​2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB's European Debut Previews U.S. Arrival

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Mercedes-Benz's future clearly involves a large number of electric vehicles. Despite the obvious move to switch toward focusing on electric cars, the German automaker oddly pulled the EQC from its plans for the U.S. The SUV was canceled after Mercedes completed a "comprehensive review of market developments." The decision left us all wondering what electric crossover Mercedes would bring to America. The answer is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB and the automaker recently dropped some news on what we can expect to see.

Preview Of What's To Come

The EQB made its European debut at the Munich IAA recently. In the vehicle's European press release, Mercedes shared some information on the SUV's American launch. When Mercedes brings the EQB to the U.S., the vehicle will be offered in two trims. The EQB 300 4Matic will be the base trim, while the EQB 350 4Matic will be the optional model.

Both versions will come with a 66.5-kWh battery pack, all-wheel drive, and two electric motors. The EQB models will also have DC fast-charging capability, allowing the SUVs to go from 10 percent to 80 percent of charge in roughly 30 minutes. The main difference between the two models will be their horsepower ratings. The base EQB 300 4Matic will make 225 horsepower, while the EQB 350 4Matic will be rated at 288 horsepower.

When it comes to range, Mercedes has only provided information on European models. The vehicles will have a range of 418 kilometers or 260 miles. That's not a lot and it certainly means less for U.S. consumers, as the EPA's testing is harsher than the WLTP cycle. We expect the SUVs to arrive with roughly 230 miles of range.

Entering A Packed Segment

In the looks department, Mercedes has decided that all of its electric cars will look similar to the gasoline-powered versions that they're based on. We think it's a smart decision, as some electric vehicles have an odd mix of being too futuristic and others a little too bland. The EQB shares a lot of the same design elements as the GLB, though the front fascia, headlights, taillights, and rear bumper have all been updated. We expect a lot of the same design elements from the European model to also be found on the U.S. version. The interior of the EQB has even fewer changes compared to the outside.

When the EQB arrives in the U.S., it will face stiff competition. The Volkswagen ID.4, Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Audi e-tron, and Chevrolet Bolt EUV are all available for consumers to purchase now. Out of that list, the Model Y has the longest range with 326 miles and the XC40 Recharge has the lowest with 208 miles.

The EQB will join the Mercedes-EQ EQS sedan and EQE luxury sedan. The EQS is expected to go on sale before the end of 2021, while the EQE will arrive in 2022. Mercedes also has plans to come out with two electric SUVs, which are rumored to be a version of the EQS sedan and another one called the EQE. The EQB is its own entire thing and is definitely coming to America.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods