Mercedes-Benz India, on Friday, launched the seven-seater GLB starting at INR 63.8 lakh, ex-showroom India, for the 200 trim level. The electric version of the SUV, the EQB, which is available only in the 300 4Matic trim, is priced at INR 74.5 lakh.
Notably, this is the first time for the German carmaker to launch a model with three different fuel type options in India - petrol, diesel and electric.
Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The launch of the EQB is also a significant step towards our vision of transitioning to a climate-neutral fleet gradually, with four luxury EVs in Mercedes-Benz India portfolio.”
Additionally, there is a residual value guarantee of 64% for three years for GLB as well as EQB, the company added.
GLB is offered with a choice of two engine options and two drivetrain options. The 1.3-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit produces 163hp and 250Nm and is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission that only sends drive to the front wheels. The petrol-powered vehicle comes in FWD form only.
While the 2.0L four-cylinder diesel power plant, which produces 190 hp and 400 Nm of torque, is mated to an eight-speed DCT and comes in FWD and AWD drivetrain options.
The EQB, meanwhile, gets propelled by an asynchronous motor (ASM) at the front and a Permanently excited Synchronous Motor (PSM) at the rear to provide a total output of 168 kW and 390 Nm of toqrue. The e-SUV features a 66.5 kWh battery pack providing a WLTP-certified range of 388-423 kms with a consumption rate of 18.1 kWh/km.
A press release from Mercedes-Benz stated that the GLB comes with an eight-year engine transmission warranty while the EQB is equipped with an eight-year battery warranty.
On the inside, both the models get a dual 10.25-inch screen for the touchscreen infotainment system while the other for the instrument cluster.
The infotainment system features the MBUX software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, in-built navigation, and the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice prompt. Besides, the SUVs also feature a wireless charger, powered front seats with memory, 64-colour ambient lighting, a large panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate and parking assist, to name a few.
On the safety front, the EQB has a high-voltage system that can automatically switch off in a crash. Another feature of this comprehensive safety concept is that the charging process is automatically stopped if an impact is detected when the car is charging at a DC charging station.
Creating EV Ecosystem
With the launch of the EQB, the German luxury carmaker currently offers four EV models in India, out of which three were launched in the current financial year.
As a measure to create a butter smooth pathway for EV adoption, Mercedes-Benz claims to have set up 30 ultra-fast chargers across the country, while ten more are planned by the end of 2022.
With this, the company will offer more than 140 charging points across the country. In addition, EQB customers will also receive a complimentary AC wall box and can avail of complimentary charging for the first year of car ownership.
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