Just one model year after releasing the EQB crossover and days after announcing a more-affordable front-drive model, Mercedes-Benz is announcing some upgrades and enhancements to its smallest EV. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB will get improved voice control and audio system experiences, more bougie dashboard trim, and some driver assistance changes. The model lineup is also set to change, though Benz has yet to confirm the final powertrain offerings.
Only EQB 250+ confirmed for model year 2024 for now
For 2023, Mercedes-Benz launched the EQB 350 4Matic with 288 hp, all-wheel drive, and 356 km of range. The EQB 250 with front-wheel drive, 400 km of range, and an incentive-friendly price was announced earlier this August.
For 2024, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the EQB 250+; a second model will be “an all-wheel drive variant to be announced in the near future.” In the press release, Benz includes specs for both the 225-hp EQB 300 4Matic and 288-hp EQB 350 4Matic, but notes that one of the two will be brought to Canada. All 2024 models will share the same 70.5-kWh usable battery capacity, same as the 2023 models. The current EQB 350 is priced too high for most Canadian EV incentives, so Mercedes may be considering the cheaper EQB 300 to meet that criteria.
Design and technical tweaks focus on customization and user experience
Back to the changes for the 2024 EQB 250 and whichever 4Matic model we get, starting with the cabin. There is a new steering wheel that looks more in line with other current Benz models and features touch control panels to let the driver operate the MBUX system. For the interior trim, buyers can opt for open-pore wood or a Mercedes-Benz logo pattern that also comes in a backlit variant.
The latest MBUX infotainment interface has new software that Benz says better integrates charging features, giving drivers more information on the charging process. Upgrades to the voice assistant should make it more capable of understanding dialogue and learning user commands, routines, and preferences.
An upgrade to the optional Burmester surround sound system brings Dolby Atmos audio to the car. The feature is meant to add more clarity and depth to the sound experience and make audio more like what the artists and producers intended.
A new camera in the front expands the driver assistance suite’s functionality and should improve system performance, while another new camera in the rear should make reversing less stressful. Additional improvements to the system – for example, lane-keeping assist using steering intervention rather than braking – makes it work “more comfortably” than before, according to Benz.
The EQB gets four new wheel designs in 18- through 20-inch sizes and a pair of new paint jobs. The star-logo grille has been updated to match the bigger Benz EVs, with a new light band connecting the daytime running lights. The front bumper is new, and the taillights have some new detailing inside.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 should arrive at dealers in Canada in the first quarter of 2024. More details on the AWD model, including availability, should be announced soon.
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