Mercedes-Benz EQA Review & Prices

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is a compact, five-seater, all-electric SUV. Take one look at it and you’ll instantly clock that it’s basically an electric version of the petrol-or-diesel powered Mercedes GLA, but the EQA gets slightly different styling at the front, so it’s sort of like a GLA wearing a Halloween mask of its own face.

The EQA is a direct alternative to the likes of the BMW iX1 and the Audi Q4 e-tron, but there are also a lot of other very talented electric SUVs hovering around at a similar price tag, such as the Skoda Enyaq, the VW ID.4, the Tesla Model Y, and newcomers such as the Xpeng G6 and BYD Sealion 7.

Being based on the combustion-powered GLA means that the EQA has a familiar look on its side, but it also means that it hasn’t been designed solely with electric power in mind, and that has an impact on some of its performance. It’s also a relatively old model now, which means that younger electric rivals have leaped ahead in the tech race.

On the outside, the only difference is at the front, where instead of a traditional Mercedes grille with slats to let cooling air in for an engine, the EQA has a blank plastic panel, decorated with little Mercedes stars and a little strip of LED light running between the headlights.

Mercedes EQA: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 272-346 miles
Efficiency: 3.4-4.3 miles per kWh
Battery size: 70.5kWh
Max charge speed: 100kW
Charge time AC: 10hrs, 10-100%, 7kW
Charge time DC: 35mins, 10-80%, 100kW
Charge port location: Right rear
Power outputs: 190hp / 228hp

From the side, you’ll never tell the two cars apart, unless you’re a massive alloy wheel nerd and can spot the fact that the EQA wears unique wheels, starting at 18 inches and heading on up to 20-inch optional rims. Those wheels are optimised for aerodynamics, so they actually help to stretch the EQA’s range just a little.

Down the back, there’s a full-width LED light bar, and some different brake lights, and because of the space those elements take up, the number plate has shifted to the back bumper.

Inside, the EQA and the GLA are basically identical, but that’s a good thing as it means you get the older Mercedes ‘MBUX’ digital dashboard. This is made up of two ten-inch screens that stretch out across the dashboard like someone’s squashed a pair of iPads.

The older software might not be as whizz-bang as the latest Mercedes stuff, but actually it works slightly better and more intuitively than some of the newer screens, and there are physical buttons for the air conditioning system which really help.

There’s a ‘Hey, Mercedes’ digital voice assistant, but as with many similar systems it’s a bit dim at times and can struggle to understand you. There are also high-tech options such as gesture control (so you can change stereo volume by waggling your hand in the air, although it’s hard to understand why anyone would want this…) and a fingerprint scanner which controls preset profiles for each person who drives the car.

The EQA is comfortable enough up front, with very good front seats, but it’s let down by small-ish back seats and a boot that’s just not big enough compared to the likes of an Enyaq or a Tesla Model Y, or you could have the similarly-sized Skoda Elroq which is much more affordable, but actually has a bigger boot.

There is a single battery choice for the EQA — a 70.5kWh lithium-ion pack — and two electric motor setups to choose from. Neither is especially fast, but they both have a decent enough range — up to 346 miles for the 250+ and up to 280 miles for the 300+ 4MATIC.

However, neither is very quick to charge — both have a maximum charging speed of 100kW on a DC fast charging station, when most of the EQA’s rivals offer more like 150kW charging.

Top-spec AMG-Line Premium Plus versions get adaptive suspension, so you can choose between soft or sporty settings for driving, but while it works well enough, the EQA never quite copes with bumps as comfortably as does, say, a Skoda Enyaq nor a Hyundai Ioniq 5. The EQA is also pretty dull to drive, with an easy-going feel but it’s no fun for a keen driver.

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The Mercedes EQA is starting to look increasingly expensive as other manufacturers introduce low-priced, really recommendable EVs. Its pricing starts at a hair under £50,000, but while that’s a bit more than the roomier, longer-ranged Audi Q4 e-tron, a basic BMW iX1 is considerably more affordable, although it’s worth pointing out that neither of those two can match the range of the EQA 250+ in their basic forms. A Volvo EX40 is notably more affordable than the Mercedes too, and comes with a range of up to 355 miles.

Look beyond other premium-badge brands, though, and there are lots of other good options for considerably less money. How about a long-range Skoda Elroq, which to be honest doesn’t feel much less classy inside than the EQA, and yet which can be had for as much as £10,000 less with a range of 355 miles?

Equally, for not much more money than the basic EQA you could have the long-range version of the rather stylish Peugeot E-3008, which can cover a claimed 435 miles on one charge.

