Mercedes-Benz EQA review: refinement first, value a distant second

How the Mercedes-Benz EQA fits in 2026

When the EQA arrived in 2021 it had one clear job: be the cheapest way into an electric Mercedes-Benz. Five years on, that job is much harder. BMW’s iX1 undercuts it, Audi’s Q4 e-tron matches its price with a bigger battery, Volvo’s EX40 does both — and below the premium set, electric SUVs such as the BYD Atto 3 deliver 400-plus kilometres of WLTP range for about half the money.

Mercedes’ response was the facelift that reached Australian showrooms in late 2024: a larger 70.5 kWh battery, WLTP range up from 426 km to 526 km, refreshed styling and updated MBUX software.

We’ve focused on the EQA 250+ ($84,900 list) for this review — it’s the volume seller, and the single-motor spec third-party reviewers have overwhelmingly tested. For specs on both variants, including the $99,900 EQA 350 4MATIC, see the full EQA lineup on its model page.

What’s good

Refinement is the EQA’s genuine advantage. This is where nearly every review lands first, pre- and post-facelift. CarExpert found the cabin near-silent with unusually smooth power delivery; Top Gear — otherwise the EQA’s harshest critic — rates it quiet even by EV standards; Auto Express noted almost no motor whine in the facelifted 250+. CarsGuide adds the one caveat: without an engine to mask them, wind and tyre noise become more noticeable at highway pace.

The facelift fixed the range deficit. The original EQA 250’s 426 km WLTP figure was mid-pack at best. The 70.5 kWh battery lifts the 250+ to 526 km — just ahead of the Audi Q4 e-tron 45 (524 km) and comfortably clear of the BMW iX1 (464–475 km). Electrifying makes the point that the EQA now out-ranges its closest premium rivals on paper.

The cabin still sells the car. Even the critical reviews concede the interior: an expensive-feeling cabin is Top Gear’s chief compliment, and CarsGuide rates the MBUX infotainment among the best in the class.

What’s not

DC charging is stuck at 2021 speeds. The 100 kW peak hasn’t changed since launch — Chasing Cars judged it modest back then, and the facelift didn’t touch it. Mercedes claims 32 minutes for a 10–80 per cent charge; the iX1 peaks at 130 kW, the Q4 e-tron 45 at 175 kW and the EX40 at 205 kW. On a road trip, the EQA takes the longest stops in the premium small-SUV set.

Real-world range won’t match the sticker. CarsGuide measured 19.8 kWh/100 km in the pre-facelift EQA 250 — about 336 km of usable range against a 426 km claim — while Chasing Cars’ gentler 16.6 kWh/100 km matched the official figure. Apply those consumption rates to the 70.5 kWh pack and you get roughly 355–425 km depending on how and where you drive. Fine for suburban duty; budget conservatively for the highway.

The GLA bones show. The EQA is a converted petrol platform, and the raised battery floor forces a knees-up rear seating position — CarExpert, CarsGuide and Top Gear all flag it. The 340 L boot is about 100 L smaller than a petrol GLA’s. Ride quality splits reviewers by spec: supple on adaptive dampers according to CarExpert, fidgety on the AMG pack’s 20-inch wheels per Chasing Cars, while Auto Express found no damper mode fully convincing on UK-spec facelifted cars. One reviewer, Electrifying, also noted traction limits in the front-drive cars — a minority view, but worth a wet-weather test drive.

Where it lands among rivals

EQA 250+ vs BMW iX1. The iX1 xDrive30 costs $77,900 — $7,000 less than the EQA — with all-wheel drive, 230 kW and 130 kW DC charging. The front-drive eDrive20 is closer in character at $72,900 with 475 km of range. Warranties match at 5 years vehicle and 8 years/160,000 km battery, which makes the price gap hard to argue away.

EQA 250+ vs Audi Q4 e-tron 45. An identical $84,900 list price, but the Q4 45 brings an 82 kWh battery, 524 km of range, 210 kW of power and 175 kW DC charging, on the same warranty terms. On the spec sheet Audi wins comprehensively; the EQA’s counters are its smaller, city-friendlier footprint and that refinement consensus.

EQA 250+ vs Volvo EX40. The EX40 Single Motor Extended Range is $69,990 — $15,000 less — with 532 km WLTP and a 205 kW DC peak. Mercedes wins on cover, though: Volvo warrants the vehicle for only 3 years and the battery to 100,000 km, against Mercedes’ 5 years and 160,000 km.

Who should buy one

• Mercedes upgraders coming out of a GLA or A-Class who want the same showroom, service network and badge with a plug.
• Buyers who rank quietness and cabin quality above straight-line performance.
• Suburban households charging at home, where the slow DC peak rarely matters.
• Long-term owners — the 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty outlasts Volvo’s distance cap.

Who should pass

• Regular intercity drivers. Slow DC charging and a realistic 355–425 km range make it the weakest road-tripper in its class.
• Families with growing kids — the knees-up rear bench and 340 L boot are genuine constraints.
• Spreadsheet shoppers. The Q4 45 offers more for the same money; the iX1 and EX40 offer nearly as much for thousands less.
• Buyers who want current safety evidence: the 5-star ANCAP rating traces back to 2019-era testing.

Verdict

The EQA 250+ is a refined, beautifully finished small SUV that finally has competitive range — and it still asks you to pay the badge premium twice: once at the dealer, and again at every DC charger. Reviewer scores cluster from Top Gear’s harsh 6/10 to CarsGuide’s 7.6, and our 7.0 sits with that consensus. Buy it because you value how it goes about its work. Pass if you need the numbers to add up.