The Mercedes EQA unveiled in January for the European market comes in a single variant. It is reported that Daimler plans to launch three more of its entry-level electric SUV in the coming months to improve its appeal to economy and range seekers. We have talked about these in detail in the ‘Upcoming variants’ section of the story.
The Mercedes EQA is Daimler’s answer to the Tesla Model Y, and its deliveries in Europe began at the end of March. In Germany, the Mercedes EQA prices start at EUR 47,540.50 (including 19 % VAT).
Design
The Mercedes EQA is a pure electric variant of the Mk2 Mercedes GLA and the least differentiated EQ derivate in design. Mercedes is not doing heavy changes on the exterior or the interior of the vehicle. Soft changes are a way to shrink development time and cost and enter a new segment.
The Mercedes EQA is a pure electric variant of the Mk2 Mercedes GLA and the least differentiated EQ derivate in design. The all-electric sister model of the Mercedes GLA features a reworked front-end with inspiration from the Mercedes EQC. Those seeking a higher differentiation or unique design formula would have to wait until mid-decade when the second-gen EQA (based on the Mercedes MMA platform) comes out.
Source: Youtube/Mercedes-Benz
As expected, most design changes are at the front. A large black-panel surface replaces the radiator grille, and it is flanked by flatter headlamps with blue strips inside them. An optical fibre borders the black panel at the top and connects the headlamps with an almost uninterrupted, horizontal light band.
On the sides, the Mercedes EQA has a more polished appearance with technical and fancy-looking 20-inch multispoke alloy wheels. At the rear, the tail lamps are slimmer. Unlike on the Mercedes GLA, they are connected and echo the light band at the front. The interior design is the same as that of the Mercedes GLA.
Mercedes made ‘generous’ changes on the EQC (a derivate of the GLC), endowing it with entirely new panels, acoustic glass and making the profile swoopier, giving it the complete feel and character of a new car. We are starting to believe that intensive changes are reserved for carlines where competition is harder, and customer spend is higher, and perhaps differentiation will be greater through busy lifecycle management.
Specifications
Initially, the Mercedes EQA comes in only a ‘250’ variant that has a single electric motor mounted at the front. As it has been derived from an ICE model instead of being developed as an EV from the outset, there’s no frunk (front trunk). The motor draws energy from a “double-decker” 66.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack (net) and generates 140 kW/190 PS of power and 375 Nm of torque.
| Aspect | Mercedes EQA 250 Specification |
| Length | 4,463 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm |
| Height | 1,620 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,729 mm |
| Boot Capacity | 340-1,320 litres |
| Drivetrain Layout | Front-wheel drive |
| Motor Power | 140 kW (190 PS) |
| Motor Torque | 375 Nm |
| Battery Pack Type | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Pack Capacity (Net/Usable) | 66.5 kWh |
| Charging Peak Power (AC/DC) | 11 kW/100 kW |
| AC Charging Time at Wallbox/Public Charging Station (10-100% SoC) | 5 hours 45 minutes |
| DC Charging Time (10-80% SoC) | 30 minutes |
| WLTP Energy Consumption | 17.7 kWh/100 km |
| WLTP Range | 426 km |
The Mercedes EQA 250 takes 8.9 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h and has a top speed of 160 km/h. Its power consumption and range ratings per the WLTP test procedure are 17.7 kWh/100 km and 426 km, respectively. Daimler has confirmed that it will offer variants with up to over 200 kW/272 PS of power and all-wheel drive later. One of these future variants will offer a range of more than 500 km (WLTP), the company said during the product announcement but stopped short of providing details.
Upcoming variants
According to a report from jesmb.de, the Mercedes EQA range will see the addition of three variants by the end of the year: EQA 300+, EQA 300 4MATIC, and EQA 350 4MATIC. The EQA 300+ will have a single motor, probably a permanent synchronous motor (PSM), unlike a low-cost asynchronous motor (ASM) in the EQA 250. The expected power output and range figures are 204 PS and 500+ km (WLTP), respectively. Sales should begin around October this year.
While the EQA 300+ will be the long-range variant, the EQA 300 4MATIC and EQA 350 4MATIC will be about power and grip with a twin-motor eAWD drivetrain layout. The EQA 300 4MATIC will have a system power of 224 PS, while the EQA 350 4MATIC same rating will be 286 PS. The 4MATIC variants would have a PSM at the rear axle. In a low load range, the reliance will be on this more efficient motor, and the front motor will be kept switched off until the full output of the system is required.
The towing capacity of the EQA 300 4MATIC and EQA 350 4MATIC will be 1,800 kg, more than double that of the EQA 250 – 750 kg. Both 4MATIC variants will become available to order early next month, JESMB adds.
Production & Deliveries
The Mercedes EQA is manufactured in Rastatt (Germany) and to be made in Beijing (China). The Chinese (joint venture) plant has a battery production facility as well, and later this year, it would begin supply for the EQB as well. As for the European production, the battery plant in Jawor (Poland), which makes hybrid car batteries, will become ready to produce electric car batteries for Mercedes EQ cars made in the region this year.
Globally, the company is planning more than ten all-electric vehicles in its portfolio by 2022 and to invest over ten billion euros in Mercedes-Benz EQ.
The EQA will turn into the three-pointed star’s entry point into the ‘EQ’ electric car family. This is outside of the Smart brand’s new compact electric SUV, developed by parent Daimler and Chinese conglomerate Geely. Within a few months, the EQA will be followed by its boxy counterpart, the recently unveiled Mercedes EQB, which incidentally also rides on Daimler’s EVA 1.5 platform, a conversion of the MFA2.
Featured Image Source: Daimler
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