Mercedes won over fans with their small SUV, the GLA, in recent years, and now they have an electric version, the Mercedes EQA, which is the manufacturer’s most affordable EV. So, is this car the right one for you? Let’s take a look and see!
Overview
Range: 426km
Charging time and ports: 1 hour 5 mins on a 50kW charger, 32 mins on a 100kW charger, 7 hours on a 7.7kW charger, 5 hours on an 11kW and 22 hours and 10 mins at home on a 2.4kW charger. The Mercedes EQA uses a Type 2 charger.
Battery: 69.7kWh
Power: 140kW
Efficiency (Vehicle consumption): 16.2kWh/100km
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 8.9s
Top Speed: 160km/h
Torque: 370Nm
Weight: 2040kg
Drive Type: Front-wheel drive
Dimensions: L 4463mm, W 1834mm, H 1624mm
Design & look
The Mercedes EQA feels very familiar and is essentially an electric version of the brand’s GLA SUV, with the EQA looking remarkably similar to the combustion variant. There are some differences to the GLA, however. For instance, you get 19-inch alloy wheels, light bars that stretch across both the front and rear of the car (giving it a more futuristic look) and the black plastic fascia covering the grille.
You also get aluminium roof rails, dusk-sensing headlights and a hands-free power-operated tailgate. Once the car’s lights are on, there’s no mistaking it for a GLA, thanks to the EQA’s taillights that stretch from side to side.
However, one downside of the car is that the boot’s capacity is just 340L, which is 105L less than the GLA. And much less than the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s at 527L! With the rear seats folded, however, you get 1320L of storage. Sadly, there is no ‘frunk’ or ‘froot’ under the bonnet, so you’ll need to store those charging cables in the boot, which may take away from that precious storage space.
The Mercedes EQA offers a comfortable, quiet, and almost sporty ride, and it’s definitely very responsive when you put your foot down. And if you’re using the car mainly around town, you’ll find it quite powerful. However, given it is a small SUV, there is some body roll around corners, but it’s not too bad.
Features and interior
Inside, the car continues to follow in the GLA’s footsteps, which is not a bad thing! The interior of the Mercedes EQA feels luxurious and looks great too.
For your infotainment system and digital dash, you get twin screens that are 10.25 inches, with the touch-screen system offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio and satellite navigation.
You also get wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating, ambient lighting and artificial leather seats. When you’ve got your phone hooked up, you’ll be able to enjoy your tunes (or the kids’) on a 10-speaker sound system.
You can also get a heads-up display and a panoramic sunroof as part of the MBUX Innovation Package if you’re keen on those features. There are also options for 20-inch alloy wheels, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and front sports seats.
The materials used throughout the car feel luxe, and the turbine-style air vents add to that futuristic feel of the vehicle.
You do get several USB ports in the front of the car and ample storage for all your little bits and pieces. Even your glove box is bigger than usual.
In the rear, the seats, leg room and headroom are pretty good for adults, and you also get air vents and a single USB port to keep devices charged, making it a decent option for longer road trips with the family.
Performance
The Mercedes EQA has good performance, with the car able to get from 0 to 100km/h in a respectable 8.9 seconds. It might not be the fastest EV on the market, but it will still reach motorway speeds without much effort! You’re also getting a great range of 426km, and its energy consumption is 17.7kWh/100km, which is much better than the Volvo XC40 Recharge’s at 25.5kWh/100km.
The Mercedes EQA can get from 10 to 80% charge in just 30 minutes with a 100kW DC fast charger with a CCS port. Charging at home or work on an 11kW charger will get you charged in just over 4 hours.
Charging is becoming easier and easier in the ACT, as ActewAGL increases the number of chargers on the public network.
Safety and warranty
The Mercedes EQA has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and offers plenty of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep and steering assist, adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and more. However, if you want surround cameras, you will need to purchase the optional Vision Package.
You will also get seven airbags, two ISOFIX points and two top tether points for child seats.
A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty covers the Mercedes EQA. You also get five years of roadside assistance, with the battery covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty for extra peace of mind.
Servicing takes place every year or every 25,000km, whichever comes first.
Summary
The Mercedes EQA is a big step forward for the car manufacturer and is a small SUV to consider for yourself and perhaps your family. The EQA offers a futuristic and luxurious package that can’t really do much wrong. You also get a decent range and good efficiency, making it an even better option. However, if you have a family and you’re after something with a bit more storage space, you may be more inclined to choose something like the Hyundai IONIQ 5. Help make ACT and its surroundings cleaner and greener by finding, financing and charging your electric vehicle with ActewAGL. ActewAGL is helping you find an EV sooner, reduce the cost of ownership, and stay fully charged while saving 50% of your personal CO2 each year. This will help us all live a good life, now and into the future. Find out more here.
