A Complete Guide To The Mercedes-Benz EQA

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is the latest addition to the EQ family, joining the EQC and EQV. EQ stands for “Electric Intelligence”, combining the Mercedes-Benz brand values of “Emotion” and “Intelligence”.

The exterior design incorporates a range of distinctive elements such as the gloss blank panel radiator grille, front and rear LED light strips, large alloy wheels, power domes and AMG styling. Whilst inside the EQA features MBUX; a dual 10.25" widescreen cockpit display as standard. Other highlights include the ambient lighting, premium materials and technology such as the reversing camera, heated seats and intelligent climate control. 

The EQA also features the latest electric drivetrain technology with up to 263 miles range from a single charge and support for 150kw rapid charging which allows a recharge in 30 minutes.

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The main advantage of being electric is the added refinement of driving to the EQA compared to an equivalent diesel GLA. The electric motor makes no sound and other noises such as tyre and suspension noise are barely noticeable which gives a further element of luxury to the Mercedes. 

The car seems to be set up for the both of best worlds, sporty driving and comfort. Its handling is much more controlled when compared the heavier EQC but its still best to drive gently in order to preserve range. It’s definitely a comfortable machine. The EQA was also refined over a variety of road surfaces and speeds which complemented the silent motor and ensured a relaxing environment to spend time. 

The EQA has 187bhp which allows it to accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds. This combined with the instant torque available makes the EQA feel much more responsive than a comparable GLA. 

The regenerative braking has several modes which control the amount of regen braking which takes place. In its strongest setting you can almost drive with one pedal and in its weakest the car will roll freely. There is also an auto mode which uses the car’s camera, radar and GPS data to predict upcoming traffic situations and if the car will need to slow down. This does feel odd at first but does maximise the regen potential and builds an efficient driving style to extend the range.  

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Like the interior the EQA is based on the GLA, so there is similar compact SUV looks on the outside. The exterior of the EQA is a blend of SUV styling mixed with the more elegant lines of a coupe, this is the athletic model in the EQ range. The sporting potential is backed up with the bonnet power domes, optional AMG styling, LED light signatures and roof spoiler. 

The EQA can be made to look even more sporty by specifying the AMG Line trim which adds AMG styling inside and out and large alloy wheels. 

The interior of the EQA is similar to the GLA and therefore is well built with a range of nice materials, contrast stitching and a showcase of technology. The only real sign that you are in an EV and not a petrol car is are the EV specific data on the dials. 

There are a range of driving assistants to make driving easier, massage functions, ambient lighting and MBUX; dual digital displays of 10.25” each which display all the information you need. The interior is not all looks though there are a range of storage areas, cupholders and netted areas to hide away everything you need to take with you. 

The interior will appeal to both loyal Mercedes fans and new customers to the brand, leaving a lasting impression. 

There a few driving modes including: Individual, Sport, Comfort and Eco. Comfort provides the perfect balance between efficiency and performance to provide a comfortable driving experience. Sport mode maximises performance whilst Eco ensures you get the most range out of the EQA by managing the climate control, giving haptic feedback via the accelerator pedal. Finally Individual allows you to choose how different elements of the car feel such as the steering weight, responsiveness and traction control.

The EQA comes desirable as standard.

Standard equipment includes:

• 18" Alloy Wheels
• LED High Performance Headlamps
• Electrically Folding Exterior Mirrors 
• Privacy Glass
• Aluminium Roof Rails
• Ambient Lighting
• Artificial Black Leather
• Comforted Seats with Heated Front Seats
• Electrically Operated Tailgate
• Parking Package with Reversing Camera

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AMG Line adds AMG highlights to the EQA.

Standard equipment in addition includes:

• 18" AMG Alloy Wheels
• AMG Body Styling 
• Multifunction Sports Steering Wheel in Leather
• AMG Sports Seats
• Aluminium Interior Trims

Discover the latest Inchcape EQA offers here.

No, you don’t, in fact the quickest charging happens between 20 and 80%, so frequent top ups within this range can be more convenient and preserve battery health.  

