Small and simple facelift updates enable the Mercedes-Benz EQA to maintain its competitive edge.
The EQA, Mercedes’ petite electric crossover, has recently undergone a gentle touch-up.
Originally debuting in 2021, the EQA was a pioneer in a then sparsely populated field. Fast forward to today, and it finds itself amidst a veritable stampede of rivals like the BMW iX1 and Audi Q4 e-tron, all jostling for supremacy in the luxury electric crossover arena.
Now that the field is bunched up, one must innovate to stand out from the pack. Has the EQA done enough though?
Design-wise, the EQA mirrors the GLA but its appearance might make you think of an android doppelgänger; eerily familiar yet distinctively different.
It’s the sort of vehicle that doesn’t crack jokes or raise eyebrows; instead, it goes about its business with a stoic efficiency that’s almost Apple-esque in its design philosophy.
With the latest facelift, the EQA adopts a grille that now sports the brand’s iconic star pattern, aligning it aesthetically with its bigger EQ siblings.
The designers have tweaked the front bumper to slice through the air with greater ease, and it sports a new LED light bar that arcs across the grille.
Round the back, the tail lights don an intricate 3D design, maintaining the original model’s LED light bar, which adds a touch of sophistication to its posterior aesthetics.
Sitting on 18-inch wheels, the EQA maintains an understated and classy look. Enough to fly under the radar, but also enough to garner a second glance.
The cabin of the Mercedes-Benz EQA, though snug, compensates with its top-tier finish. The ambience is further enhanced by plush materials that assure you that this is indeed a bona fide member of the Mercedes family, albeit a younger sibling.
Every switch and surface shouts quality, aligning with what one expects from the storied brand. But it’s not all just show; the EQA is practical with its technology too with its twin 10.25-inch displays.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and you get a decent amount of settings to play around with. The displays also offers a treasure trove of data on how to manage your electric charge.
It’s not all roses though, especially in the back. The roominess of the petrol GLA didn’t quite translate to its electric counterpart.
The battery pack has nudged the floor upwards, making the rear less comfortable, with a flat seat base and elevated floor that leave something to be desired in terms of legroom and foot space.
Cargo space? Adequate but not generous at 340 litres, with a small nook for your charging cables. The lack of a frunk might leave you wishing for a bit more storage.
From the get-go, the EQA wraps you in an almost ethereal silence. The only hint of its movement is a pedestrian-warning hum, which itself fades into the background as you pick up speed, melding seamlessly into the soft symphony played by the tyres and subdued thuds of the suspension.
Performance, while not heart-racing, is certainly competent, especially in the bursts from standstill to city speeds. Though it might not chase the horizon with ferocity, reaching the century mark from a standstill in a respectable 8.6 seconds, the EQA shows a spirited side within city limits.
Push it past double digits, however, and it seems to retreat, content to hover below its modest top speed of 160km/h.
Jolts from the road at lower speeds are noticeable, but not uncomfortable. The vehicle’s dynamics on twistier roads have more discipline, with stiff anti-roll bars keeping it true to its path, albeit with a bit of side-to-side swagger.
Steering in the EQA might leave enthusiasts yearning for more feedback, but its predictable nature makes it a reliable companion on longer highway jaunts. Braking is another feather in the EQA’s cap, with a system that transitions smoothly between regenerative and mechanical braking.
Intriguingly, Mercedes allows drivers to tinker with the regeneration settings via paddle shifters. The ‘Dynamic’ regen setting adds a smart touch, adjusting itself based on the traffic flow and speed regulations, though it requires a bit of acclimatisation to appreciate its intermittent interventions.
All said, the EQA may not set your pulse racing, but it doesn’t aim to. Instead, it offers a ride where luxury and silence coalesce into a serene, albeit slightly sanitised, driving experience.
Yes, it doesn’t have the swanky Hyperscreen like its bigger siblings, or expansive amounts of tech, but that’s one of the reasons why I prefer the EQA to its Mercedes brethren. It has enough tech to satisfy you, without going overboard while tripping on itself in the process.
Couple that with a relatively premium cabin, competitive range and charging speeds, and the Mercedes-Benz EQA fits the bill for those looking to begin their transition to electric mobility.
Technical Specifications
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+
Engine: Single Asynchronous Motor, Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 140kw (188bhp)
Torque: 385Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 8.6 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 160km/h
Battery Capacity: 70.5 kWh
Drive Range: 569 km
Energy Consumption: 5.4 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$289,888 (Progressive), S$298,888 (Electric Art), both with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Mercedes-Benz Singapore
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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