Review: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 - Tough Sell

I spend a week with the 2023 Mercedes EQB 250 to see what it's like to live with. In a vacuum, it's a nice driving vehicle that feels pretty luxurious if you get the right options on it, but it does have 2 big downfalls, charge speed and pricing. Once you begin cross-shopping, the EQB begins to fall short of basically all its competitors, and even Mercedes fans will have a better option within the Mercedes lineup. What do you think about the 2023 Mercedes EQB 250? Thanks to Mercedes for providing this vehicle.

Time stamps:
0:00 Exterior
1:50 Interior
2:51 Initial impressions
5:55 Acceleration
7:42 Handling and ride
10:08 Battery and charging info
12:02 Highway driving and safety tech
13:17 Efficiency
14:07 Pricing and competitor comparisons
21:12 Final thoughts

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[aidanlee]

Honestly, despite with those options, I've ordered an EQB250 myself last June and will pick it up in the next few days. A lot of you have mentioned how underwhelming it is, $56k for a base Merc with no distronic and heated seats, and with a deplorable 9 second 0-100km/h time. However, it seems like a lot of you don't realise it is the only electric seven-seater mid-size SUV in the market (except for the EV9 which is still not on sale yet). I believe it can be a decent choice if you are in dire need of seven seats and live in a country with high fuel prices. I live in Hong Kong, where petrol is more than US$10/gallon. Electric cars here also get tax concessions of up to around US$35k (consider we have to pay an additional 100% first registration tax on top of the car's price). For instance, a "base" EQB250 here cost about US$65k with concessions(comes standard with AMG line, comfort access, AMG wheels, Smartphone integration, Blind-spot monitoring etc.). Ironically, a poverty spec GLB250 only cost about US$2-3k less than an already loaded EQB. Consider how expensive owning a gas car is in HK (expensive gas prices and about US$1000 for annual road tax and around US$300/month for monthly parking), I dare to say the EQB is designed for cities like in Hong Kong, where each household only has one car to take their family of five with two grandparents for their weekend gatherings. It may not be the most luxurious, but it's the sole competitor on the market that is able to alleviate the pressure of filling up one of the expensive gases in the world in a daily basis. (Household electricity is less than US$0.30 per kilowatt)


Edit: In HK, all model Ys here are Made in China, which do not offer seven seats.

[SteveRunciman]

great review. would love to know what the Merc executives were thinking when they decided to produce/price this vehicle.

[ascendantP]

Great honest review! Glad you're not bias by Mercedes lending you the car to review and calling it out as it is. Plenty of other options for an EV at this price point that makes this vehicle almost a non-consideration. it should let Mercedes know what the expectations are and not just rely on their brand name to sell any vehicle

[viperhd]

I got an EQB, largely because of its huge boot. It's a lot bigger than e.g. the XC40 Recharge. But also: while it's way overpriced, in lease it's much more competitive over here. I could get a better specced 350 (actually full-option) than an XC40 Recharge, for the same lease cost. It was even significantly cheaper in lease than a bare iX3 that costs €5000 less.

[tonyn]

Outdated the moment you buy it, if it had 280 mile range, at least, but not even that for $60k, no thanks, I can do 0-60 in 8 seconds in my 1998 mini van.

[nberkel]

I don't think it looks too bad overall, but man does it not make sense to get this with so many better options out there! Props on recommending Tesla Y over this too. Surprised you didn't bring up Mach E.

[naveenthemachine]

Matt this is still way better than the rz450e so there’s that. Although that’s easy to beat

So the EQB is a no brainer over the RZ

[scottlenahan]

I just can’t get into this. Looks like a 2014 model. Good review though!

[colonelccccc]

Oh my god the noise in the cabin ! also, how can you say it is efficient at 2.8 Miles/Kwh and you are ALONE in it, what happens when you are a family in it with kids and all ?

[eddieg]

I’d get the Genesis GV60 over the Merc 100%!!!!

[Wonsdloc]

The strong re-gen is because they used the same system for the EQS but didn’t compensate for the difference in weight.

[AdamJakowenko]

The internet doesn't agree on much but I think we found the one thing where everyone can come together....the EQB should not be anyone's first choice 😁. We did it! ☮️

[wg]

What a boring looking car. Car destined by a computer for efficiently. I get it.. but still not a good looking car. From the outside, I don’t see luxury right away like I expect from a Mercedes.

Edit: And $56K for starting? I’m sorry but that’s too expensive for a base trim that is missing options many other cars have for tens of thousands of dollars less.

[drewbewho]

Is a heated steering wheel the least important thing in the universe? 🙂

[kubectlgetpo]

What are all those pipes and stuff in frunk? How come no other needs all.that

[ulamss]

the occasional road bumps/noise coming through as bass pops is kind of annoying, i thought my headphones were dying.

[marcnobel]

That car was just made by Mercedes to get some of the Government Grands here in Europe as it was just available for cars up to a certain price. At that time the European market was empty and people bought what they could get their hands on in this price bracket. It is an ICE Car converted to a EV. Also good for the average Co2 Emissions they are allowed to reach here. A real EV in that size by Mercedes (like EQE and EQS) will be not available until they replace that platform they are using now. Until that it just fills the gap and will be mainly a product that sells in low numbers in Europe. Maybe there will not even be a 1 to 1 replacement for the A and B Class segment. As Mercedes earns almost no money on those cars anyway and don`t need small cars now anymore (because of more EVs) to keep their Emission targets in the EU.

[kubectlgetpo]

6:01 that is some serious disappointment 😂

[AndrewLumsden]

"Glass windows" Wow, that's amazing. What will they think of next? 🙄🤣

[TheCarCrazyGuy]

This car is a huge downgrade compared to my Genesis GV60 Performance.