2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB: Electric or not?
March 22 2023,
Lend a cursory glance at these two models – the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB and the 2023 Mercedes-EQ EQB – and you may think they were one in the same what with their identical boxy profiles and all. Sure; the EQB’s front and rear lights and grille are all a little more modern looking and it gets some unique wheel designs, but those are features one might see in a mid-cycle refresh for the GLB, the likes of which the model is about to undergo for 2024.
Of course, the Mercedes-Benz GLB and the EQB are two very different vehicles, centered mainly around the fact that switching the “GL” for an “EQ” means the EQB is a full battery-electric vehicle available in a single trim – the EQB 350 – and the GLB is a gas-powered crossover that comes in two different styles, one of which is of the AMG high performance variety.
For its part, the EQB is good for 365 km of driving without burning a single hydrocarbon, and can gamely zip along on the strength of 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. All of that power, of course, is instantly accessible because with a single-speed transmission there is no delay from throttle input to acceleration, unless you select a more range-friendly drive mode.
The GLB comes as the GLB 250 4Matic with a turbo four-cylinder motor good for 221 hp and 258 lb-ft. Not as much as the EQB – and with the GLB, you do have a transmission to worry about – but it does way about 1,000 lbs less that does the EQB. Upgrading to the AMG GLB 35, meanwhile, takes the 2.0L turbo motor and ups the wick, to the tune of 302 hp and 295 lb-ft, fed to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual clutch AMG-Speedshift transmission. For its part, the GLB 250 gets an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox.
Inside, both the EQB and GLB are available with either two or three-row seating, and both get digital dashboards with twin 12.3” digital displays for your infotainment screen and gauge cluster. The EQB gets a unique backlit dash insert option while the 250 and GLB 35 get a red/black interior colour choice the EQB does not. It’s actually the AMG GLB 35 that looks the most unique thanks to its flat-bottomed steering wheel and silver sports pedals.
Ultimately, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB and 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB give their owners a spacious and versatility luxury SUV with the latest in tech features, safety systems, and advanced connectivity. Choosing between each model ultimately depends on your needs, but we can guarantee that both will surpass your expectations.
