2021 Mercedes EQA: pictures, specs and prices

This is the new Mercedes EQA, the smallest member so far of the German brand’s EQ range of electric cars. It’s essentially the electric equivalent of the GLA and uses the same underpinnings as the seven-seat EQB. 

There are now three variants of the EQA available: the entry-level, two-wheel-drive EQA 250 in Sport trim starts at £44,495, while the four-wheel-drive EQA 300 4MATIC and EQA 350 4MATIC are only available in AMG Line trim and above, starting at £48,495 and £49,995 respectively.

It’s worth noting that due to the reduction of the threshold for the UK plug-in car grant (PiCG) to £35,000, no version of the EQA is eligible for the £2,500 government subsidy any more.

The EQA 250 is the only model available in Sport trim, which gets you cruise control, a reversing camera, LED headlights, heated front seats, climate control and 18-inch alloys. 

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For an extra £1,500, you can upgrade to AMG Line trim, which is standard with the more powerful EQA 300 4MATIC and EQA 350 4MATIC powertrains. AMG Line adds sporty styling touches, 18-inch alloys, sports seats, galvanised shift paddles, aluminium trim and aluminium pedals.

The Premium package can be added to AMG Line cars for £3,000; it includes new 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke alloys, a panoramic glass sunroof, an augmented-reality navigation system, an upgraded sound system and wireless phone charging. 

There's also a Premium Plus package, which builds on the Premium package with 20-inch AMG wheels, a 360-degree parking camera, a Burmester surround-sound stereo, a head-up display and gesture control for the infotainment. However, it also adds £6,000 to the cost of any AMG Line model.

Finally, the Mercedes Driving Assistance package is available on all models for an extra £1,495; this includes additional safety systems like active blind-spot assistance, active lane-keeping assistance and active braking assistance.

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Mercedes EQA range, battery, charging and performance

All EQA models use the same 66.5kWh battery for a maximum range of 263 miles for the 250, and 264 miles for the 300 4MATIC and 350 4MATIC. This puts the EQA on par with the Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (260 miles), but well behind the BMW iX3 (282 miles) and more affordable rivals like the 64kWh Kia e-Niro (282 miles) and 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric (300 miles).

The entry-level EQA 250 uses a 188bhp electric motor to drive the front wheels, and will do 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds. All EQAs are capable of charging at up to 100kW from a DC rapid charger, which will replenish the battery from 10-80% in 30 minutes. If you’re looking to use a home wallbox instead, it'll take just under six hours to recharge the EQA from 10% to full. 

The more expensive 300 4MATIC and 350 4MATIC both come with two electric motors and all-wheel drive as their names suggest. The EQA 300 4MATIC produces a combined 224bhp and 390Nm of torque, making it capable of a 7.7-second 0-62mph time. Meanwhile, the 350 4MATIC will do 0-62mph in six seconds flat thanks to its 288bhp and 520Nm of torque.

Design

The EQA looks broadly similar to the GLA, but with a number of styling updates and aerodynamic tweaks, including aero-efficient wheels and bumpers. The biggest changes come to the front and rear LED lights; they echo those of the larger EQC, with fibre-optic strips on the nose and a full-width rear light. The EQ family similarities continue inside, where rose-gold accents and back-lit trim pieces help set the EQA apart from the GLA with which it shares most of its design. Practical touches include 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats and a 340-litre boot capacity.