Mercedes-Benz EQA 2021 review | baby Benz electric car | Chasing Cars

We test the new Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 and see what this small electric SUV is like to drive.
Subscribe: bit.ly/3fnfVTQ | Visit Chasing Cars: bit.ly/2DpFZQP
The most affordable Mercedes-Benz EV has arrived on Australian shores in the form of the new EQA - a battery electric adaptation of the GLA small SUV. First up is the 2021 EQA250, a front-wheel-drive 140kW iteration, but an AWD EQA350 will follow later with even more power and torque from dual motors.
The EQA competes with the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Tesla Model 3, the Kia Niro and the new Ioniq 5, bringing a certain panache from the Mercedes-Benz badge to the table at a price point far lower than the existing EQC.
Should you consider the EQA as your next SUV? Or is a more established badge worth the extra spend?
What do you think of this car? Leave a comment below.
While you’re there, please consider subscribing and joining our Chasing Cars community.
Time codes:
0:00 - What is the Mercedes EQA?
1:15 - Interior
4:45 - Back seats
6:20 - Boot space
8:04 - Running costs
10:48 - Charging speeds
11:59 - Driving the EQA 250
20:43 - Should you buy an EQA?

[@chasingcars]

Two EV reviews in one day? Simultaneous embargoes expiring letting us talk about the EQA and the MX-30 now! Thanks for watching.

[@jacekkaminski5698]

I've seen both. Interestingly, your colleague about top-speced Mazda, priced at $64.5K says"nearly $70K", while you about Merc base model priced +$76K say "just over $76K". And the one reviewed is just over $85K ? These models play in the same league, when it comes to the size and, yes, I know it's a blasphemy, quality. It would be exciting to see head to head comparison. I think Mazda's exterior and interior design is more sophisticated, but that's personal. And, yes, I've noticed Merc has over 400km range vs Mazda 200km . How frequently anyone need it ?

[@nikhilmonga212]

When are u reviewing Genesis GV70

[@alexger85]

Happy birthday, Tom!

[@arioastungkoro3468]

Two videos in a day! Keep it up, Tom & team.

[@philhare4439]

I had one on loan today from MB. First time driving EV. Mighty impressed but did notice the head roll with the suspension. Interior excellent. I think I'll wait a couple of years to see if there are any improvements with batteries - weight and performance.

[@muttakinc2281]

Great shots throughout the video

[@ravingmad765]

This is the first EV in Aus to make me start to think seriously about buying one... Already a waitlist. I don't think I'll buy another car until the world settles back down and supply chains restabilise.

[@aarone8013]

We shall call him 'Long Legged Tom'.

[@snuggles03]

Ive got the 2020 GLA 4matic, and its awesome, a really good car, but I’m going to swap it for the EQA 350 when it becomes available in 2022 …thanks for the great review.

[@PhilDodd]

Great review as always. Here's one thing: when you have a long (in duration) shot where you're sitting in the cabin, and the camera is set up outside the car filming through the opposite door, I think it would be better to lock the camera off on a tripod. I guess you're shooting these shots handheld with image stabilisation. The slight movement of the camera makes my brain think that the park brake on the car is off and the car is rocking back and forth a bit. I find it a bit disconcerting. Who knows, it might just be me :)

[@ravingmad765]

Every time I see Tom's watch in shot I think I'm watching a review of an SL500.

[@richieduck67]

Great review Tom crazy not to take this over that dinky Mazda

[@kevinlee509]

its really good looking wheels, but afraid to clean them,

[@TheYoyoma3]

How good has traffic been filming this during lock down in Sydney lol

[@Secretlyanothername]

That's filmed in Melbourne.

[@ylft]

please review EQC @Tom

[@garthevans9625]

Looking at the XC40 P8 as well, if only they had the same range as the hyundai, The tesla is too low a car to get into comfortably

[@TheMadmax0609]

1:02 those wheels will be a nightmare to clean

[@rhettburger6705]

In other words it rides like a trolley jack.

[@BomberFletch31]

So Tom, I'm intrigued: what is your personal car?

[@DukeBen316663]

I'm going to further that and say "cars?" - fairly certain there's a Volvo station wagon in the collection, but intrigued to know the rest...

[@thommyk70]

I know Tom did a BMW road test recently (M550i) and he said he owned a BMW as well, so he has a Merc and Bimmer.

[@TheYoyoma3]

I just don't understand why its "slow"...

