Mercedes-Benz EQA

Mercedes-Benz EQA at a glance

From concept to production

Mercedes showed the EQA Concept in September 2017. It was a small hatchback, not a crossover, and had two motors with a combined 200 kW. The production EQA of 2021, designed by Balázs Filczer, is instead closely based on the GLA. It is 52 mm longer and 9 mm taller than the GLA with the same width and wheelbase, and its aerodynamics reach a drag coefficient of 0.28.

The design uses a full-width light strip, a "Black Panel" grille and full LED headlights. Inside, the EQA is almost identical to the GLA, with rose-gold accents and two 10-inch MBUX screens. The rear seats split 40:20:40.

Versions and performance

The first EQA 250 reached 160 km/h. All versions use a single-speed transmission and motors supplied by ZF. The EQA 250 has a 66.5 kWh usable battery (69.7 kWh gross), the 250+ has 70.5 kWh (73.9 kWh gross). Wikipedia gives conflicting descriptions of the motors of the 250+, so they are not detailed here.

Production in China

Beijing Benz started building the EQA in November 2021. The first Chinese versions were the EQA 300 4MATIC and the EQB 350 4MATIC; an EQA 260 followed in April 2022, and Hong Kong received the car in late January 2022. Chinese sales were 4,623 in 2023, 2,648 in 2024 and 1,757 in 2025, according to the Yiche rankings cited by Wikipedia.

The EQA offers one-pedal driving, a comfort suspension and, in the Premium package, adaptive dampers. Driver assistance includes Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keep Assist and Active Brake Assist.

Charging

The EQA charges with up to 11 kW on AC, which takes about six and a half hours. A 7.4 kW wallbox needs about 10 hours with the larger battery and 9 hours with the smaller one. On DC the maximum is 100 kW, and 10 to 80 percent takes 33 minutes. The facelift added Plug & Charge.

The 2023 facelift

The update was revealed in August 2023 with the EQB facelift, orders opened in the first quarter of 2024 and deliveries began in the second quarter. Changes included:

• a new front grille, an optional new front bumper and rear lights with a 3D light signature in dark red;
• a three-spoke steering wheel with touch controls, illuminated trim and a larger infotainment screen;
• new 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels and colours such as Spectral Blue Metallic;
• 60 km more range for the EQA 250+.

EQA compared with the GLA

• The battery under the floor costs the EQA about 100 litres of boot space compared with the petrol GLA, according to Wikipedia.
• The EQA 350 4MATIC has 54 percent more power than the EQA 250 (215 against 140 kW) and reaches 100 km/h 2.6 seconds sooner than the facelifted 250.
• In the ADAC list of 2024 the EQA 250+ costs €833 more than the EQA 250, a small premium for 73 km more WLTP range (563 against 490 km).

Safety and reliability

Wikipedia gives the EQA a five-star Euro NCAP rating from a 2019 test of an all-wheel-drive car: 97 percent for adult occupants, 90 percent for children, 81 percent for vulnerable road users and 75 percent for safety assistance. ADAC recorded 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for EQAs registered in 2022 and 1.4 for 2023.

Prices in Germany (facelift)

ADAC lists the facelifted EQA for the years 2024 to 2026.

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