[AUTO] MERCEDES EQA TEST: SWITCH TO ELECTRICITY, IMAGE PRESERVED

[H O L D F I R E 流]

Neither too big for the city, nor too small for more family use, as long as it is limited to luggage needs, the Mercedes EQA, 100% electric version of the GLA compact SUV, offers a vision of versatility that is still rare for a electric model candidate for use as the household's main vehicle. An alternative to the thermal GLA which retains a rewarding presentation and a price comparable to equivalent equipment. Zapping Autonews Green Hydrogen car: how does it work? Hydrogen car: how does it work? EQ, two letters that indicate that there is electricity in the air at Mercedes. When they are directly appended to a third range letter, the model concerned then becomes fully energized. After the GLC family SUV and the Class V van, which became EQC and EQV respectively for their switch to electric, it is now the turn of the compact format (families A and B) to begin their electrification. The first to convert, the GLA compact SUV. So here is the EQA. The style hardly changes. The redesigned shields take him five centimeters in length (4.46 m) and he gains just over one centimeter in height (1.62 m). To recognize it, there are especially these light bands that connect the lights to each other. In the continuity of the blue daytime running lights at the front and that of the red sidelights at the rear. This is the new aesthetic signature of the 100% electric EQ range. Note also a full glossy black grille and partial flanges on the rims to make the air flow more fluid and therefore to reduce fuel consumption. The trunk decreases, the quality remains The chest decreases, the quality remains + 67 The Mercedes EQA benefits from the same finishing treatment as the GLA Photo Credit - Autonews In the interior, it is even less obvious. Everything is taken back to the GLA. The style therefore, but also the level of finish, very rewarding. The imitation leather covers the storm doors to the upper parts, the AMG Line version adds red stitching which continues on the foamed dashboard. This more dynamic finish also includes a flat sport steering wheel with fully anodized spokes and very well-supported sports seats, combining imitation leather and suede. An environment that remains very technological at night with the unmistakable customizable mood lighting as standard which illuminates the contours of the furniture with 64 fixed or changing colors, on the three levels of the dashboard. The novelty comes from the trim facing the front passenger, also backlit on the AMG Line finish by a cloud of dots in the chosen color. And of course the two 10.25 "screens for multimedia (touch) and instrumentation, integrated into a single tablet. There is plenty of space at the rear, although we regret the fairly low bench seat which does not provide sufficient leg support. The trunk is the big loser in this electrification since it loses 95 liters of capacity (340 liters) and the bench seat no longer slides. The fault of the electric chargers under the floor of the trunk. A location where a second electric motor will subsequently be added in addition to the one placed on the front axle, on the occasion of the arrival of the EQA 350 4Matic, taking advantage of four-wheel drive and 292 horsepower (190 hp front wheels for the EQA 250). In exchange, the soundproofing has been revised. The silent operation of the electrics should not allow extraneous noise from outside to show too much. And it is true that inside, aerodynamic or rolling noise is very well contained. We still manage to hear the whistling of the asynchronous electric unit when accelerating. Battery between two sizes Battery between two sizes + 67 The EQA has a 66.5 kWh battery and a fast charge limited to 100 kW Photo Credit - Autonews On the technical side, the battery housed under the floor has a useful capacity of 66.5 kWh. Overall, this is less than the average for electric family cars exceeding 70 kWh, often of a higher category as well. But that's more than the larger batteries of the more urban-format models, instead running around 50 kilowatt-hours. With a fast charging speed limited to 100 kW, which is below what the competition offers, this lower storage capacity allows you to recharge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes, a standard duration but with mathematically less kilometers. at stake. For everyday life, the charger is limited this time to 11 kW for a recharge from 10% to 100% in 5.45 hours. With a 7.4 kW Wallbox, the most commonly used model, the wait is 8:30. When the electrons are full, Mercedes announces 426 km of autonomy in the WLTP cycle. In the city, this figure is not too far from reality since our consumption (16.5 kWh / 100 km) will have us