In this article:
The Drive, Performance, and Power
Manufacturers are rolling out more and more SUEVs (Sports Utility Electric Vehicles) as the drive to a fossil-fuel-free future (with a bit of ground clearance) continues. We tested the GLA-based Mercedes-EQA250 in Progressive trim, to see if it’s a viable option for well-heeled, Eskom-shunning South Africans. (If you want to know more about Mercedes-EQ's other electric models, click here.)
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Styling
The EQA is not the car to own if you plan on cheating on your spouse! Its striking and aerodynamic design doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in the matte silver paint job of our press vehicle in Progressive trim. At the front end, the high-gloss, curved glass panel and slim light strip that extends seamlessly into the slim and angular headlamps look sleek and futuristic.
At the rear, the narrow taillights are joined together via an on-trend and contemporary light bar for an eye-catching light signature that echoes the futuristic front. It looks sensational at night!
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One very early morning when I was out on a shoot all on my own, some fishermen arrived by boat and approached me to take a closer look, and were absolutely in awe of the EQA. At the 5-star Marine Hotel in Hermanus, where I spent a few hours charging the EQA one morning, I had a similar response from sophisticated hotel guests and management alike.
Space & Interior
The interior of the Mercedes-EQA is a glamorous, high-tech affair - but not so glamorous that it takes away from the futuristic theme (the spiral-look trim elements are a no-cost option) or general user-friendliness.
A slick, dual-screen setup that comprises the digital instrument cluster, as well as the central touchscreen, stretches along the dash from the centre to the passenger side, but it’s the play of light and fibre optics that will delight EQA owners the most, and there are plenty of colour combinations to choose from (this pink and blue hue was my daughter's choice). The rose-gold, turbine-inspired air-conditioning vents add a lively yet elegant touch. Cabin quality is also a step up from the non-EQ GLA models.
In regard to room aboard the EQA, it’s larger inside than you’d imagine and makes an excellent family SUV thanks to generous leg-, elbow-, and headroom in the second row. The boot is on the smaller side but adequate for three high school kids’ school bags and sports equipment, and narrowly passes the carpool test. The two charging cables in their (rather large) respective bags can be removed from the boot if more space is needed.
There’s no spare wheel hiding underneath the boot floor, just a tyre repair kit, and the loading lip is a tad on the high side if you’re going to swing any baby strollers into the EQA’s cargo area, but if you’re a busy parent of teenagers, it’s more than practical enough. Comfort suspension with ride-height lowering is a free option, so if you’re on the short side, it’s definitely worth ticking this box.
Comfort & Convenience
Driving a premium German brand is all about comfort and convenience, and the EQA does not come sparsely specified. There’s the MBUX system - the brand’s AI assistant found in all recent Mercedes models, enables you to give the EQA commands, such as increasing the temperature or activating the Satnav, but if you prefer the DIY way, there are many ways to access the system, such as swiping and selecting via the mini-trackpads on the steering wheel or simply touching the screen in the middle.
And speaking of Satnav, paired with Mercedes-EQ’s Electric Intelligence, it becomes a trip computer on steroids, calculating all the variables of your journey when you set it to the task of navigating your route. Apart from using data like your travel speed and charge left in the battery, it also takes into account your route’s topography, current temperature, temperature en route, and traffic holdups, all in real-time, for a much more accurate indication of your EQA’s range. It will also suggest the best charging stops along the way for the shortest overall journey.
Our test model had the Advanced Plus Package fitted, a R40 400 option that includes the Keyless-Go Comfort Package, climate control, an advanced sound system, and a wireless charging system in front, but fear not - the Advanced Package, which includes the Parking Package, Mirror Package, Blind Sport Assist, and all-digital instrument displays (i.e., the two screens that form one unit), is a no-cost option.
The semi-autonomous, self-driving technology such as lane keep assistance and adaptive cruise control are optional extras, as are the panoramic roof (R16 400), heated seats (R5 700), and heat-insulating tinted glass (R5 300), along with surround view cameras - but a few luxury features are included free of charge, such as:
- Smartphone integration with the media system via Apple® CarPlay® or Android Auto®.
- Adaptive High-beam Assist
- Reversing camera
- Ambient lighting with 64 colours
- Electric tailgate
- Velour floor mats
- 4-way lumbar support
The EQA gets a 5-star safety rating from EuroNCAP.
The Drive, Power, and Performance
Driving it like you stole it is not a daily occurrence when you own the EQA or any electric car, for that matter. The harder you push it, the more you’ll see your range getting shorter and shorter on the trip computer. That’s not to say you can’t step on it to overtake that irritating truck going 60 km/h in a 90 zone (and doing so is quite exciting, as the power is available immediately!); we just suggest that you mostly drive in a sedate manner for the sake of efficiency - read about the power of your driving style, here.
