Mercedes-Benz EQB review

Previously, this is where the EQB would earn its place on your shopping list. Because while pricey and uninteresting to drive, at least the interior had appeal that the Stellantis crew could only dream of.

Now? Not so fast. The seven-seat Kia EV9 has arrived on the scene and that has a cabin we like very much: well-finished and clean, if not as glamorous as the price tag demands. But who needs glamour in a family hauler?

Mercedes has used the 2024 facelift to update a few bits, including its MBUX infotainment system and the latest version of its ‘Hey Mercedes!’ voice assistant. You’ll notice too that the steering wheel has been overhauled, with physical buttons thrown in the bin in favour of haptic ones. They are a right pain, and the volume slider in particular will lead to cries of ‘Why Mercedes?!’ on a daily basis.

Talk tech to me…

The dashboard layout is as per all the small Mercs, meaning the same touchscreens, touchpads and voice control as the A-Class. This has mixed reviews within the Top Gear team; some love it and find the dominance of vocal commands a very natural thing to get their heads around, while others – particularly those with regional accents – get a little more flustered. Your best bet is to give it all a lengthy try out at the dealer before committing.

Mercedes has fixed a couple of fluffed lines too: there are now five USB-C sockets dotted around the cabin (no more shouting as the kids’ phones run low on charge at the same time - hooray!) while the hyper-alert touchpad in the centre console has been consigned to history.

What’s the packaging like?

Like everyone else Mercedes has placed the battery in the floor, which does impinge on passenger room a little. The driving position is higher than ideal for those of us who like to scooch right down, but then most SUV buyers probably aren’t phased by such things. The sliding second row seats – the three in the middle of the car – are broadly very comfy but adults might feel their legs are at a slightly unnatural angle due to not being able to rest their feet low enough. But they shouldn’t find themselves short on actual room.

Those seats manually recline, allowing you to create space for more stuff in the boot, or more space for the legs of people who’ve clambered into the rearmost pair of seats. Mercedes says anyone 5ft 4 (1.6m) should fit. How comfortable they’ll be (and for how long) is up for discussion, though. The boot’s luggage capacity is 340 litres with the seats up, or 1,320 with them all folded.