Mercedes EQA 250

Overview

The Mercedes EQA 250 was Stuttgart's stylish entry into the compact electric SUV rodeo, offering a slice of premium EV life. As the entry-point to Mercedes' electric SUV range for its production run (2021-2023), it packed a familiar Mercedes feel into a more city-friendly package. Key highlights included its posh badge appeal and a respectable range for nipping around town or slightly longer jaunts. Although now discontinued, you can snag a used 2023 model from around €27,380. It’s a solid choice for those wanting Mercedes luxury in a compact, zero-emission form.

What's New for 2023?

For the 2023 model year, the Mercedes EQA 250 largely soldiered on with the successful formula established since its 2021 debut, representing the final iteration before a more significant facelift arrived for the 2024 model year. This means the 2023 EQA 250 retained its familiar tech, powertrain, and styling. European buyers got a consistent package, making it a known quantity. The main 'news' for this specific 2023 version was that it marked the end of this particular generation's production run, paving the way for its updated successor.

Design & Exterior

The EQA 250 boasts that unmistakable Mercedes EQ family look, with a sleek 'Black Panel' grille up front and a distinctive full-width LED light bar at the rear – it’s properly eye-catching at night! Based on the GLA, it’s got a compact SUV stance. Standard kit often included smart 18-inch alloy wheels. Dimensionally, it measures 4463 mm in length, 1834 mm wide (without mirrors), and stands 1620 mm tall, making it a neat fit for European city streets and tight parking spots. It’s a smooth, sophisticated design.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the EQA 250, and you're greeted by a cabin that feels suitably premium, with those cool turbine-style air vents and ambient lighting setting a swish mood. The MBUX infotainment system, typically featuring twin 10.25-inch screens, is a highlight, with crisp graphics and seamless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Passenger space is decent for a compact SUV, though taller adults might find the rear a tad snug. Cargo-wise, you get 340 litres in the boot, expanding to a useful 1320 litres with the seats folded. Sadly, there’s no frunk for your charging cables.

Performance & Driving Experience

The EQA 250 isn’t a rocket ship, but its 140 kW electric motor, driving the front wheels (FWD), delivers a healthy 385 Nm of torque. This translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint in a respectable 8.6 seconds – plenty for zipping through city traffic. The single induction motor (IM) provides smooth and instant shove. Expect a refined and comfortable driving experience, very much in the Mercedes tradition, rather than outright sporty thrills. Regenerative braking is adjustable via steering wheel paddles, allowing for some one-pedal style driving when you get the hang of it.

Range, Battery & Charging

Under the floor, the EQA 250 packs a 66.5 kWh usable battery, delivering a Green Cars Compare calculated 'real-world' range estimate of around 417 km, with an efficiency of 6.27 km/kWh. For charging, it accepts up to 11 kW AC via its CCS Type 2 port, meaning a full top-up takes roughly 6.5 hours overnight. Find a DC fast charger, and it’ll slurp juice at up to 112 kW, taking you from 10-80% in about 30-35 minutes. Handy for those longer European road trips!

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Safety is a strong suit for the EQA 250, backed by a full 5-star rating from Euro NCAP. As standard in Europe, you typically got essentials like Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Brake Assist, which can help prevent common types of prangs. For even more peace of mind, many EQA 250s were specced with the optional Driving Assistance Package. This usually added goodies like adaptive cruise control with route-based speed adjustment, blind-spot monitoring, and even assistance for evasive manoeuvres, making motorway slogs and city driving a bit less stressful.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes-Benz typically offers a comprehensive warranty package in Europe for the EQA 250. This usually includes a 3-year, unlimited kilometre basic vehicle warranty. Critically for an EV, the high-voltage battery is covered for a more extended period, commonly 8 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, with a guarantee against excessive degradation (often to 70% capacity). Maintenance is generally simpler and potentially cheaper than an equivalent petrol or diesel GLA, with fewer moving parts to worry about. Reliability for Mercedes EVs is generally considered pretty solid.