The Mercedes EQA is nippy and easy to drive in town, but it feels a bit pedestrian out of it and it’s not as comfortable as you might think

In town

Electric cars usually spend a lot of time in town, so they have to excel there. Thankfully the Mercedes EQA performs very well in the urban jungle.

The lofty driving position gives a great view of not only the other traffic but also both front corners of the car, which makes manoeuvring much easier.

The car itself is also very quiet, which makes for a very relaxing experience. The performance it puts out is a bit more tame than you may expect from an EV, but in reality it’s going to be brisk enough for most.

That’s the ‘go’ covered, so what about the ’stop’? Well, the brakes are strong, but they can be quite grabby, making smooth progress frustrating. You can also adjust the level of regeneration from the electric motor, and in its strongest setting it slows the car pretty abruptly when you ease off the accelerator. In effect, you can drive the car just using the right-hand pedal, with no need to touch the brakes in most scenarios, although it won’t bring you to a complete stop like a Tesla Model Y will.

The standard Mercedes EQA gets regular ‘Comfort’ suspension, but higher-specification models get adaptive suspension, which lets you choose between comfort and sporty settings. It works well in its softer mode, dealing with speed humps and potholes with ease but it’s not enough to justify the extra cost alone.

The standard suspension is best described as adequate in town. It’s comfortable enough most of the time, however it’s quite firm and big bumps can send a thud through the cabin. A BMW iX1 does a better job of handling broken city streets, as does a Skoda Enyaq.

On the motorway

The EQA feels at home on the motorway. The premium look and feel of the interior is complemented by how quiet and refined it is when cruising at higher speeds. Whereas the car can become unsettled at lower speeds, it’s much better when cruising on the motorway.

The EQA is a fairly relaxing car to drive over long distances. Thanks to the lack of engine, road and wind noise, as well as the fact the motors don’t quite have the punchy acceleration you get from most EVs, it’s easy to get into a smooth flow and enjoy the miles between chargers.

In the long range model, 300 miles should be achievable in mixed driving, meaning longer road trips won't require too much pre-planning for charging stops.

On a twisty road

The Mercedes EQA is less at home on a country road. The light steering that’s helpful around town becomes a nuisance in corners, with very little feedback from the front wheels meaning you won’t have much confidence to carry speed.

There’s quite a bit of body lean to contend with, too. You can pop it in Sport if you have the adjustable suspension and that improves things a bit, but the EQA is never particularly fun to hustle along a country road. If this is your preference, the BMW iX1 would be a much better choice.

The suspension doesn’t handle bumpy, undulating roads that well either, with the car feeling a bit unsettled as it bobbles its way down the road. The Audi Q4 e-tron is a more comfortable car for countryside commuting.

Lots of room in the front, however those in the rear will be cramped and the boot space is poor

There's plenty of space up front in the EQA, so the two occupants will have no reason to complain. There’s also decent in-car storage, with space under the centre console and in front of that, there are a pair of cupholders and yet more storage. You’ll also find a USB-C slot and a 12V socket but only higher-spec models get wireless phone charging.

The glovebox isn’t huge but it does come with an extra shelf inside to keep your handbooks tucked away. Meanwhile, the front door bins are big enough to take a couple of water bottles each. There are large door bins in the back doors too.

It’s easy enough for the driver to get comfortable, with the electrically adjustable seats having a decent range of movement and a steering wheel that adjusts for reach and rake. It means it’s easy to sit in a high, commanding position that gives a great view of the road ahead.

Space in the back seats

Moving backwards, your first impression is likely to be that there’s just as much room in the back as there is in the GLA, but it’s all a very clever illusion.

You see, the batteries sit partially beneath the rear seats, which has meant the seats themselves have had to be lowered to preserve headroom. The downside of this is that you end up sitting with your backside not that much higher than your heels, almost in a squatting position. Not that comfortable at all.

Also, the standard GLA’s rear seats can be slid backwards and forwards to prioritise rear legroom or boot space as needed, and the backrest reclines too, but none of this is available in the EQA. Pity.

Still, at least back seat passengers have a couple of USB-C ports to keep their phones topped up, and there are a couple of useful cupholders hidden in the centre armrest as well.

There are two ISOFIX anchor points on the outside seats and fitting a rear-facing child seat is easy as you shouldn’t have to move the front chair forward to fit it.

Boot space

Boot space has taken a hit with the presence of the batteries beneath the boot floor. For comparison, the standard GLA has 435 litres of boot space when measured to the parcel shelf, but the EQA has just 340 litres, and there’s no clever under-floor storage.

