Mercedes GLB Electric praise

Mercedes-Benz’s new electric GLB is getting strong early reviews because it does something rare in compact electric sport utility vehicles: it puts family space and fast charging ahead of flash. (mbusa.com) The model replaces the old Mercedes-EQ EQB and folds the battery version back into the main GLB lineup as the GLB with EQ Technology, a shift Mercedes announced when it unveiled the new generation on December 7, 2025. (cars.com) Mercedes says the electric GLB will offer up to seven seats, an 85 kilowatt-hour battery, up to 392 miles of range on the European WLTP test, and charging at up to 320 kilowatts on an 800-volt system. (mbusa.com) That combination targets a narrow gap in the market: a premium compact electric sport utility vehicle with a third row that is not van-based and does not stretch into full-size dimensions. Cars.com called it the only choice in that niche at launch. (cars.com) Recent road tests have centered on the same point. Car magazine said the GLB Electric is “one of its best” Mercedes models, while Auto Express rated it 4.5 out of 5 and called it a major step on from the old EQB. (carmagazine.co.uk) (autoexpress.co.uk) The praise is tied to practical gains, not just a new badge. Mercedes says the new GLB has more headroom, more second-row legroom, up to 19.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, up to 60.6 cubic feet with seats folded, and a front trunk. (media.mbusa.com) Reviewers also point to lower running compromise than before. Car magazine said the new model starts about £6,000 below the old EQB in Britain, and Auto Express said its stretched body and flatter floor make the middle row easier for families and child seats. (carmagazine.co.uk) (autoexpress.co.uk) Underneath, the GLB moves to Mercedes’ new compact-car architecture, the same basic platform used by the latest CLA. Mercedes pairs that with a two-speed rear transmission and software-controlled regenerative braking, which recovers energy during deceleration to extend range. (cars.com) The first electric GLB is due in the United States as a 2027 model next fall, with hybrid GLB variants scheduled to follow in early 2027. For now, the early verdict is that Mercedes took its most utilitarian small sport utility vehicle and made the electric version more useful. (mbusa.com)