[@CoachThomas]

With the announcement of the pricing and specs of the Volvo XC-40 Recharge Full Electric model, which do you prefer? The EQA or the XC40 Recharge?

[@chasingcars]

Won't know until we can drive the XC40, which still hasn't happened

[@santillbrezon2161]

This ev looks interesting.

[@GrrMeister]

*Until you find out the Price & Charging times !*

[@johnm7251]

MB calls these cars SUVs but you cannot fit a towbar on GLA etc- what a joke

[@marcodebarkingville1827]

Surely that gloss black grill facade would look like shit in no time.

[@hechyesspee]

For 140 Kw with 0 - 100 km/h: 8.9 s, FWD at 84k it is too expensive. Charging is not the best. Better wait for Tesla Model Y LR which has 286 Kw 505km WLTP, AWD and would be cheaper than EQA AWD. May be the only positive is a nicer interior + Merc badge.

[@martinclarke974]

My issue with these incentives is the same as First home buyer grants - the seller inflates the price with the marketable notion that the buyer is getting a better deal because they are getting a financial incentive to do so. The incentive should not be tied to the purchase price of the car, but rather to the use ie reduced registration costs or the avoidance of any imposed costs that could be brought against ICE cars to motivate people to move away from them. Cigarette prices keep increasing to motivate people to give up and to disincentivise people from taking up the habit. The same concept can be applied to vehicles if the Governments were truly interested in moving people away from ICE vehicles to hybrid/EV options - you make the alternatives less appealing which by default makes the preferred option more appealing. Guaranteed if you told the public your registration costs on an ICE vehicle were going to increase 15% every year, people would shift their buying habits over time.

[@nigratruo]

No acceleration curves??? This car looks like it is super slowpoke, while it is so simple and easy to put in a fast electric engine. This car looks like a snail compared to the Model 3.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Why does this have a lift kit? It's a full four inches too high off the ground. Good for off-road clearance and absolutely nothing else. All lifting does is exaggerate pitch, yaw and roll moments hurting ride comfort and kills handling. Guessing is simply a soccer mum fashion statement look

[@larjkok1184]

It’s 2021, boomer.

[@PhilDodd]

Ease of entry and egress? Also steep driveways, gutters etc. The exit from my house is via a rear right of way that is very roughly paved. Modern non-SUV cars always scrape going in and out.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@@PhilDodd That must be one helluva driveway but this lil keg on legs will have you covered there. More a question for the builder than you but what sort of lunatic makes a driveway that regular cars struggle with? I think that builder got around a bit as you're not alone in that issue.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@@trainingtheworld5093 One would think the more affluent would have better architects and builders to create better driveways. Steep makes no difference whatever one drives, unless it's so bonkers one need low range. My thin affluent soccer mum wife will want something a bit more showy than an EQA to go with her everywhere activewear, my son will need to park his JDM on the street along with my Tesla but my valley girl daughter will just love having the driveway to herself but she parks on the street as reversing down Mt Toorak freaks her out. I'm a roads surveyor so approach and departure angles are my world and it's this simple, there is no reason to have a lift kit in any first world country unless one is going off road. Amongst other things I have a JCW MINI and in 185,000 km have never found anywhere it won't go without fuss. You are dead right in saying MB know their target audience alright as does Lorna Jane...

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@@trainingtheworld5093 Best you stick with trainspotting and leave judgements on reality to others.

[@mickzed6393]

Underwhelming BEV tech by MB. Once a leader, now a follower. MB take a look at Ionic 5. That's how it's done with RWD. Cheap Charlie MB using compromised ICE platform.

[@chasingcars]

Looking forward to driving the Ioniq 5 soon.

[@mickzed6393]

@@chasingcars Hi CC I understand your diplomacy But MB is asleep at the wheel regards BEV cheers

[@mickzed6393]

@@trainingtheworld5093 I'm no Tesla fan boy but their BEV tech is ahead of MB not a huge model 3 fan but the the base model 3 blows this fwd thing away performance wise. You have to be a 3 prong tragic to commit to EQS when better BEV stuff is around the corner at this price point.

[@mickzed6393]

@@trainingtheworld5093 Oh holly 3pronged brand that gets it's EV battery's/ components and tech from China and shares that tech with cheaper Chinese brands

[@mickzed6393]

@@trainingtheworld5093 Absolutly not but what are you paying for with 3prong when their tech is outsourced and shared with perceived inferior Chinese brands. You keep mentioning Tesla. Which says something about them. But others like Ionic 5 make EQA look pedestrian.