Compare that with other alternatives, and the Tesla Model Y is the pick of the bunch with a whopping 854 litres of boot space, followed closely by the Enyaq’s 585 litres while the Q4 e-tron offers 520 litres, then it’s a bit of a drop to the iX1 at 490 litres and the Mustang Mach-e at 402 litres. Even the more compact Skoda Elroq offers 470 litres. The Tesla and the Ford both have handy storage under the bonnet as well, something the Mercedes doesn’t get. Whichever way you look at it, the EQA just isn’t very practical.

The news isn’t all bad though, because you can still fit five carry-on cases in there, and there’s no lip to lug things over.

Fold down the rear seats in a standard GLA and you’re left with 1,430 litres of space, but the EQA cuts this to 1,320 litres. Still, at least the rear seats lie flat, and there’s no step in the boot floor.

The Mercedes EQA’s cabin is stylish, but the touch-sensitive steering wheel controls are fiddly and it’s not as well-built as some alternatives

Before you get put off entirely by the practicality, the Mercedes EQA does claw back some points with its interior design. There’s no denying that it’s a lovely place to sit, with a sweeping, multi-layered dash layout.

The fit and finish is also very good. It feels like a genuinely premium product thanks to some posh materials, which helps justify the lofty price tag. While it does feel solid, a few details like the plastic steering wheel stalks and slightly flimsy climate control buttons do let the side down. The BMW iX1 raises the quality bar a notch higher.

The twin-screen infotainment system uses a pair of 10.0-inch screens with the latest MBUX operating software. It’s perhaps beaten only by BMW’s newer, bigger, twin-screen system, but it’s easily one of the best in the business, with slick menu design, clear graphics and an intuitive layout. You also have the choice of voice control or touchscreen operating, both of which work well. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come as standard. Mid-spec cars get wireless phone charging as well.

There are a couple of negatives to speak of, the main one being the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. They’re really fiddly to use on the move, and it’s too easy to accidentally brush them when manoeuvring. Mercedes has also done away with the central trackpad control, meaning you’re now limited to using it as a touchscreen or using the voice commands.

If range is key, you’ll want to go for the entry-level EQA 250+ because of its decent battery capacity and less power-hungry single motor setup. This version will do up to 346 miles on a charge from its 70.5kWh battery, making it about as efficient as a BMW iX1. The 190hp output will suffice for most as well.

Stepping up to the EQA 300+ 4MATIC gets you an extra motor powering the rear wheels, giving it all-wheel drive and 228hp but the price paid for speed and traction is less range — up to 280 miles, which isn’t bad, but which doesn’t give you the cushion of the 250+.

Charging from a 7kW home wall charger will take around 11 hours from 10-100%. All models can charge at up to 100kW from a DC fast charger, meaning you can go from 10-80% in just over half an hour. That’s a slower charging rate than both the BMW iX1 and the Audi Q4 e-tron, and well behind the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 which can charge at up to 270kW. 

First year road tax for all EQA is £10, with the standard rate applying from there onwards. Also, with the EQA costing over £40,000, the luxury car supplement applies, which is applicable from years two to six, and costs you an extra £425.

If you’re a company car buyer, an EQA could cost you as little as £25 a month in benefit in kind (BIK) tax in the 2025/2026 tax year if you’re a 20 per cent rate payer. 

You can rest easy knowing the Mercedes EQA comes with loads of clever safety tech. You get all the basic stuff, such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping alert, as standard but there’s also a system that’ll spot pedestrians in the road. It can warn you if it spots someone on the pavement who looks like they’re about to step onto a zebra crossing, and will alert you if you’re about to open your car door into pedestrians or cyclists.

Not only did the Mercedes EQA score five stars out of five in Euro NCAP safety testing, its individual section scores were excellent. In adult occupant protection it got a massive 97%, while child occupant protection was rated 90%. Its 81% and 75% scores for vulnerable road users and safety assist systems are also comfortably above what you typically see.

There have been no major issues recorded by owners in the few years the EQA has been on sale, and it probably helps that Mercedes based its electric model on the existing GLA, with many tried and tested parts. Electric vehicles also have fewer moving parts than combustion-engined cars, which means there's less to go wrong – in theory.

The EQA didn’t feature in the 2024 Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, but it bodes well that Mercedes did manage to get two other models — the C-Class saloon and the GLE SUV — into the top five on that list.

For added peace of mind, all new Mercedes models come with a three-year manufacturer warranty to cover you if anything goes wrong. That’s the same cover as you get from BMW, however the Kia EV6 gets a whopping seven-year warranty. The Mercedes' battery is also covered by an eight-year or 100,000 mile warranty..