Review: Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line – Is Merc’s ‘Baby’ Entry EV Any Good?

With the arrival of both the GWM Ora Good Cat and the BYD Atto 3, not forgetting the locally built (CKD) Volvo XC40 Recharge, they’ve sparked a boom of interest for the ‘premium’ lifestyle electric vehicles (EVs) amongst locals. However, we know there are still plenty who would prefer an EV that still bears a badge that’s both familiar and trusted instead of new and relatively ‘unknown’ Chinese upstart.

To address that, the mighty German three-point star marque offers local EV fans the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line. This is the entry offering into the brand’s all-electric EQ range and, having sampled it thoroughly over a weekend recently, it still holds quite the appeal towards prospects despite having several key drawbacks and stiff pricing.

OVERVIEW

Though this is merely a conversion of the existing combustion-powered H247-gen GLA-Class crossover, designers at Mercedes-Benz have given plenty of styling tweaks to easily set this electrified twin apart. Key amongst which are its front and rear fascias which, as pictured, boasts plenty of styling touches that mirror the flagship EQS saloon.

Tasty touches include the all-LED headlights and DRL configuration that stretches across the entire front end, the one-piece LED taillight covering the width of the entire tailgate, as well as the sporty AMG Line bumpers and distinct 19-inch alloy wheels design. Depending on your preference, the enormous three-point star emblem, which is the centrepiece of the faux front grille, will either be something you love or loathe.

Apart from that, it’s plain to see that the silhouette of the GLA model this EQA underpins remains untouched, which isn’t bad news entirely. We’re certain the electrified styling redux will appeal to most Mercedes fans.

ON THE INSIDE

The resemblance with the combustion powered GLA model is uncanny on board, and it all feels too familiar to say the least. There are things like the MBUX dual-display screens to bask in, as well as the novel turbine-like design of the air-cond vents – all of which we’ve seen in the GLA crossover and both the A-Class hatch and saloon.

If anything, this familiarity ought to bode well with many, especially towards prospects keen on transitioning and adopting the EQA too. Adding to which are the presence of plush luxuries that the marque is renowned for, namely the use of high-grade leather and artificial fabrics, as well as the presence of shiny aluminium brightworks plus tasty gloss black trims.

This being fashioned in AMG Line, the cabin does boasts a sportier touch through the red contrasting pipe-stitching in the seats, steering wheel and centre stack.

There’s also a bevy of novel tech present such as a multi-colour ambient cabin lighting suite, wireless smartphone charging pad with USB-C charge ports, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as the connected Mercedes me connected (MMC) functionalities that includes navigation and telematics.

Our only gripes with the cabin lie in perhaps the raised floor in the rear seat because of having the batteries placed underneath which. This does affect passenger comfort to a certain degree, especially for tall and lanky folks, but the overall space present is decent to say the least, as is the 340-litre boot space which is easily accessible thanks to a powered tailgate function.

Beyond that, there’s little to loathe in this urban electrified crossover’s innards, which arguably feels better built and a lot more up-market than what you’ll find in the rivalling Chinese upstarts mentioned earlier.

DRIVING

On the driving front, the EQA once again mirrors its combustion-powered GLA twin in terms of on-road manners. However, its heftier 2,040 KG bulk does show when thrown in corners, and during acceleration which, at 8.9 seconds, is slower than both its combustion-powered GLA twin and the somewhat lighter-weight two Chinese upstarts mentioned.

Perhaps the absence of the three-point star’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive (AWD) driveline, as well as the motor’s 188 HP (140 kW) output, does see this crossover drive a tad slower than what most will expect. Whilst this might be a bit of a deal-breaker, its decent charging and range could be the saving grace – more on this in a bit.

Of course, with any EV, performance isn’t a big priority over range. If anything, the stellar ride comforts delivered by this electrified crossover should win the hearts of plenty of prospects. Couple that with the near-silent running and the rather posh cabin we detailed earlier, and it’s plain to see that the EQA is a rather pleasant thing to be driven in.

In short, this may not be the quickest nor sharpest thing in class to drive, but it remains the comfiest and arguably one of the easiest thing to master. Adding to the latter is the bevy of semi-autonomous driver aids Mercedes has laced it with. We’re certain these attributes will indeed please many keen prospects.

BATTERY, CHARGING, AND RANGE

With a claimed WLTP range of 429 KM, this makes the EQA a rather decent prospect, especially for those who spend more than 80% of the time roaming urban city streets with the occasional short jaunt through highways. Realistically, the setup offers at least 385 KM of travel, which should suffice for most.

As for charging, the 66.5 kWh battery primed on board accepts both regular AC and fast DC charging inputs, the former up to 11 kW whilst the latter can take up to 100 kW instead. The latter method should also see 10-80% charges attained in roughly 32 minutes. Access to either is made easier too as their locations are loaded into the on-board navigation system.

Speaking of access to chargers, Mercedes-Benz says access to its chargers at authorised dealer Autohaus outlets is free to all owners for the first two years. This perk is indeed handy, more so given the fact that it’s offered to all EQ models – not just the EQA featured. Perhaps this is yet another way for the brand to deliver on its famed ‘The best or nothing’ motto too.

SAFETY

Typical of any current-gen Mercedes-Benz model, the EQA is primed with a bevy of semi-autonomous driver aids, all of which could almost see this crossover drive itself. Highlights of which include Active Brake Assist (autonomous emergency braking), Active Distance Assist Distronic (active cruise control with low-speed follow and restart), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Parking Assist Parktronic and Urban Guard.

All of which comes on top of solid core basics that consists of no less than 7 airbags lining the cabin, ISOFIX childseat mounts, traction (TCS) and stability control (ESP) suites, as well as ABS plus EBD braking suite. In short, Mercedes-Benz left nothing to chance here, and perhaps somewhat helps to justify the steep asking price it commands. Speaking of which…

SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?

Yes, whilst there are now Chinese upstarts that can hold their own against the EQA at half the price, they simply lack the allure and presence of the famed three-point star emblem, as well as the image and status it projects. If anything, we’ll also argue that this German-built offering looks and feels better build in contrast.

Above that comes the promise of stellar after-sales service that the brand – and its core dealers such as Hap Seng Star, Cycle & Carriage Bintang, and NZ Wheels – to look forward to. On top of that, there’s the 4-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty plus a separate 8-year or 160,000 KM EV battery warranty that should deliver greater peace of mind.

Surely, all this should justify the EQA 250 AMG Line’s princely RM296,888 price figure. The only other comparable fighter is of course the Volvo XC40 Recharge which, though both peppier and cheaper by RM18,000, has shorter range compared to the EQA.

Evidently, if you wanted a posh and properly built EV SUV in this space, this Merc does stand out enough to warrant serious consideration. Wouldn’t you agree?