Mercedes has revealed a first look at its new GLB SUV. And why are we talking about the GLB and not the EQB? In a change to the previous generation, Mercedes has ditched the EQB badging and the car has magically become the GLB with EQ Technology.
This is the second generation of the car, which was originally launched in 2019. Unlike many of the other SUVs in the Merc range, this one has boxier, more old-fashioned styling, with an upright windscreen and long flat styling. There are a few more curves on the updated version – you could squint from a distance and imagine you were looking at the Mini Countryman.
You won’t mistake it for a money once the lights are turned on and the 94 miniature Mercedes logos with LEDs behind them dazzle onlookers from the front grille. The GLB also gets the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star motif in its front and rear lights.
Crucially the GLB also keeps its seven seat option, which sets it apart as one of the few proper electric seven seaters available on the market, with rivals like the Peugeot e-5008 and Kia EV9. Mercedes says it has made the back seats more comfortable than before, with added legroom and reprofiled door openings to make it easier to climb in. The seven-seat versions of the electric GLB get a sliding middle bench as standard.
Boot space is up to 540 litres with five seats in place (the seven seat version loses 60 litres with the extra seats folded down) and up to 1,715 litres with all the seats folded (the seven seater is 1,605). The car also gets a 127-litre frunk under the bonnet, for an impressive bit of storage space up front.
There will be maximum practicality for families, though – there are four Isofix points in the back (two on each row) and you can fit a child seat on the front passenger seat using the seatbelt.
There will be two powertrain options at launch – the current entry model is the 268hp 250+ version, rated at 3.9 miles per kWh from the 85kWh battery and an impressive 392 miles of WLTP range. That can manage the 0–62mph run in 7.2 seconds.
The range topper will be the 349hp GLB 350 4MATIC, offering four-wheel drive thanks to its twin motor setup and 382 miles of range. That gets to 62mph in 5.5 seconds. Top speed across the board is limited to 130mph and the electric GLB is rated to tow up to 2,000kg.
More electric variants will be coming, though, including a new entry option. A brace of mild hybrid petrol models are also on the way.
When it comes to charging up, Mercedes says that thanks to the 800V architecture you’ll be able to charge the car an extra 162 miles in 10 minutes at up to 320kW, though the company is still insisting on charging extra if you want to use a 400V charging system like it’s doing with the new CLA.
Other interior features inside include the optional Superscreen tech up front, which consists of a 10.25in digital instrument panel, a 14in touchscreen infotainment display and another 14in screen for the passenger, with the dashboard space between the screens covered in glass. The screens are powered by high tech gaming chips to make sure they always run smoothly.
Non-Superscreen cars will get the digital dashboard and 14in infotainment display paired with a more prosaic material trim to the upper dashboard.
There’s more fancy tech coming to the GLB though – Mercedes says that it has upgraded its MBUX ‘virtual assistant’, and it now combines Google Gemini and ChatGPT technology to provide better answers to more natural questions.
A panoramic roof is fitted as standard, and an optional extra to that is an electronically controlled system that turns the glass opaque when you want to block the sunlight or maintain a bit of privacy.
The GLB is already on sale in Germany from around £51,500, with deliveries starting in early 2026. We don't have any prices and specs for the UK version yet, so we'd expect it's going to be available a little later in right-hand drive format.
Mercedes says it's made the back seats comfortable for people up to 5'7" – thrones for short kings and queens 
