Mercedes-Benz calls the GLB a baby GLS and I can see why. A first glance and it surely gives you the GLS vibes.
It is a given fact that we Indians love SUVs. And that holds true for every segment out there right from the budget end to the luxury space. Mercedes-Benz has been on a roll when it comes to SUVs, and here’s a cool fact; Mercedes has the largest SUV portfolio for any OEM in India. And the long waiting lists just show much people love them. The current GLC has been sold out, and while we wait for the new gen car, the three pointed star has brought in two new SUVs to India. The Mercedes-Benz GLB and the all electric EQB. And both of them seven seater SUVs. I was in chilly Kodaikanal and a hot Madurai to get some first impressions driving them on some fantastic roads.
Mercedes-Benz GLB & EQB Exterior
Mercedes calls the GLB a baby GLS and I can see why. A first glance and it surely gives you the GLS vibes. The large grille with a single slat and large logo gives the front a bold stance and the rectangular headlamps ad a classy touch. The bonnet comes with prominent haunches that add to the SUV character. The GLB220d I drove gets 19 inch AMG alloys, this being the range topping variant and the wheel design too is quite nice. The rear shouts out GLS with similar looking tail lamps and posture. Infact I love how the GLB looks from the rear three quarter angle. With the overall size, the packaging looks fantastic for an urban SUV.
Coming to the EQB, it is overall based on the GLB itself and size is largely similar. There are minor differences in the dimensions though. While the EQB is longer, the GLB is wider and taller. Wheelbase is identical for both. Coming to the design, the EQB gets the familiar EQ face that we now know of. The swoopy headlamps look quite sexy and are connected with an LED light strip. The front grille panel looks futuristic and overall the RQB has a more softer look than the GLB. There is EQB badging on the front fenders and it gets 18 inch aero friendly alloy wheels. At the rear, you get sleek curvy tail lamps connected by a light bar and that looks funky at night. And to complete it all, there is the EQB300 badging on the tail gate. A big highlight is this Rose Gold paint shade on the EQB. I have seen Rose Gold phones and stuff but this is a first for a car. Even the key is finished in the same shade. While opinions on the look at divided, I feel its quite a stand out and adds to the cool EQ factor.
