MERCEDES-BENZ Australia has launched its second electrical car – the EQA250 small SUV, priced from $76,800 earlier than on-road prices – and can observe this up with an all-wheel-drive EQA350 4Matic model in November or December.
With the EQA250 priced competitively towards EVs such because the Hyundai Kona Electrical Highlander ($66,000) and upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge Electrical ($76,990), Mercedes-Benz has already seen robust demand for the EQA in Australia.
Within the first two months since Australian EQA250 deliveries started, 88 items had been bought, and provide is already just about all spoken for till Christmas.
“The preliminary response from Australian prospects has actually been overwhelming,” stated Mercedes-Benz Australia head of media relations and public relations Jerry Stamoulis.
“It has solely been in dealerships a few weeks and we’re already listening to tales of consumers strolling in a car resembling a GLA and strolling out with an EQA.”
The EQA shares a lot of its DNA with the strong-selling, new-generation GLA small SUV, together with wheelbase size, doorways, roof, glass and inside structure, although with bespoke packaging of its rear battery pack and, on the forthcoming EQA350 4Matic variant, rear electrical motor.
With the GLA having expanded vertically to change into extra of an SUV-style car than its hatch-like predecessor, it turned the perfect donor mannequin for the electrical EQA, and Mercedes-Benz says consumers are responding to that logic.
“We’ve already had prospects inform us that they’ve been ready for a compact electrical car from Mercedes-Benz, both to step throughout from what they’re at present driving or to complement their current automobile,” stated Mercedes-Benz Australia media relations and product communications supervisor Ryan Lewis.
Arriving 18 months after Mercedes-Benz’s first electrical car, the EQC medium SUV, the EQA marks the entry level for the Stuttgart agency’s ‘EQ’ sub-brand and can be shortly adopted by a number of Mercedes-EQ fashions over the subsequent 12 months.
These will embody the EQS electrical limousine due late this yr and the seven-seat EQB in 2022, with Mercedes-Benz Australia additionally contemplating an EQT model of the T-Class compact van vary.
Additional down the observe, an EQE sedan, EQE SUV and EQS SUV will observe, although a long-range EQA variant will emerge earlier than any of these all-new electrical fashions.
As reported by GoAuto again in March, the EQA arrives comprehensively outfitted, although initially with only one drivetrain to start with.
The EQA250 includes a single 140kW/375Nm electrical motor driving the entrance wheels, fed by a 66.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack – giving it an ADR81/02-measured vary of 480km.
A extra highly effective EQA350 4Matic is ready to reach by Christmas that includes an extra electrical motor on its rear axle, increasing outputs to 215kW/520Nm for a a lot faster 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds (in comparison with a leisurely 8.9 seconds for the EQA250).
Mercedes-Benz Australia has determined to not import the mid-level 168kW/390Nm EQA300 4Matic, that includes an identical vitality consumption to the EQA350 and a 0-100km/h time of seven.7 seconds.
Curiously, the EQA350 4Matic’s quoted vary and vitality consumption (493km, 15.8kWh/100km) are near-identical to the front-drive EQA250’s.
Mercedes-Benz says battery recharging time for each fashions to go from 10-80 per cent takes half-hour when linked to a DC quick charger, whereas a devoted AC wallbox will take simply over 4 hours.
From launch, the EQA250 can be supplied in two variations – the usual automobile and a tricked-up ‘Version 1’ mannequin for a $7300 premium.
Normal gear consists of an MBUX infotainment system with twin 10.25-inch touchscreens, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio and satellite tv for pc navigation and wi-fi cellphone charging.
There are heated and electrically adjustable entrance seats with reminiscence operate, Artico upholstery, a leather-based sports activities steering wheel, ambient lighting, dual-zone local weather management, an electrical tailgate and keyless entry/begin.
Adaptive dampers and multi-link rear suspension are additionally customary, together with LED gentle bands throughout the entrance and rear ends, adaptive LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels and a three-year Chargefox subscription.
Security package consists of the total Driver Help Bundle – energetic distance help, energetic steering help, energetic brake help, evasive steering help, energetic lane preserving and energetic blind-spot help.
Three choices packs comprise an AMG Line sports activities package deal ($2950), a Imaginative and prescient package deal ($2900), and an MBUX Improvements package deal ($2500).
The AMG Line pack consists of an AMG-specific entrance apron and twin-blade entrance fascia, 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in high-gloss black with a high-sheen end, uncovered stitching on the dashboard and door tops, back-lit spiral-look trim components, AMG Artico/Dinamica upholstery, and a flat-bottomed sports activities steering wheel in Nappa leather-based with perforated sections.
The Imaginative and prescient package deal provides a 12-speaker, 590-watt Burmester surround-sound stereo, a panoramic glass sunroof and a 360-degree parking package deal, whereas the Improvements package deal provides a head-up show, MBUX inside assistant and augmented actuality for the navigation.
Ventilated entrance seats and panoramic sunroof might be individually optioned for $1200 and $2300 respectively.
The EQA250 Version 1 focuses on further visible aptitude with matte-copper 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, AMG Line exterior trim and gloss-black particulars.
Inside options on the Version 1 embody distinctive Neva gray leather-based and ‘Cyber Minimize’ blue upholstery, back-lit spiral-look trim components, blue door panels and centre console stitching, chrome silver and blue air vents, flat-bottom sports activities multi-function steering wheel, AMG pedals, illuminated door sill panels, Version 1 flooring mats, and a novel car key with copper-coloured {surround}.
When the EQA350 4Matic arrives, its customary options will embody an AMG Line exterior and inside, in addition to 20-inch AMG alloy wheels.
In Europe, Mercedes-Benz acquired greater than 20,000 EQA orders within the three months following its early-2021 reveal.
In Australia, the EQA’s donor car, the second-gen GLA, is having a bumper 2021. Throughout the primary half of the yr, gross sales have elevated 36 per cent to 1712 items, inserting it fourth in its phase behind the Audi Q3 (2912 gross sales), Volvo XC40 (2346 gross sales), and BMW X1 (1963 gross sales).
