• Tech heavy
• But easy to use
• Does feel a bit cheap in places

How is the quality and layout?

Up front, it’s all but identical to the petrol car, or indeed any other model based on this platform including the A-Class, B-Class and EQA. That means a glitzy dashboard featuring a pair of 10.25-inch screens – one for driving information, and another for infotainment.

Despite the screens, the all-important climate controls are on physical buttons, something we think works very well. The steering wheel houses things such as the cruise control, and once again these are as easy as a flick of a switch.

Material quality is generally good, though there are a few creaks if you press various areas of the dash. As for equipment, you get electrically-adjustable seats, ambient lighting, climate control and a raft of safety kit, though if you want adaptive cruise control you need to opt for a separate driving assistance pack.

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Infotainment and tech

All models come with the infotainment screen and complementary digital cockpit display. On the surface they look as though they’re one big screen but you can see a divider that shows where the infotainment stops and the cockpit display starts. The system it runs is called MBUX.

The graphics are sharp and it’s logically laid out. It’s all pretty much lifted straight from the GLB, except for the electric-car specific functions. MBUX is easy to use – with the option of using the touchscreen or excellent voice control. If all this is too much, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available across the range, bringing smartphone familiarity.

Comfort

• Very comfortable
• High driving position
• Electric seats

You sit high up in the EQB with a commanding view out. The car’s boxy shape helps you really judge where its extremities are and it’s easy to see behind you too.

Top-spec models have electric seats, with the buttons on the inside of the door and not somewhere out of eyeline, while the seats themselves are surprisingly sporty. They’re certainly no racing bucket seats, but pretty secure nevertheless.

The third-row isn’t the most comfortable place to spend time – but treat them as a pair of seats for pre-teens or smaller people and they’re up to the task.

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