Mercedes-Benz has been currently the biggest seller in the luxury segment and continues to assert its dominance with various products. With electric cars, the German luxury car-maker has been aggressive with various launches. Now, it wants to enter the volume space with the EQA, which is the electric version of the GLA. For India, the EQA comes with a single fully loaded trim while the configuration is with a long-range battery pack but with a single motor.
Exterior design
The EQA size wise is like the GLA while only being slightly longer while the ground clearance is a bit less at 137mm. That said, it looks different to the GLA with a new front styling with a black panel adorned with mini stars. Unlike a standard petrol or diesel GLA, the EQA has a black panel upfront which has mini star patterns along with a large star. There is a nice chrome finish and the large 19-inch aero optimised wheels are also adding to the stance. The GLA like slanting roof is also there while the rear has connected tail-lamps. It looks small in images but in real world looks appealing and has a coupe like look.
Interior
Inside, it is like the GLA but there is no complaining with a twin set 10.25-inch display for both the driver and the centre touchscreen. Then there is an AMG spec steering wheel with touch buttons for operating the digital cluster. The quality is fantastic and it feels well built with EV like touches being given across the cabin like the copper accents, star pattern and the sustainable upholstery. The centre console is largely free from buttons but there is a voice assistant for most of the functions and the touch display quality is brilliant.
There are a lot of features but notable ones include AR based navigation which is very helpful as it prompts the right direction, a Burmester audio system with a high sound clarity, dual-zone climate control, front electric seats with memory, panoramic sunroof, electric powered tail-gate, and connected car technology. There is ADAS too but you need to switch it off every time you get into it if you want to do so. Due to battery placement, space seems less and for rear passengers, they sit a bit higher up with less thigh support and the seas are firm too. It feels small here but at least there is an armrest at the rear. At 340 litres, the boot space is also smaller than the GLA.
Performance
The EQA 250+ has a single motor electric set-up with a 70.5kWh battery. The claimed range is an impressive 560km and that is more than rivals while tests reveal a range of around near 400km for actual city plus highway use. The power is also less than rivals but it is sufficient for daily use and fast enough. 0-100 km/h takes 8.9 seconds but it feels smooth and is painless to drive in the city. The light steering and small dimensions also help here. In the sport mode, performance increase which helps overtaking but for all, there is no real shortage. There is regenerative braking too and that is very strong in the highest level where it nearly comes to a stop. The ride quality is very plush and it feels comfortable while the ground clearance is no issue at all.
Verdict
Mercedes-Benz has also introduced a new scheme where there is a 20% downpayment upfront for 4 years tenure with an approximate EMI of Rs. 68,000 plus there is an assured buy-back of 67% for the EQA 250+. This means it has made buying EQA a lot easy on the head along with the heart. The EQA looks good, has a fantastic interior with features and drives well. It is also a self-driven car with not a lot of space but for a compact luxury EV, it does a good job for its overall experience. Priced at Rs 66 lakh, the EQA is more expensive than the Volvo C40 Recharge and nearly the same as the BMW iX1 but for being a Mercedes-Benz, it is the most affordable way to get into the ownership for a three-pointed star.
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