Mercedes-Benz is bringing a fresh dose of electric sophistication to the urban sprawl (alas Not New Zealand we’re told) dropping the covers on its new EQA and EQB 250+ City Edition models. Tailored specifically for the rhythm and demands of city life, these all-electric siblings blend confident style with a clever equipment package, all while ducking under some crucial Australian tax thresholds.
Dressed for the Metropolis
So, what makes a Merc a “City Edition”? It starts with the look. Both the EQA and EQB City Editions ride on distinctive 19-inch AMG bi-colour alloy wheels, a first for these variants in Australia. Paired with a comfort suspension setup, Mercedes promises a ride that’s smooth and composed, ready to soak up jarring city streets and remain poised on open-road weekend escapes.
The standard kit is generous, clearly aimed at buyers who expect premium without ticking endless option boxes. You get metallic paint, a panoramic sliding sunroof for letting in the city lights, the KEYLESS-GO Comfort Package, and heated front seats with memory function right out of the box. The exterior gets the AMG Line styling treatment, complemented by dark-tinted heat-insulating glass and LED High Performance headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist.
A Cabin of Comfort and Code
Inside, the City Editions are pure contemporary Mercedes. Dominating the dashboard is the widescreen digital display running the slick MBUX infotainment system. It’s packed with features like Augmented Reality for Navigation to make sure you never miss a turn, and even a fingerprint scanner to load individual driver profiles.
Front passengers are treated to sports-style seats trimmed in a combination of ARTICO man-made leather and MICROCUT microfibre, while the driver grips a multifunction steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather. Standard tech includes wireless device charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, ambient lighting, and an Advanced Sound System to make your commute a little more concert-like.
On the safety front, a comprehensive driver assistance suite is included, featuring a 360° camera, DISTRONIC Active Distance Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Assist.
Power and Practicality
Both the EQA and EQB 250+ models share the same powertrain: a single electric motor sending a healthy 140 kW and 385 Nm to the wheels, powered by a 70.5 kWh battery. This delivers a claimed NEDC range of 578 km for the EQA and a slightly lower 564 km for the seven-seat EQB. While the NEDC test cycle is older and tends to be more optimistic than the current WLTP standard, these figures still promise more than enough range for a week of city errands and the freedom for a long weekend away.
For those needing more space, the EQB 250+ remains the flexibility champion. It comes standard with a third row of seating, boosting capacity to seven, which can be folded flat into the boot floor when you need to haul cargo instead of crew. The second row even slides by up to 140mm, allowing you to prioritise boot space or rear legroom as needed.
We’ve yet to find out if it’s coming to NZ, but we’ll let you know – alas Not!