Fully charging the battery will however give you the maximum range for longer journeys. The battery is designed to last the lifetime of the car even with frequent charges outside of the 10-80% range. 

To charge the EQA you simply open the charging port which is located under a flap (similar to a fuel cap) on the rear panel of the car.  

Then either use the charging cable supplied with the car or the charging cable attached to the charging station and insert the cable into the car. Follow the instructions on the charging station such as payment instructions and confirmation, then check the car is charging by ensuring the charging icon led has turned green.  

Lock the car and leave it to charge. When returning simply unlock the car and use the unlock button next to the charging port to remove the cable. If the cable belongs to the car return to the boot. 

The fastest charging takes place between 20-80% battery capacity, outside of these charging is slower to protect the battery. Other factors also affect the charging rate such as – temperature (colder temperatures slow charging rate), the charging rate and the size of the battery. The EQA  supports rapid charging up to 150kW. 

Officially though between 0% to 100% these are the times: 

• At home with a 3-pin plug, 29 hours to charge, giving 8 miles per hour charged. 
• Home wallbox, 19 hours, 13 miles per hour charged. 
• 7kW Public charger, 10 hours, 25 miles per hour charged. 
• 22kW Public charger, 6 hours, 39 miles per hour charged. 

From 20%-80%:
• 50kW Public charger, 50 minutes, 88 miles per 30 minutes charged.
• 150kW Public charger, 30 minutes, 177 miles per 30 minutes charged.

At home to work out how much it will cost to charge your car, check the battery’s capacity and your electricity rate. For the EQA this is 66.5kWh and for myself 11p per kwh. 0.11x 66.5 = £7.31 for a range of up to 263 miles. This means that each mile costs 2p. Whilst individual situation will influence the cost. This is still a large cost saving compared to a regular petrol car such as an GLA which costs approx. 11p per mile. 

It is more likely that EQA users will take advantage of rapid charging. At a public charger the costs can vary. Some are free for customers such as Pod-Points at Tesco. Whereas others can cost money, using apps such as Pod-Point and Zap-Map you can see nearby chargers, if they are available and how much they cost. Quite a common cost for public chargers was 30p per kWh or a flat rate connection fee often around £1 then free after. The rapid chargers I found at service stations also cost around 30p per kWh which whilst costing more than at home is much quicker to charge and still costs less than running a combustion engine car.

The EQA can be charged with a Type 2 at home, work or at a public charging point. There is also a CCS connector for rapid charging at 150kW.  

It may not be possible to have a home charger installed at home due to reasons such as not having off-road parking, renting or having parking not close enough to your home. 

In these situations it is still possible to run an electric car. In fact with cars that support rapid charging it may be more beneficial to use a rapid charger once a week to keep the battery topped whilst not inconveniencing the driver. It is most convenient to charge an electric car where it is parked (which is almost 95% of the time for a car), using chargepoints at these locations. For most people this is at home but other frequent destinations may also have chargepoints such as work, shopping centres and leisure centres. Then less frequent longer journeys can benefit from on-route rapid chargers found at service stations. 

Workplace charging and charging as part of a commute such as at a train station car park, in more normal times in particular serves as a good opportunity for people who cannot charge at home. As people often spend over 8 hours at work which is plenty of time to charge the car and most people’s commutes are less than 30 miles. I know that with my commute of 8 miles, I could commute everyday of the week in the EQA and only have the charge the car once every three weeks.

The EQA uses regenerative braking to recover energy which would usually be wasted when braking.

The regen braking has different modes to control how much regen takes place. In its strongest setting the car can be driven with one pedal and in its weakest the car will just free roll.

There is also an auto setting which uses the car’s cameras, radars and GPS data to predict upcoming traffic and road conditions to decide when to use the regen braking to slow the car and recuperate energy rather than using the brakes and wasting this.

Therefore, you set the regen braking to be really weak and it will drive like a normal car or you can increase the regen braking to maximise efficiency.

No matter which setting the regen braking is set to, it always feel natural and unobtrusive

Browse the entire Mercedes-Benz electric range by clicking below.

