Launch Report: Mercedes-Benz offers the EQA with aggressive pricing

The EQA is the latest battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from Mercedes-Benz, and their smallest to date. List prices are aggressive, especially for a BEV, positioning the EQA at the same level as mainstream rivals from Volkswagen, Skoda or Kia.

Derived from the GLA, it has popular crossover styling and features a gloss-black front grille, an LED daytime-running light (DRL) strip between the bonnet and the front headlights, as well as a rear-lighting strip. The fit and finish is very good, with high-quality materials, and the model is well-equipped, with a wide range of options.

There is currently only one 190hp version of the EQA available, although more powerful motors are expected to be offered in the future. Whilst its battery has a smaller capacity than some of its rivals, the WLTP range is competitive, albeit not as good as that achieved by the Volkswagen ID.4, and charging time is quicker than its rivals. Because of the battery, however, the boot volume is comparatively low – at 340 litres, this is 95 litres less than in the non-electric GLA.

As the GLA is available as a diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the addition of the EQA means Mercedes is offering a full field of powertrains in the compact SUV segment. The Mercedes-Benz badge will help the model to overcome some of its weaknesses, and being one of the first premium BEVs in the C-SUV segment, the EQA has a great opportunity to gain segment share.

Click here or on the image above to read Autovista Group’s benchmarking of the Mercedes-Benz EQA in France, Spain, and the UK. The interactive launch report presents new prices, forecast RVs and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis.