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

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.

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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.

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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.