Just what the future-minded family ordered – a seven-chair electric car.

FAMILY requirement for a compact seven-seater electric car that sidesteps styling like a sports utility has just been answered by Mercedes – but Kiwis feeling the need will have to wait until 2022.

This from the brand’s New Zealand operation in respect to the EQB, to all intents a battery-compelled version of the GLB, which has fast risen up the popularity scale since recent national release, and also closely related to the entirely electric EQA compact crossover that has just shown up here.

Acknowledged as one of the few electric vehicles in the world with seven-seater capability, the EQB underwent global unveiling at the Shanghai motor show and is intended to enter production soon.

It will kick off in entry 250 front-drive and 350 4Matic all-wheel-drive, the entry edition carrying a 66kWh battery pack capable of 419km on a single charge and using electric power at a WLTP-ratified rate of 19.2kWh per 100 kilometres.

Less is known about the EQB 350, save that it will deliver 215kW and have a larger battery pack. Mercedes-EQ is also planning higher performance versions with more than 200kW also says it has a 'particularly long-range version' in the pipeline.

What price? That and specification for NZ won’t be released until much closer to the car’s release here some time in 2022.

However, thought that it is expected to position within the same broad pricing sphere as the GLB has been aired overseas and there’s no local deniability that this could be the case, too.

Just to refresh on that matter. In petrol form that box full of chairs built upon an A-Class underpinning starts at $78,900 in 1.4-litre front-drive ‘200’ form, steps up to an all-wheel-drive $92,200 2.0-litre ‘250’ that has been winning the bulk of orders to date with all-wheel-drive then tops with an all-paw, still-unpriced AMG35 edition.

Reminded that Mercedes here has seemingly demonstrated determination to meet the market with the EQA, which rattled a few cages through having dropped in from $85,500, a local market spokesman said “following the positive reception to the news of EQA, we’re confident that the EQB’s combination of assets will find a comfortable place among shifting market trends.

“We’re certainly optimistic and open-minded about the EQB’s prospects in New Zealand.”

GLB is proving popular and so there’s no reason to doubt an electric alternate offering effectively the same pluses shouldn’t be as well, he added.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest in GLB based on its styling and the seven seat configuration, and we expect similar in the electric segment once EQB becomes available.”

He said Mercedes-Benz New Zealand was in a fortunate position with a diverse selection of popular vehicles already contributing to its success “and more exciting and relevant models soon to arrive. The EQB will be a great addition.”

Dimensionally speaking the EQB measures 4684mm long, 1834mm wide and 1667mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2829mm – so, only marginal differences compared against GLB.

Maximum boot capacity of 1620 litres is only 60 litres down on the GLB, while the second row of seats have adjustable-inclination backrests and the ability to slide forwards or backwards by up to 140mm.

Mercedes says the third row of seats in the EQB can be used by people up to 1.6 metres tall, while they will also accommodate child seats.

On the outside, the EQB has the typical EQ black-panel front grille with a large central star logo, while there are full-width light strips front and rear of the vehicle, as well as aero-optimised alloy wheel designs and a blue tinge to the LED headlights. The car has a drag coefficient of 0.28.

The Widescreen Cockpit interface with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience is augmented with 'Navigation with Electric Intelligence', which can calculate the fastest route to the chosen destination, including any necessary charging stops if the journey is longer than the car can travel on its battery level.