Mercedes’ 2022 EQB will cost from $54,500 when it arrives in U.S. showrooms this summer, meaning the electric SUV is priced below its Telsa Model Y rival, but above the Audi Q4 e-tron.
That base price swells to $55,550 including the obligatory $1,050 destination charge and nets you an EQB 300 4Matic with 225 hp (228 PS) and all-wheel drive. For an extra $3,550 you can increase your firepower to 288 hp (292 PS) by upgrading to the EQB 350 4Matic, although both models use the same 66.5 kWh battery. Mercedes says the entry level car can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds, while the more powerful version can do the job in 6.0 seconds flat.
How does that compare with the EQB’s rivals? The Tesla Model Y Long Range currently starts at $62,990 and the Audi Q4 50 e-tron kicks off at $49,900, both cars offering more performance than the Mercedes. The Tesla can get to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.8 seconds and Audi quotes 5.8 seconds for the 295 hp (299 PS) electric Q4. BMW doesn’t offer the European iX3 in North America.
Those Mercedes prices refer to the lowest of three available trim levels available. Standard equipment includes Benz’s latest MBUX infotainment software and an augmented reality navigation system viewed and operated through a combination of 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen of the same size. Safety equipment features prominently on the kit list, including active lane keeping assistance, blind spot assistance, and automatic braking with pedestrian detection.
Related: 2022 Mercedes EQB Breaks Cover As The EQA’s Boxier, More Practical Electric Sibling
Hand over an additional $1,250 and you step up to the EQB Exclusive, again offering a choice of two power levels, but this time with the bonus of keyless entry, wireless phone charging and an upgraded sound system.
Lording it over the Exclusive grade is the haughtily titled Pinnacle, which enjoys all of the same features, plus a Burmester surround sound HiFi, panoramic roof and surround view camera. Both versions also benefit from unlimited 30-minute charging sessions throughout the Electrify America network for the first two years and promise simplified charging and billing in other instances thanks to the integrated payment function. Filling the battery from 10-80 percent takes 32 minutes via a 100 kW charger.
Mercedes and the EPA haven’t released driving range figures to give us an idea of how often you might need to use those free Electrify America minutes, but the EQB 300 and 350 are rated at 260 miles (419 km) according to the European WLTP standards. That suggests a likely EPA rating of around 230-240 miles (370-386 km), which would put it on a par with the Audi Q4, but some way behind the Tesla. Which would you pick?
