For Mercedes, 2021 will be the year of accelerating the ecological transition in order to reduce its carbon footprint. Faced with these challenges, the star firm is rapidly increasing the number of electric models. Three vehicles are launched this year: the EQS limousine, the EQB 7-seater SUV and its 5-seater brother, the EQA 250. Developed from the multi-energy platform of the GLA, the latter is already available. The raised floor incorporates a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. It powers a 190 hp asynchronous electric motor driving the front wheels. On the wet pavement that we encountered during our test, the 375 Nm of torque put a strain on traction. Even if the liveliness of the acceleration from the start provides a feeling of joy,the preservation of autonomy quickly encourages people to calm their enthusiasm.
To discover
What responsibility at the wheel of an “autonomous car”?
Four levels of regeneration
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The manufacturer announces a range of action varying from 399 to 426 km, depending on the tire fitting and equipment. With a consumption that borders on 30 kWh on the highway, the range drops to around 250 km. It will then be necessary to ensure that the route taken includes a charging network. Fortunately, the EQA accepts a fast charge of 100 kW DC to recover 80% of the battery in 30 minutes. As part of its agreements with the Ionity network, Mercedes benefits from a preferential rate of € 0.29 / minute. On an 11 kW alternating current terminal, it will be necessary to wait 5 hours 45 minutes. In order to delay the shutdown at the terminal, the driver has several regeneration strategies. He can thus choose to keep the freewheel mode,let the engine brake operate automatically or decide to modulate the brake via the paddles on the steering wheel. The maximum level D4 ensures pleasant driving comfort, in most cases eliminating the need to apply the brake pedal. Even on a pass descent. This is not to displease us since the braking dosage is never linear. During a Lyon-Annecy journey via the schoolchildren's path, consumption did not exceed 21.3 kWh, which corresponds to a range of around 300 km.consumption thus did not exceed 21.3 kWh, which corresponds to a range of around 300 km.consumption thus did not exceed 21.3 kWh, which corresponds to a range of around 300 km.
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While some vehicles with a similar battery perform better, the EQA boasts a refined presentation and a rewarding digital environment supported by a large horizontal tablet.
Despite a mass of around 2.1 tons including 480 kilos for the battery, the road behavior can count on the lowered center of gravity to display a nice approval.
The use of a multi-energy platform has some drawbacks: the rear seat no longer slides and the legroom is reduced by 80 mm;
the boot volume reduced by 80 liters (340 l).
Opportunistic, Mercedes is supporting the launch of the EQA of a series limited to 300 units, displayed at € 100 below the € 45,000 mark in order to take advantage of the € 7,000 bonus in effect until June 30.
The entry-level version is asking for € 3,000 more.