Should you buy one?

The Mercedes-Benz EQB feels like just the kind of practical family car that’ll turn buyers who need lots of seats on to electric motoring. Its strongest forte is comfortable, stress-free driving, and that’s at its best in the entry-level 250 model.

It’s practical enough for family life, and comes with an electric range that’s just about long enough not to irritate in the more powerful models, and better in the 250. It’s also premium in feel and has eye-catching looks.

If you’re in the market for an upscale electric family SUV with seating for seven and the option of four-wheel drive, not much can touch it. The van-based electric MPVs, such as the Peugeot e-Rifter, are much more practical but aren’t as desirable or as good as actual cars.

If your needs are less specific, and don’t need seven seats, we also recommend a Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 for their wider envelope of talents. The Kia EV9 is another alternative with lots to recommend – it’s larger, with seven more properly-sized pews, but you pay more for its greater footprint and gargantuan battery pack.

What we like

The comfort and refinement are truly impressive, and if you’re after a relaxed drive, you need not look any further. The EQB’s boxy shape makes it practical, but it manages to not look like a van. The standard equipment is strong, it’s really quiet and broadly good value for money.

What we don’t like

The range could be better on the 300 and 350 and other electric cars go much further for a similar amount of money. We also wonder how many people really need or want four-wheel drive on those models.