Mercedes EQA review - Interior, design and technology

Rather than design and build a bespoke platform for the all-electric EQA, Mercedes chose to adapt the existing architecture from its GLA small SUV. Space has been created under the vehicle floor to house the electric motor and a battery pack, while the platform has been strengthened to support this extra load. With a kerb weight of well over 2,000kg, the EQA is a heavy car; a full 500kg more than the closely related GLA.

At first glance, the EQA appears to be a dead ringer for the GLA combustion-engined car. While this is largely true, there are a few tell-tale signs that give the game away and let people know that this is an all-electric model. The EQA has softer lines compared to the rest of the A-Class family, along with a blanked-off grille – the focus being to create a smooth exterior to help reduce unwanted drag and move more cleanly through the air.

Inside, perceived quality remains high with lots of soft-touch materials on regular touchpoints, although in our test car we did notice some lower-grade plastics used elsewhere in the cabin.

Standard kit is pretty generous with the popular AMG-Line trim including LED headlights, rear privacy glass, heated front sports seats and climate control, along with an aggressive exterior styling kit, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel trimmed in Nappa leather and plenty of aluminium trim.

Upgrading further to the Premium spec brings luxury items such as a sliding panoramic glass sunroof, a wireless smartphone charging pad and an upgraded 10-speaker audio system.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The EQA features two 10-inch displays which create a widescreen look across the top of the dash. Mercedes' intuitive MBUX infotainment system is as excellent as ever, with three large icons on the home screen, and further functions accessed by swiping left and right, just like a smartphone. The central touchscreen responds quickly to touches and the sat-nav loads quickly when planning a route; a fairly straightforward process thanks to large on-screen keys.

Unlike the very latest MBUX-equipped Mercedes, the EQA’s climate controls are physical; settings are adjusted by a bank of switches below the vents. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard across the EQA range, while the Premium pack adds an upgraded 225-watt Advanced Sound Sysem with ten speakers.

You have the option to upgrade the sat-nav to feature ‘augmented reality’ which helps with directions by overlaying arrows onto a live feed of the road ahead. We think it’s slightly gimmicky, although some of the Auto Express staff have been more positive about its usefulness - perhaps one to try before you buy.