Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+ AMG Line Premium Plus (2023 - )

The Mercedes EQA is heavily based on the company’s GLA model, but brings full electrification to the mix and it has recently undergone a mild make-over for 2024.

There have been design tweaks both inside and out, along with tech upgrades, plus improved range between charging which is always good news for any EV driver.

There are models called EQA 250+ and this has the larger 70.5kWh battery pack delivering the greater range of up to 346 miles, dependant on wheel size. And then the twin-motor AWD models called 300 and 350 4MATIC. These feature a smaller 66.5kWh battery and the range on both models maxes out at 266 miles.

In addition, customers can choose from trim levels called Sport, AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus with prices starting from £49,750.

We opted for the EQA 250+ AMG Line Premium Plus model for our test drive.

The Mercedes EQA is a dynamically-styled compact SUV that is very easy on the eye and has recently been given a freshen up to bring it bang up to date with other EQ models.

With no engine to cool, the grille is blacked out with a prominent star pattern and the Mercedes badge sitting proudly in the centre. A light bar connects the daytime running lights and there are heat insulating dark tinted windows, black roof rails, along with a model-specific night package that introduces lots of high gloss black trim. The look is completed by 20-inch high-gloss black alloys that look absolutely stunning.

The interior has a modern, clutter-free layout but still features enough physical controls for the more commonly used functions such as adjusting the radio volume or flicking through the drive modes. There are the distinctive circular air vents, metal pedals, illuminated door sills with EQA lettering and some AMG badging.

The seats are made from a man-made leather, microfibre combination that looks and feels high-end as does the rest of the cabin. Features include Mercedes twin 10-inch display screens behind a single pane of glass and these are the main focal points offering access to the many on-board systems, along with vital driving data such as speed, battery charge levels and driving range.

On-board tech includes full navigation, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Burmester surround sound system that is exclusive to the AMG Line Premium Plus trim, a head-up display, sports seats, 64-colour ambient lighting and lots more besides.

Steering wheel controls offer access to many features, but these are quite small and fiddly. However, there is the excellent voice assistant to help with all manner of tasks and that is summoned by uttering the magic “Hey Mercedes” wake-up call.

It’s simple to get comfy inside the EQA with powered seats and plenty of manual steering wheel adjustment, plus memory functions to store your favourite settings, which is handy if the car is shared between more than one driver.

With slightly elevated seating, the all-round driver visibility is good and there are all manner of sensors and cameras to help squeeze into a tight parking space.

Light floods into the cabin through the split panoramic sunroof and the separate panel for all the climate control settings is always welcome in our book, as it is far less distracting than having to navigate a touchscreen menu simply to adjust the temperature.

Our front-wheel drive Mercedes EQA 250+ model featured a 70.5kWh battery which is the largest available across the line-up. With 190hp and 385Nm of torque, it could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 8.5 seconds, maxing out at 99mph. But the all-important figure on any EV is the driving range between charges, which on this car is a WLTP-tested 311-346 miles. The range on both the 4MATIC AWD 300 and 350 versions drops to 258-266 miles.

The range on all the models has been increased thanks to a number of measures, including the introduction of new aerodynamic design traits, along with high rolling-resistance tyres.

When it comes to performance, the EQA is fast out the traps and the acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is both swift and responsive with ample power on tap for short bursts of pace to overtake slower vehicles.

It’s content eating up the motorway miles, although this is where the battery level can drop quicker. Then on twisting B roads, the EQA is balanced with impressive levels of grip in and out of tight bends.

In busier city traffic, the excellent driver visibility is always a bonus and you can adjust the levels on the regenerative braking via the steering wheel paddles. There are three settings called Normal, Strong and Maximum recuperation with the latter offering single-pedal driving which certainly eases the pressure in constant stop, start traffic.

In addition, there are drive modes called Comfort, Eco, Sport and Individual that alter the dynamics and driving characteristics of the vehicle. No prizes for guessing which is the most fun.

The cabin is well insulated and protects occupants from outside noise, but with fairly firm suspension, you will notice a jolt if you hit an unexpected bump or dip in the road.

There’s no denying the attractive styling of the Mercedes EQA and it boasts a strong road presence despite being the baby in Mercedes’ line-up of electric SUVs. 

It stretches 4,465mm in length, is 1,624mm tall and has a width spanning 2,020mm, including mirrors. With a wheelbase of 2,729mm, the vehicle offers a decent amount of cabin space with ample room up front for two tall adults to sit comfortably. Provided the front seats are not pushed too far back, a trio of youngsters can fit in the back and there are Isofix anchors to fit child seats.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate which has a kick sensor. This means if you are laden down with shopping bags as you approach the car, provided you have the keys, you can wave your foot beneath the rear bumper and the boot will automatically open.

It is fairly well-sized too accommodating 340 litres of luggage up to the parcel shelf and this capacity increases further to a respectable 1,320 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Beneath the boot floor is a separate compartment which isn’t quite large enough to store the charging cables, but houses everything you need in the event of a temporary puncture fix.

And there are plenty of handy compartments scattered throughout the vehicle too. These include a deep glovebox, central cubby with two USB-C ports, front and rear cup holders, door bins with handy partitions and a wireless charging pad. Rear passengers benefit from seat back nets along with a compact pull-out tray that houses a further two USB-C ports.

The EQA’s 70.5kWh battery can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 35 minutes using a 100kW rapid charger, from 10-100 per cent in 7 hours, 15 minutes via an 11kW wallbox or 10 hours, 45 minutes if using a 7.4kW home wallbox.

The Mercedes EQA line-up costs from £49,750 for the entry-level EQA 250+ in Sport trim and, at the other end of the scale, the EQA 350 4MATIC in AMG Line Premium Plus is priced at £60,510.

Our test car, the EQA 250+ AMG Line Premium Plus cost £58,010 and, somewhat rarely for a premium carmaker, there were no optional extras fitted to bump up the price any further.

At present, there are still some incentives for EV drivers although these have been drastically reduced in recent years and will be cut back even further next year. But for now, owners will be exempt from paying any road tax and will not be charged when driving through Congestion Charge areas or Ultra Low Emission Zones.

Currently EV owners do not have to pay the additional luxury car tax supplement either but once again, this exemption will be withdrawn next year.

But with zero carbon emissions, business drivers still reap a number of financial rewards thanks to the car’s Benefit in Tax rate of just two per cent.

The EQA comes with a standard three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, although the battery gets a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. 

The Mercedes EQA is a high-end, fully electrified crossover vehicle that looks striking from any approach and is packed with tech. With the choice of battery capacities, trim levels and the option of two or four-wheel drive, there is plenty of scope for potential buyers, but as is the way with premium EVs, it’s not cheap with prices starting from just shy of £50k.