After three years with the Mercedes EQB 350, I've come to a clear conclusion: Mercedes built an excellent car but failed to understand modern customer expectations.
The driving experience is exceptional. The instant torque combined with Mercedes' handling expertise makes every journey enjoyable. The seven-seat configuration, while tight in the third row, has proven practical for family use.
But here's where things get frustrating. The MBUX system, while competent, hasn't received meaningful updates. Worse yet, after three years, Mercedes wants €300 annually to maintain access to features that were part of the original purchase. This feels like squeezing loyal customers rather than supporting them.
The rapid depreciation is particularly painful, especially when Mercedes releases a facelifted version with improvements like a towing hitch that existing customers can't retrofit. This highlights the disconnect between traditional auto industry practices and what modern consumers expect from premium products.
Tesla has shown that regular software updates and hardware upgradeability aren't just possible – they're expected. Mercedes, with its engineering excellence, should be leading this transformation, not clinging to outdated business models.
The solution is straightforward: develop vehicles as platforms that can evolve. This means modular systems allowing hardware upgrades, long-term software support without additional fees, and retrofit options for significant improvements.
While I remain satisfied with the core driving experience, I can't help but feel Mercedes missed an opportunity to define what a truly modern luxury vehicle ownership experience could be. The EQB 350 is an excellent car trapped in an outdated business philosophy.
I'm somehow not sure if my next car will be a Mercedes.