Mercedes-Benz will announce the price of its two entry-level 7-seat SUVs for India on December 2, 2022. The three-row GLB and its all-electric sibling – the EQB – will be launched on the same day. Mercedes has started accepting bookings for the models for a token amount of Rs 1.5 lakh.
Both the GLB and EQB SUVs are based on the same MFA2 platform. The GLB in India will come in three variants – the entry-level GLB 200, the mid-spec GLB 220d and the top-of-the-line GLB 220d 4Matic. The GLB 200 petrol will come with a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine that is good for 163hp, mated to a seven-speed automatic, while the GLB 220d siblings get a 2.0-litre 190hp powerplant mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The GLB 200 will be sold in a single Progressive Line exterior package that gets dual slat grille, faux skid plates, chrome trim on the exterior and 18-inch alloy wheels. It will come with the AMG Line package that gets a sharp looking bumper, single-slat AMG-themed grille and 19-inch AMG five-spoke alloy wheels.
On the inside, both the models get a centrally mounted touchscreen and a 10.25-inch instrument cluster. There will be five exterior and three interior shade options available for the GLB SUV in India.
The EQB – the first 7-seater EV in India – will be Mercedes’ third electric offering in India after the EQC SUV and the EQS sedan. It shares most of its body panels and overall look with its ICE counterpart, the GLB, but receives some EQ-specific styling differences such as a blanked-off front grille and unique headlight design, among others. Inside too, the EQB’s interior looks identical to the GLB except for a splatter of gold paint on the turbine-like vents.
The EQB EV SUV will be sold in India under the guise of the entry-level EQB 300. It makes 228hp and comes with a 66.5kWh battery that offers a claimed range of up to 419km (WLTP).