The EQA brings Mercedes EVs into the mainstream. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

This is what the Mercedes of compact electric cars looks like. The EQA isn't the most sophisticated or longest-running small EV out there, but the Stuttgart maker is hoping that when it comes down to it, this will be the one that customers in search of a premium alternative would rather have.

Background

Mercedes has long needed a relatively affordable all-electric family hatchback. BMW has its i3. Audi has the Q4 e-tron, Volkswagen has the ID.3 and ID.4. Plus there's the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Skoda Enyak iV and the CUPRA el-Born. So Mercedes has pulled out all the stops to bring us this EQA.

There wasn't time for the Stuttgart brand to construct a bespoke electric platform for this model of the kind that features on its competitors. So it must sit on the same MFA underpinnings as the compact GLA crossover it's based upon, a chassis not originally designed for full electrification. Quite a lot of work's had to go in then, to revise this platform to take the weight of this EQA's 66kWh drive battery. The pay-off though for Mercedes is that it means that this BEV can roll down the same German Rastatt production line as its GLA combustion engine counterparts. Let's take a look at what this car can offer.

Driving Experience

Setting off in this Mercedes feels all very normal. There's the same kind of starter button and column-mounted auto gear lever that you'd find in any normal combustion engine model in the Stuttgart maker's range. Primarily, the EQA is based around a single powertrain and battery package, dubbed the 'EQA 250'. Here, a 66kWh battery pack and a single asynchronous electric motor sit on the front axle and produce a combined output of 188bhp and 375Nm of torque. Drive is through the usual fixed-ratio auto gearbox common to full-battery models. Like all EVs, the EQA shoots away from rest like a scalded cat as all the torque is developed all at once. And, like all EVs, it runs out of puff a little once the 62mph mark is passed (in 8.9s), eventually topping out at just 99mph.

Our focus here though, is on the volume EQA 250 derivative and the stat you'll be most interested in with that particular variant is driving range, rated at 265 miles from a single charge. That's not particularly noteworthy; to give you some segment perspective, a rival Volkswagen ID.3 with a 77kWh battery manages up to 341 miles. Expect longer range EQAs in the future. To maximise the range you do have, you'll need to make proactive use of the various brake regenerative energy harvesting modes on offer. The most aggressive setting is 'D - -', in which you feel sharp retardation whenever you come off the throttle. That's useful in town, meaning you hardly ever need to use the brakes, except when coming to a complete stop. The least aggressive setting is 'D+', in which the car coasts without any perceptible off-throttle braking, maintaining momentum.

Design and Build

As is intentional, there's a clear visual connection between this EQA and its combustion-engined GLA conventional showroom stablemates. The two cars share the same steel bodyshell and bumpers, but the electric variant gets its own unique blanked-off front grille and some other lightly altered details.

The interior's very recognisable from the GLA too, though there are EQA-themed instrument and infotainment graphics across the distinctive bonded twin screens that dominate the front of the cabin. The rear seat's a bit different though, mainly because the floor level's had to be raised to accommodate the battery pack that's been inserted beneath, there's also a transmission tunnel-like ridge running down the cabin centre. At least legroom isn't compromised over a normal GLA. Out back, the usual 481-litre boot you get in a combustion-engined GLA has been compromised in size a little here (to 340-litres), but the useful 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat of the conventional car has been retained.

Market and Model

Prices start at just over £40,000 for the EQA 250 (after subtraction of the £3,000 government Plug-in car Grant) and there are the usual Mercedes 'Sport', 'AMG Line', 'AMG Line Premium' and 'AMG Line Premium Plus' trim levels on offer. EQA 250 'Sport' models come as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED High-performance headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist, cruise control and a 'Parking package' with reversing camera. Inside, there's the brand's MBUX multimedia system with widescreen cockpit (two 10-inch digital displays with touchpad), plus smartphone integration including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There's also a 'Seat Comfort' package with electropneumatic four-way lumbar support for the heated front seats. Along with a multifunction sports steering wheel in leather, THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control and ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours. A range of Mercedes me connected services are also available. Safety features include Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

'AMG Line' trim adds AMG Line bodystyling, 20-inch alloy wheels; sports seats in ARTICO man-made leather and DINAMICA microfibre, door sills illuminated with 'EQA' lettering, galvanised shift paddles, aluminium trim, aluminium pedals with rubber studs and 'AMG' floor mats. 'AMG Line Premium' variants get 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke alloy wheels, an electrically-operated panoramic glass sunroof, a Keyless-Go Comfort package, an augmented reality navigation system, an advanced sound system and wireless charging for compatible smartphones.

Cost of Ownership

The elephant in the room here is driving range. The EQA 250's 265 mile figure really isn't that much more than you'd get from a Renault ZOE supermini EV from the next class down. And you're going to need to make pretty proactive use of the brake regenerative settings to achieve that. The EQA will at least support both 11kW AC and 100kW DC charging.

The 100 kW DC on-board charger allows the car to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in around 40 minutes, and from 10 to 100 per cent in five hours and 45 minutes using an 11 kW wall box.

A three-year subscription to the Mercedes me Charge public charging service is also available as standard. Mercedes me Charge allows customers convenient use of the charging stations of various providers, even when travelling abroad. By registering just once, they can benefit from an integrated payment function with a simple billing process.

Summary

The EQA is a car you'd be foolish not to carefully consider, were you to be looking at premium choices in this segment. One day soon, all premium compact hatches might be very much like this one. And looking at the EQA, that's maybe not such a bad prospect.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Mercedes-Benz EQA

PRICES: from £40,495 – on the road (inc. £3,000 Plug-in Car Grant)

CATEGORY: FULL ELECTRIC - COMPACT

INSURANCE GROUPS: TBC

PERFORMANCE: {250} 0-62mph 8.9s / Max Speed 99mph

WLTP ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE: 265 miles

BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] 340

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4463/1834/1620 mm