The EQA 250 is equipped with a 400V lithium-ion battery with a 66.5 kWh capacity and an estimated range of 424 kilometers, and an asynchronous electric motor which is mounted on the front axle (with peak outputs of 140 kW and 370 Nm), and an 11 kW on-board DC charger. Don’t be fooled by that 424 km estimated range, though - in real-life conditions, it’s closer to 350 km.
Related: BMW i4 M50 (2023) Review
The EQA 250 will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and there are the usual ‘Dynamic Select’ settings available, like Sport, when more spirited driving is required. It’s a smooth and refined, surefooted and controlled drive, with lovely suspension and sufficient cornering prowess (for a crossover), and the car clings nicely to the bends of Houw Hoek Pass and Sir Lowry’s.
Driving downhill is one of the best ways to regenerate lost power, and “gearing down” to D - - mode will activate *one-pedal driving, which saves the most energy overall (this was also my default driving mode for the week). The EQA's top speed is set at 160 km/h. Learn more about the EV Recharge Bounce here!
The EQA is also very easy to park, with light steering when needed, making it ideal for city living and urban adventures, but it’s pretty comfortable on gravel too, and great on the open road - if you can live with not going over the speed limit, or driving just under it.
*One-pedal driving: Every time you remove your right foot from the accelerator, the brakes are applied to help you regain some of the energy you used. This means you hardly ever use your left foot to hit the brakes, as the car brakes by default.
Charging time
If you don’t have a wall box installed at home, charging a premium EV from a regular wall socket like the one in my garage, is a timeous process, taking over 8 hours for a mere 30 percent increase in power at a snail-slow 1.6 kW per hour - see below (if there's no load-shedding)!
Fortunately, Mercedes-EQ offers a free tri-phase wall box (with free installation) with the sale of every EQA that charges at home, at speeds of up to 11 kW, and an upgrade of up to 22kW is optional. Even with load-shedding, you’ll be able to charge up your EQA sufficiently overnight - and most EV buyers are not even on the Eskom grid anymore, anyway. (Does SA need more EV chargers? Find out here.)
With the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox Home your home becomes a charging station: thanks to the powerful AC charging system the EQA charges with up to 11 kW (3-phase) here – and thus many times faster than at a conventional household socket. With the intelligent Wallbox from innogy (eBox smart or professional) you also have the opportunity to simply control or export your charge data via the corresponding app. - Mercedes-Benz South Africa
At 22 kW AC public charging points (most of them are 22 kW), it’s much quicker. I charged from 92% to 100% in 30 minutes at The Marine Hotel’s Audi charger (see below), which gave me a chance to eat a quick breakfast - but I regretted not going for a walk instead, as an Eggs Benedict and a Cappuccino, including a tip, cost me R200!
What is the fastest way to charge an electric car? Chad puts various methods to the test.
If you need a nice big boost of power, fast, like when you’re on a road trip, you’ll find various DC (Direct Current) chargers along SA’s most frequently driven national roads - but then you’d better hope there’s no-one in front of you - I recently wanted to make use of the DC charger on the N2 and a guy in a BMW iX had just started charging. This forced me to go explore the town of Caledon, which doesn’t offer much in terms of entertainment, unless you have money to burn at the Caledon Casino or a bathing suit for the hot springs. I returned later on and plugged the EQA into the DC charger for 23 minutes and went from 52% to 77%. Nice!
So, what are the options to charge your EV? Find out here.
To view a live charging map of South Africa, courtesy of Gridcars (on GeorgeMienie.co.za), click here.
Price
The Mercedes EQA250 Progressive will set you back R1 174 000 while the AMG Line model is priced at R1 227 000. These are the only available models at present.
Competitors
There are not too many EV players in this segment yet, but the ones that compete with the EQA are quite fierce: the BMW iX3, as well as the Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 are very impressive cars. I drove the slightly slower, but more efficient P6 model - read our latest Volvo XC40 P6 Recharge review here.
Verdict
The Mercedes EQA 250 is a delightful car to drive and to own, if you’re geared for it. If you’re a two-car family, you can always use the non-EV model for road-tripping purposes, but if you want to undertake longer journeys in your EV, be sure to plan ahead by factoring in charging times, and what you will do in the event that other EVs beat you to the only available DC (or other) charger in the vicinity. You may even need to book accommodation en route, and budget for more time spent in restaurants or coffee shops while you wait - but if you can afford an expensive EV, an un-budgeted-for restaurant bill is probably not going to cause you any sleepless nights.
Giving the EQA back was depressing - I loved every minute of driving it, and I had just charged it up to 100% full overnight, when I handed back the keys. I may never be able to afford a premium EV like the suave EQA, but if I had the money, you'd see me heading over to the Mercedes-Benz dealership! It not only met my day-to-day needs, but exceeded my expectations.
Love the idea of owning an EV? Search for new or pre-loved electric cars on AutoTrader here and if you need to sell your car quickly, try our Instant Offer tool now!
