Mercedes EQB facelift: electric seven-seater gets new look and the latest tech

The 2024 EQB gets a fresh face and some interior tweaks, plus improved infotainment and driver assistance tech

2024 Mercedes EQB - front

Launched in 2021, the Mercedes EQB is still a fairly new face on the electric car scene. That being said, the German giant has already decided to freshen-up its electric seven-seater SUV in order to keep it competitive against soon-to-arrive rivals such as the Kia EV9.

The changes for this mid-life facelift aren’t exactly revolutionary, with the facelifted EQB getting new styling touches inside and out, improved functionality for its infotainment system, and a few user-experience tweaks, too.

Unlike the smaller EQA which is also simultaneously enjoying a mild refresh, Mercedes hasn’t promised any range improvements for the larger EQB. Therefore, for the time being, it’s fair to assume it’ll offer the same 253-mile WLTP maximum in both EQB 300 and 350 form. Likewise, performance should be similar – the EQB 300 dashes from 0-62mph in eight seconds flat, while the more powerful EQB 350 can manage the same sprint in 6.2 seconds.

What you do get is a new grille design; the old panel with its central bar design now makes way for a black grille that’s speckled with three-pointed star motifs. As before, this topped by an LED light bar, which now connects a pair of redesigned headlights. Around the back, Mercedes has also changed the graphic in the rear light units; there’s a new bumper too, though changes here aren’t quite as easy to spot.

Tick the right option box and you can now have more three-pointed stars imprinted onto the dashboard which illuminate at night. Mercedes will also offer open-pore wood trim as a subtler alternative, while the other big interior change comes in the form of a redesigned steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons.

More tweaks can be found within the EQB’s MBUX infotainment system; according to Mercedes, the latest iteration of its software now features clearer menus, a more accurate voice assistant feature and redesigned driver displays, with the choice of ‘subtle’, ‘sporty’ and ‘classic’ themes.

The optional Burmester audio system should sound even better now too, thanks to Dolby Atmos technology. Mercedes has also included four ‘Sound Experiences’ to enjoy while you’re driving – ‘Silver Waves’ and ‘Vivid Flux’ carry over from models like the EQS, while two others can be unlocked via the options list.

Perhaps more useful for most customers will be the inclusion of ‘Plug & Charge’ functionality. This means that at some charging stations, the car will automatically begin charging as soon as you plug it in, rather than requiring you to wave a card by the machine or spend time inputting payment details – just like in a Tesla Model Y. As far as the driving experience goes, Mercedes has also improved the active lane keep assist function, while there are new sensors and cameras too – including a better reversing camera for parking.

Full details and prices should be announced when order books open this autumn, while the first cars should reach customers by early 2024.

Recommended

Top 10 best electric family cars 2023/2024
Top 10 best electric family cars
Best cars

Top 10 best electric family cars 2023/2024

24 Nov 2023
Top 10 best electric SUVs 2023
Best electric SUVs
Best cars

Top 10 best electric SUVs 2023

27 Oct 2023
Top 10 best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2023
Best hybrid and electric seven-seaters
Best cars

Top 10 best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2023

22 Aug 2023
Mercedes EQB review
Mercedes EQB
In-depth reviews

Mercedes EQB review

21 Feb 2023

Most Popular

Morgan Super3 XP-1 is an electric three-wheeler
Morgan XP-1 - front
News

Morgan Super3 XP-1 is an electric three-wheeler

Morgan’s latest prototype previews an all-electric version of its Super3 three-wheeler
6 Dec 2023
MINI Cooper Electric: pricing and specs for British-built electric supermini
MINI Cooper Electric - header
News

MINI Cooper Electric: pricing and specs for British-built electric supermini

MINI’s latest electric hatchback introduces a revolutionary interior design, as well as larger batteries to provide a 250-mile range
6 Dec 2023
Kia EV9 review: here’s why it’s our Car of the Year
Kia EV9 - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Kia EV9 review: here’s why it’s our Car of the Year

As posh as it is palatial, the Kia EV9 sets a new standard for large mainstream SUVs while offering a strong and accurate electric range to boot
11 Dec 2023