Mercedes-Benz EQA review, first drive - the better GLA?

Slowly but surely, the entry-level luxury segment is emerging as the core of the luxury EV market. You already have some strong offerings from the likes of BMW, Volvo and even Kia but Mercedes-Benz's presence has been limited to just the EQB. The Mercedes-Benz EQA is meant to change this. It's effectively the electric version of the GLA but is there more to it?

Mercedes-Benz EQA styling, boot space

With the EQA, while most of the sheet metal is shared with the GLA, you have a fairly differentiated, smart-looking front end with full-width lighting, slightly reworked headlamps with blue highlighting and a blanked-out grille. The star pattern here is well-executed and adds a subtle touch of presence to what is otherwise quite a compact car. The added chrome and the softer new bumper also go with this theme.

The EQA looks most similar to the GLA in profile but you will notice the large 19-inch aero-efficient wheels. These are again eye-catching despite the heavy cladding. These changes are functional too, allowing for a drag coefficient of 0.28, from the GLA's 0.30.

The rear is the most strikingly differentiated part of the Mercedes EQA. The bootlid is new with the slimmer full-width taillamps and the numberplate shifting to the new bumper makes for a sleeker look than the ICE versions. However, the EV packaging has dropped boot space to 340 litres from the GLA's 425, so you must pack more consciously on family trips.

Mercedes-Benz EQA battery, range, charging

One of the Mercedes EQA's biggest highlights is its 560 km WLTP range from its 70.5 kWh battery pack. This is one of the highest in its segment, and like we've seen with other Mercedes EVs, it does a great job of maximising efficiency. You can expect to see a real-world range of around 450 km without much trouble so longer trips are doable. Charging speeds are good too, if not class-leading. The EQA can DC fast charge at up to 100 kW and charging at home via an AC wallbox at 11 kW will take 7 h 15m to top up the battery.

Mercedes-Benz EQA interiors, space, practicality

As you might expect, the interiors of the Mercedes EQA are nearly identical to those of the GLA. So you have that same high-quality feel with the floating screens and the slim rounded them to the dash face. There's a good deal of flash with the hefty vents, star motifs and rich ambient lighting, especially the panel facing the front passenger.

Based on a slightly older Mercedes model, the EQA still gets those tactile toggle switches, although there is now the new steering wheel with the fiddly capacitive touch surfaces. The rose-gold theme in the vents separates the EQA from the GLA and does do a good job of subtly enhancing the cabin's ambience. It's the same with the copper-like fabric in the seats, made from recycled PET bottles.

Some of the plastics in the lower reaches are a touch harder than you might expect but you have soft materials of the kind you expect in a Mercedes on most touch surfaces and door panels, and some highly adjustable seats which offer a good degree of support. Cabin practicality hasn't taken a hit so you have that new, more open central tunnel design and the deep door pockets. The many charge ports here and wireless charging also mean that keeping your devices powered up will not be a problem.

You also have new graphics for the two 10.25-inch screens. The driver's display gives you a good degree of EV-specific information and yhis is presented crisply. It's the same with the touchscreen. We miss the touchpad but the responses are crisp and again some features like the one that lets you maximise range and plan trips keeping range in mind are thoughtful touches. As always the wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay function is an especially useful one.

Space in the back isn't all that different, so you have a good degree of knee room, even if it isn't the best in the segment, and headroom is fine for those under 6 feet with the slight scoop to the headlining. The two-pane panoramic sunroof also adds a sense of space. But the floor has become quite high to accommodate the large battery. This notably affects thigh support and you might start to feel a bit uncomfortable over longer trips.

The EQA is best seen as a four-seater with an occasional small third passenger given the cabin's width. But the seat cushioning is firm, well-contoured and supportive so those with iffy backs need not worry. There's also a smattering of charge ports and storage spaces here that help.

Mercedes-Benz EQA features, Safety

However, the EQA packs quite a few more features than the GLA. You have a colour HUD that's clear and informative and augmented reality in the navigation. This may sound like a gimmick but is quite useful when you are in a city that you don't know well. There is also a 12-speaker Burmster audio system and 360-degree cameras.

Other notable features include connected car tech, dual-zone climate control, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, power front seats and self-parking features. Safety features include 7-airbags, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and auto high beam.

Mercedes-Benz EQA driving impressions

The Mercedes EQA's small footprint makes it an easy car to navigate in traffic. You sit reasonably high up and the view out is unrestricted too. The smooth EV power delivery helps its case here as well.

With 190PS and 385 Nm, outputs aren't too far behind that of the diesel GLA 220d. This is less than rivals but there's still enough to go here for a reasonably brisk 8.6s 0 to 100 kmph time. Unlike many rivals, the EQA gives you quite sharp responses off the line in the default comfort mode. This can take some getting used to in stop-go situations, where we found the softer responses of the Eco drive mode more suited to our conditions.

At higher speeds, you find that performance evens out, the EQA's motions become smoother and while you do notice a slight dip in performance past 80 kmph, the Mercedes is still quite comfortable doing highway speeds.

There are three regen levels available, although none give you full one-pedal driving. The Maximum regen mode does have quite strong deceleration but we found the middle Strong setting to be the most natural. It's the closest to driving an ICE car and has the most seamless shift between coasting and deceleration. But the intelligent mode, which uses various sensors to alter regen to improve range works as well here as in other Mercedes EVs. It's intuitive at most times and takes a lot of thinking away from driving.

The EQA has a different suspension tune from the GLA, to manage the over 2 tonne weight. This works alright as long as the road is smooth but show this small crossover rough, broken surfaces and it's not great news. The quite firm set-up means that most bumps and potholes are felt in the cabin. You find the car skipping over bad road sections and occupants will be thrown around a fair bit.

But this suspension tune does give the EQA an agile feel around corners. Yes, the low-centred mass of an EV helps to minimize roll but the EQA does a good job of managing its mass in these conditions. This also helps control some of the nose-heavy tendencies of its front wheel drive layout and brings it closer to the balance that some of its rear-driven rivals provide.

Mercedes-Benz EQA price, verdict

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is priced somewhat steeply at Rs 66 lakh for the single EQA 250 plus variant that will be available. Yes, rear passengers will have to contend with slightly awkward seating and we think the firm ride puts the EQA at a disadvantage to its rivals. But many will be drawn to the impressive range and the typically special Mercedes feeling that you get in the cabin with the ambience and features.

Also read,

Mercedes-Benz EQA vs GLA: What is different?

Mercedes Benz EQA 250+ launched in India at Rs 66 lakh

Spec comparison: Mercedes-Benz EQA vs BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge

Watch our video review of the Mercedes-Benz EQA below