Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the smallest of a planned five new electric vehicles (EVs). The EQA will be the most affordable Mercedes EV if it reaches the U.S. market (more on that in a moment). On paper, it’s quite impressive, though no one outside the company has had the chance to drive it yet. The EQA bows in the 2022 model year.
The EQA is based on the GLA compact crossover. The EV set apart by new front and rear fascias that have illuminated crossbars between the lights. The look includes new bumpers, spoiler, and wheels, all said to enhance aerodynamics. Buyers will be able to choose blue or rose-gold wheel accents.
Blue and rose-gold are themes inside, as well. Interior lighting accents can be adjusted between the two colors. Entertainment and information screens (dual 7-inch screens are standard, with 10.25-inch options available) use the colors for much of what they display. Standard navigation differs from the one in gas-powered Mercedes models. The EQA’s maps out charging stations and even elevation to provide routes to maximize range.
The mechanical details are notable. The EQA is front-wheel drive, thanks to a single electric motor up front making 188 horsepower. That’s not far from the total the gas-powered GLA offers, and with the immediately-available power of an EV, it’s likely to feel a bit quicker than its conventional cousin. Mercedes claims a driving range of 264 miles, using a European testing formula, but U.S. testing tends to produce shorter numbers.
When the EQA first goes on sale, there will be no all-wheel drive, two-motor option. But Mercedes plans one later in the model year. It boasts 268 horsepower. A longer-range model is also in the works.
There’s some question, however, whether the EQA will be coming to the U.S. Mercedes says the model will go on sale in Europe late in 2021, but the company hasn’t made a decision on whether it will be sold here.
We’d be stunned not to see it, and see it relatively soon. With most manufacturers moving quickly to offer EVs for the U.S. market, bringing American buyers a showroom-ready crossover EV based on a gasoline model that’s already selling well here seems like an obvious step. As the company spins up production, we expect the EQA will be an option for American drivers.
In Europe, the EQA comes at an asking price of €47,540, which converts to $57,620.
