Mercedes-Benz EQA: What to expect?

It’s no doubt that the government's stance of making EVs duty-exempted and road tax-free will play a crucial role in shaping the zero-emissions vehicle market in Malaysia. Because a number of carmakers are ready to take this as an opportunity and buckle up to launch their electric vehicles in the country. One of them is German auto giant Mercedes-Benz which has recently teased its first EV for Malaysia, which is none other than the EQA.

The automaker posted the teaser of the electric vehicle on its social media handle with a caption reading “Electricity runs in its veins, where luxury sits at its heart. The new EQA, yours for the taking. Stay tuned.” 

As the teaser hints at the imminent launch of the EQA in Malaysia, we are here to give you an idea about the expected specs and price of the upcoming EV. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Variants & prices

Globally introduced just over a year ago, Mercedes-Benz EQA is the electric equivalent of the GLA that is offered globally in three different variants - EQA 250, EQA 300 4Matic, and EQA 350 4Matic. As of now, we cannot say which of these will hit our shores, but it is expected that the entry-level EQA 250 would be a part of the local lineup.

When it comes to Mercedes-Benz EQA price, again there is no official information as of now. However, we can get hints from the pricing in other markets. In the UK, the EQA 250 is priced at £45,645 (approximately equal to RM 255,000), while in Australia, the automaker retails the same model for AUD76,800 (RM 236,500). It somehow indicates that the Mercedes-Benz EQA price in Malaysia should start under RM 300k with the tax exemptions in place.

Powertrain & charging

Powering the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 is a single electric motor on the front axle, delivering a maximum power output of 190 PS and a peak torque of 375 Nm. This enables the electric crossover to run from zero to 100 kmph in 8.9 seconds and to hit a top speed of 160 kmph.

The Mercedes-Benz EQA 300 and EQA 350, on the other hand, come with two electric motors, generating 228 PS/390 Nm and 292 PS/520 Nm, respectively.

All three versions are coupled with a 66.5-kWh battery pack that supports 100 kW DC fast charging as well as 11 kW AC charging. The former takes only 30 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80%, whereas the latter accomplished the same task in five hours and 45 minutes.

Speaking about the Mercedes-Benz EQA driving range, the entry-level EQA 250 offers around 420 km, the mid-spec EQA 300 delivers between 400 - 426 km and the top-spec EQA 350 can cruise up to 432 km.

Exterior 

Design-wise, the Mercedes-Benz EQA looks quite identical to the internal combustion-powered GLA with some tweaks helping the zero-emission model in making a difference. These comprise a distinctive closed-off gloss black EQ grille with a single fibre optic light strip joining the reshaped headlights. At the rear, we can spot a reworked boot lid and a full-width central light strip connecting the tail lights.

Interior 

Just like the exterior, the EQA’s cabin is also similar to the GLA crossover. It comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment unit with a choice of either two 7-inch or 10.25-inch displays for the central infotainment screen and instrument cluster. The MBUX is also mated with the latest “Mercedes me” connect feature, “Hey Mercedes” voice control system, and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Mercedes also offers usual wood and aluminium decorative trims along with a unique fibre optic illumination option.

Safety

As for safety, the Mercedes-Benz electric car is equipped with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist as standard. The thorax-pelvis side airbags at the front are also standard, however, these are optional for the back seat. Also part of the kit is an optional Driving Assistance Pack that includes advanced features like lane centring assist, active speed limit assist, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering, and blind-spot monitoring.

That’s all for now. We hope Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will soon unveil the EQA as the brand’s timeline between teaser and launch usually remains short.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz GLB updated for 2022 in Malaysia