ELECTRIFYING ALL-ROUNDER

Meet the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line, the brand’s smallest electric SUV. Combining all the presence you’d expect from a classic Merc with the forward-thinking nature of electric mobility, the entry-point into Mercedes’ EQ range is a surprise a minute.

It can be argued that Mercedes-Benz lagged behind some other brands in bringing electric cars to market globally, yet in South Africa, the brand was the first to launch its new-generation electric cars at the start of 2022. After a slow start, with Mercedes (and other electric car makers) facing a trifecta of challenges – including a slowing economy, loadshedding, and lacklustre consumer uptake – the German automaker seems to be making headway in the small yet growing electric car market.

Leading the Teutonic charge is the Mercedes-Benz EQA – an all-electric version of the GLA, with a virtually identical exterior and interior – that promises a typical Merc experience for the upwardly mobile who don’t mind spending a little more to show off their green credentials. 

Being a G-inspired ride, this also means that the driver sits higher up in the EQA than in an A-Class, and there’s a decent-sized boot (340 litres) that will expand to 1,320 litres with the rear seats folded. 

The EQA has a 66.5 kWh battery and a 190 hp electric motor driving the front wheels, and our test car was also fitted with optional 19” AMG five-spoke alloy wheels.

A-CLASS LEADING DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The Mercedes-EQ EQA250 boasts the usual benefits of an all-electric car – it’s quiet, refined, and has instantly available torque for responsive, linear acceleration – resulting in a pleasant driving experience in environments that include town driving and highway cruises. 

In the broader context of the A-Class range, the EQA stands out as the most refined. There are three drive modes: Eco, Comfort, and Sport – with Sport offering the best response, as one would expect.

There are also steering wheel-mounted paddles to select brake recuperation, with five levels available. The paddles work well and are significantly better than searching through touchscreen menu layers to adjust recuperation levels, as is the case with its Volvo XC40 Recharge rival.

Handling is aided by the car’s low centre of gravity – courtesy of the battery placed in the floor – and while the EQA is not as rewarding a driver’s car as some of its more potent ICE-powered A-Class rivals, it delivers just enough thrilling performance. In Sport mode, however, we did experience some torque steer and wheelspin under hard acceleration.

TRIED AND TRUSTED INTERIOR

The interior is mostly standard Mercedes, which many people will likely approve of. One of the key features is ambient lighting on the dashboard around controls such as the air vents, which, in blue, look very appropriate for an EV (up to 64 colours can be selected). Turn up the dial on the interior lighting too far, however, and light reflecting in the door mirrors can distract you when reversing in the dark.

There’s a head-up display, a large digital instrument display, and a large central touchscreen with good mapping. 

ELECTRIC RANGE AND CHARGING

The Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line, with its 66.5 kWh battery, has an official WLTP electric driving range of 402 to 429 km. Over a week of mixed driving with the car, we averaged around 380 km on a full charge. 

The EQA can charge at 11 kW (AC) and 100 kW (DC) and will charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes at a 100 kW fast charger. According to the car’s onboard computer, plugged into a standard charger would achieve the same result in just under six hours.

LAST WORD

The EQA250 AMG Line is a pleasant car overall, and despite the price premium over its GLA sibling, the smooth electric powertrain would get my vote any day. That said, in AMG Line trim and with several optional extras fitted, at least one key rival, the Volvo XC40 Recharge P6 is faster and cheaper, and offers a similarly premium feel overall.

Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © MERCEDES-BENZ UK