Even though its official unveiling was postponed because of the international health crisis, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQA spared no time to continue testing. As it turns out, the model will be revealed less than a month from now.
Just like the EQC, which is essentially a redesigned Mercedes-Benz GLC, the EQA crossover is technically an electric version of the GLA compact crossover.
Despite being based on an ICE-powered vehicle, the model is expected to hold its own in the soon to be crowded segment of premium compact electric crossovers.
Earlier this winter, Mercedes-Benz was benchmarking the EQA against none other than the Tesla Model 3, likely due to the lack of available Model Ys, so we can expect the smallest Mercedes-Benz EV to deliver similar numbers as its American rivals.
As a reference, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus with rear-wheel-drive has an EPA-rated range of 250 miles (402 km) and features a 54 kWh battery. On the other hand, the Model 3 Long Range with all-wheel-drive delivers up to 322 miles (518 km) of driving from a 75 kWh battery.
Since all EQA versions are expected to feature all-wheel-drive thanks to one motor powering each axle, we can speculate that the production version in top spec might deliver a range of around 310 miles (500 km) from a 70 kWh lithium-ion battery developed and manufactured in-house.
The original Mercedes-Benz EQA concept car also had a dual-motor setup but only featured a 60-kWh battery, which was apparently good enough to give the model a range of 249 miles (400 km).
That was quite a few years ago, and the production crossover is expected to better both the concept’s 272 horsepower and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque and its range, but take all of this with a grain of salt.
At least two power and battery versions should be available when it goes on sale later this year, with a single-motor, front-wheel-drive version not entirely out of the books later in the model’s production cycle.
The EQA will almost immediately be followed by the GLB-based EQB seven-seat crossover, with both cars forming part of a 10-model onslaught on the EV market that Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch until the end of 2022.
Despite being based on an ICE-powered vehicle, the model is expected to hold its own in the soon to be crowded segment of premium compact electric crossovers.
Earlier this winter, Mercedes-Benz was benchmarking the EQA against none other than the Tesla Model 3, likely due to the lack of available Model Ys, so we can expect the smallest Mercedes-Benz EV to deliver similar numbers as its American rivals.
As a reference, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus with rear-wheel-drive has an EPA-rated range of 250 miles (402 km) and features a 54 kWh battery. On the other hand, the Model 3 Long Range with all-wheel-drive delivers up to 322 miles (518 km) of driving from a 75 kWh battery.
Since all EQA versions are expected to feature all-wheel-drive thanks to one motor powering each axle, we can speculate that the production version in top spec might deliver a range of around 310 miles (500 km) from a 70 kWh lithium-ion battery developed and manufactured in-house.
The original Mercedes-Benz EQA concept car also had a dual-motor setup but only featured a 60-kWh battery, which was apparently good enough to give the model a range of 249 miles (400 km).
That was quite a few years ago, and the production crossover is expected to better both the concept’s 272 horsepower and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque and its range, but take all of this with a grain of salt.
At least two power and battery versions should be available when it goes on sale later this year, with a single-motor, front-wheel-drive version not entirely out of the books later in the model’s production cycle.
The EQA will almost immediately be followed by the GLB-based EQB seven-seat crossover, with both cars forming part of a 10-model onslaught on the EV market that Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch until the end of 2022.