.

The other cool thing about this beast of burden is its drivetrain. With dual motors putting out 288 hp and 520 Nm of torque, the car feels pretty darn quick for something that can carry your children, your helper and your in-laws at the same time. With 4MATIC, there’s so much grip, you had better prepare sick bags for your many passengers with the sort of speed you can carry through corners.

Yet the car yields decent range. Expect to hit low to mid 300 km on a typical commute, which seems fair for the amount of power on tap.

As for most EVs, the portly weight of the car shows itself in braking and cornering. There’s just that bit more delay in responses but nothing that is bothersome in what is a practical family car. Its near 2.2 ton kerb weight may have even calmed its ride somewhat, despite riding on 20 inch rims.

The EQB350’s biggest competitor is its sibling with a smaller output, the EQB250. Being a single motor model (do you really need 4MATIC?), you pay significantly less road tax and still get a decent amount more power than the petrol-powered GLB. Try that out first, before plonking serious cash on the EQB350.

Photos by Horizon Drivers' Club