The EQA is likely to need a service every year or 15,000 miles. Servicing is less than a comparable combustion engine car due to the fewer moving parts in an electric car. Inchcape supplies service plans so that you can spread the cost of servicing over fixed monthly payments.  

The EQA also comes with a three-year warranty for the car and an eight-year warranty for the battery. If the battery falls below 70% of it as new condition they will replace or refurbish it within the eight year period.  

Browse the entire Mercedes-Benz electric range by clicking below.

The EQA has an official electric range of up to 263 miles. I found it was easily capable of returning over 210 miles range without adapting my driving style and having the climate control set to how it would be in a petrol car. It is worth noting it was over 25 degrees and raining so the air conditioning was working hard and other functions such as the headlights were running. 

Therefore, with more careful driving and using the Eco mode I would expect over 240 miles to be achievable. Plus the EQA supports rapid charging so 20-80% battery charge can be achieved in 30 minutes. 

Browse the entire Mercedes-Benz electric range by clicking below.

The Mercedes EQA benefits from a range of low tax, grants and exemptions. The car benefits from £0 road tax, London Congestion Charge exemption (although a £10 admin fee is still required each year) and free entry into Ultra Low Emission Zones. 

Company car drivers benefit as well as the BIK value is 1% for 2021/22 at a value of £444. 2% for 2022/23 and 2023/24. Whereas, a Mercedes GLA would have a BIK value of 32%, so the EQC offers big savings. 

It is eligible for the OZEV EVHS Grant (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme) grant which contributes £350 towards the cost of installing a wall box. This can be further backed with an EST (Energy Saving Trust) Domestic Charge Point Grant if you live in Scotland. 

The Mercedes-Benz EQA has ambient lighting throughout the interior which can be configured in one of 64 different colours. The function also supports animation via the lighting to support a range of functions such as navigation, changing settings and the energizing package. The animations also alert you to messages such as when it is time to recharge the battery and when boost mode is activated.

The driver assistance available on the EQA covers a range of functions. Such as Blind Spot Assist which gives a visual and audible warning if it predicts you will collide with another road user in the blind spot. 

Traffic Sign Assist detects speed limits, overtaking restrictions and other road rules and displays these on the dashboard for the driver’s reference.

Other functions include; Active Distance Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Active Braking Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.

This pack combines a range of features which can provide a range of functions such as refreshing you, training, vitality and power nap. The system uses the car’s features such as air conditioning, ambient lighting, sound and massage function to relax the driver or invigorate them. Training mode helps combat muscle tension with a range of exercises which can be completed behind the wheel. 

Mercedes me Charge makes paying for charging effortless. It makes public charging simple allowing you access to a range of chargers with different suppliers using just one app and registered payment. You simply activate via the Mercedes me app or Charge card. You can also check the location, availability and prices of charge points via the app, and see how many Mercedes me Charge points are on your route using the navigation system in the car. To set up Mercedes me Charge, simply register for Mercedes me or log in to your account below and activate the service.

Saying ‘Hey Mercedes’ will activate the personal assistant which responds to almost every word and can process indirect speech. It supports a range of functions such as setting vehicle settings like the climate control, telling you vehicle information, updating you on the news and weather and finding local points of interest. 

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is a practical car with door pockets large enough for a 500ml bottle and two cupholders up front. There is a good size glovebox, cubby at the base of the dashboard and storage under the central armrest. 

 In the rear the rear bench has a 40/20/40 split as standard which offers more versatility. The boot is large at 340 litres and has no loading lip to make it easier to load the car. There is also underfloor storage for the cables. There is no front boot however as this is where the electrics are situated. 

The EQA is fitted with lots of equipment as standard which justifies its price and positioning in a premium market. The EQA has the looks and equipment but also has the latest electric drivetrain technology being able to support up to 150kw rapid charging and having a range of over 260 miles. 

For piece of mind the EQA comes with a three year, unlimited mileage warranty which may give you the confidence to step into the electric car world. The EQA makes this jump easier with normal car characteristics and a typical Mercedes-Benz interior packed with technology. 

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