It is no news that Singapore is committed to greening its land transport system and has set a vision to have 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. This is just a few more years to come and car makers like Mercedes-Benz are supporting the country’s vision by launching a whole range of electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore.
One SUV from the Mercedes-Benz EV range that boasts practicality, luxury and efficiency is the EQB 350 4MATIC AMG (EQB 350), which was launched in August last year.
“The EQB is part of our ever-growing Mercedes-EQ line-up, and it stays true to the foundation that its siblings have laid by offering consumers the luxury and efficiency that they have come to expect from the Mercedes-Benz brand. It is the second, all-electric compact car that we are offering, and we have developed it with the busy consumer in mind — it is truly the perfect solution to all their transportation needs, from big family trips to simple grocery shopping in the city,” says Claudius Steinhoff, president and CEO of Daimler South East Asia/ Mercedes-Benz Singapore.
“The EQB is Mercedes-EQ’s first seven-seater option, and consumers can expect for it to all come together to give drivers a smooth, luxurious, and comfortable journey. We look forward to our consumers embarking on their daily drives and adventures with the EQB, and of course, an unforgettable ride,” he adds.
Options had the opportunity to test drive the EQB 350, a seven-seater SUV that is spacious on the outside, yet spacious on the inside.
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The EQB 350 shares much of its architecture, body and interior with the gasoline-powered GLB. It is powered by two electric motors, a permanently excited synchronous motor at the rear axle and an asynchronous motor at the front, delivering a total e-drive output of 215 kW and a peak torque of 520 Nm. This brings the SUV’s acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds. That is pretty fast for a family SUV car that has a total weight of about 2,580kg.
As for the driving dynamics, the EQB 350’s steering is direct and nicely weighted, providing decent feedback. The vehicle also offers a smooth and linear braking experience, with a well-planted multilink rear axle that ensures a tonne of traction out of corners.
This is my first time driving an EV and the drive was easier and smoother than I thought it would be. In my opinion, the EQB 350 drives like a mini luxury SUV, offering a smooth, silent surge of power, as well as quiet and spacious comfort. The smooth drive can also be attributed to the comfortable suspension with steel springs and multi-link rear axle. The suspension with Adaptive Damping System offers the possibility of choosing your preferred damping characteristics. So, regardless of road conditions, this car can drive through it and you would hardly feel the bumps and cracks.
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The way I see it, this is a perfect family car, being able to fit seven people comfortably. The EQB 350 offers a third-row seating option, suitable for passengers up to 165cm tall. The second row slides fore and aft, providing ample leg and knee room for taller passengers.
The EQB also features intelligent driving assistance systems with cooperative support for the driver. The enhanced functions of the Driving Assistance Package include, for example, the turning manoeuvre function, the emergency corridor function, the exit warning function alerting the driver to approaching cyclists or vehicles and a warning when pedestrians are detected near zebra crossings.
Included as standard are the Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist. In many situations, the purpose of the latter is to prevent a collision by autonomous braking or to mitigate its consequences. The system is also able to brake for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians at typical city speeds and even prevent collisions, depending on the situation.
In certain situations, the EQB can drive in partially automated mode. To do this, it keeps a close eye on the traffic situation. Improved camera and radar systems allow it to see far ahead. The EQB also uses map and navigation data for assistance functions. For example, Active Distance Assist Distronic as part of the optional Driving Assistance Package can provide route-based support to the driver in numerous situations, and predictively and conveniently adjust the speed, such as when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts. In doing so, it interacts with the radar-based recuperation feature.
Another feature to boast about is the range of this vehicle. In testing, the EQB 350 showed a range of up to 423km under normal conditions. However, it is worth noting that in extreme conditions, such as cold weather and high speeds, the range and efficiency can decrease significantly. Regardless, range is hardly an issue when driving around, thanks to the country’s highly connected roads and ease of finding public chargers.
Overall, the EQB 350 is an attractive option for those seeking a compact SUV with the luxury and comfort of a Mercedes-Benz, combined with the practicality of an EV. Its interior space, advanced technology and smooth driving dynamics make it a compelling choice.
The EQB 350 is also the first model that consumers can order and reserve online through the Mercedes-Benz Store in Singapore. This marks the brand’s first foray into a clicks-and-bricks business model, which allows consumers to browse the full range of model variants online at their convenience and comfort, place a deposit, and have a sales representative reach out to them to see out the rest of the car-buying process.
