Mercedes-Benz EQA
New from £49,750
How long will it take to charge?
Results based on 78.30kWh Mercedes-Benz EQA battery
0
For a part charge (up to 0 miles)
0
For an 0% charge 0
You can charge this vehicle in 40 minutes at its fastest charging speed of 100 kW
* We have used data from the manufacturer to estimate these charging times, they are only a guide. Charging times for some speeds may not have been provided.
Is the Mercedes-Benz EQA SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Dan Trent
"Mercedes has been slow out of the blocks with electrification, the EQ range divided between the more premium EQS and EQE (and their SUV derivatives) built from the start as electric models and the older generation adapted from its existing combustion and hybrid models. Basically an electrified GLA the EQA is one of the latter, and has suffered as a result with less than spectacular performance, range and space. A new grille at least brings it into line with the rest of the EQ range, while updates to the already impressive onboard tech are welcome. It feels like a properly premium product but, while on a par price-wise with the Q4 E-Tron, the Audi alternative looks fresher, a BMW iX1 is cheaper and the EQA feels squeezed on cost and performance between impressive newcomers like the keenly priced Volvo EX30 and bigger and faster options like the Hyundai Ioniq 5."
Read the review by category
Running costs for a Mercedes-Benz EQA
3/5
It shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to find a Mercedes costs more than its rivals but the EQA is slap in the middle of a very competitive field of fresher and more capable electric crossovers. So, you really have to ask yourself how much value you place in that three-pointed star. True, equipment levels have improved with this update and even the entry-level model has the kit you want. But others offer more for less. Beyond that it’s the usual story for electric cars, with the scope to offset high purchase or finance costs if you have facility to charge at home, can avoid public charging (easier thanks to the improved range) and, especially, if you can buy it as a company car to save on Benefit In Kind. Good news? Where previously there was no facility to pre-set charging schedules at home to align with cheaper off-peak electricity rates Mercedes has now added this feature via the car’s phone app.
Reliability of a Mercedes-Benz EQA
3/5
Like most in the industry Mercedes offers an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery, which should help reassure whether you’re buying new or down the line as a used car. A shame, then, that the rest of the car is only covered by a conventional three-year guarantee when many others in the market are offering five or even more. Pair this with historically less than favourable results in reliability tables for the brand and it looks a missed opportunity to deliver on Mercedes’ traditional reputation for quality.
Safety for a Mercedes-Benz EQA
Credit to Mercedes here for including all the safety kit and driver assistance systems you’d need as standard, including the all-important blind-spot warnings so many others sneak in as an option or reserve for higher trim levels. Indeed, the only thing you don’t get on all EQAs is ‘comfort’ keyless entry and a 360-degree parking camera, though given all have a regular reversing one we can live with that. You can add to the range of functionality of all the systems with an optional Driving Assistance Package but we wouldn’t feel the need. On our previous test we did suffer some false alarms with the automatic emergency braking but that didn’t occur on this drive, though it was only a short route. If we have one safety moan about the EQA it’s that the fat windscreen pillars create significant blind spots at junctions – something highlighted by driving it back to back with the related EQB, which has a more upright stance and clearer view of the road ahead.
How comfortable is the Mercedes-Benz EQA
4/5
Where the GLB goes all out for practicality the GLA is the smaller, sleeker and perhaps more youthful of Mercedes’ two small electric cars. You pay a price for that in terms of practicality, with a smaller boot and less room in the back but for empty-nesters or those just wanting a more hatchback-style car it’ll do just fine. Bar some disappointingly scratchy plastics on the door pillars the general sense of quality is very high as well, which indirectly contributes to your sense of well-being and reassurance you’re in a premium product. We were less taken with the tyre noise on rougher surfaces – this is more obvious because of the lack of engine noise – and the firmer rider compared with the EQB. This will partly have been down to the bigger wheels of the higher trim level we drove, but even though this comes with clever suspension that adjusts according to your selected driver mode it still thumps into the bumps hard enough to have you gritting your teeth around speed bumps and potholes.
Features of the Mercedes-Benz EQA
5/5
Compared with the giant, tablet-like screens in some rivals the twin-display layout Mercedes arguably pioneered (and has since been much copied) is less domineering of the interior, which we’ll call a good thing. The system powering it was already one of the slickest in the business and for this updated EQA it’s been improved further, including an improved voice control system if you’re not embarrassed about talking to your car. The stylish appearance with the three chrome vents and standard, 64-shade ambient lighting are all typical feelgood premium touches, with things getting progressively fancier as you go up the range with new additions like backlit star motifs in the dash trim inspired by the more expensive EQ models. Models with the fancy Burmester stereo system now get choice of four sound experiences that rise in intensity as you accelerate as a substitute for the sound of the combustion engine, which is fun if not quite as slick as BMW’s similar system on its electric models. These are all nice-to-haves but even the standard model has all that you really need. Well, other than wireless phone charging. For some reason while you can connect your phone to CarPlay or Android Auto without a cable you’ll still need one to charge on all but the top trim levels.
Power for a Mercedes-Benz EQA
2/5
There is, of course, a lot more to how a car drives than numbers on a specification but there’s no escaping the 190 horsepower of the EQB 250+ we drove is a little modest compared with many rivals. There are now more powerful twin-motor all-wheel drive versions as well, but even these are a little off the pace and you lose battery capacity and range for the privilege of going a bit quicker from 0-62mph. As it stands the EQA 250+ drives the front wheels only, which you know about because it scrabbles a bit for traction if you pull smartly out of a junction, that initial burst of acceleration tailing off quite quickly. Claimed maximum range is now a smidge over 300 miles, which is a step in the right direction and we liked the menu screen telling you how much energy various systems like climate control are using, and how much further you’ll go if you turn them off. There’s also a big difference in the driving modes, the Eco option dulling the response to the accelerator to help you drive more efficiently. When it comes to charging the EQA does take longer to top up its battery on fast public chargers than some more up to date rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Mercedes-Benz EQA SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
Related articles and reviews
Mercedes-Benz EQA SUV (2023 - ) review
The Mercedes EQA gets some much-needed upgrades to range and tech, but still lags behind more up-to-date rivals
Mercedes-Benz EQA (2021 - 2024) review
Smart looking, expensively made and packed with tech the EQA is an attractive electric SUV, though it does miss a couple of important tricks
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
Auto Trader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Auto Trader Limited introduces you to Autorama UK Ltd (Trading as Auto Trader leasing), which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autorama UK Ltd, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7DE (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of funders. Autorama UK Ltd will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the funder as a result of this introduction.
Autorama UK Ltd is an Auto Trader Group Plc company.
Vehicles are subject to availability and may vary from images shown.