If the remarkable success of the little Mercedes-Benz A-Class is anything to go by, the company’s new small electric vehicle will soon become a familiar sight on our roads. It’s got the right badge, of course – for some buyers the only acceptable one – it’s electric, it’s a small SUV, and it’s got the same inoffensive styling as its siblings, the A-Class and GLA, a fossil-fuel counterpart to the EQA (“EQ” is Mercedes-Benz’ electric sub-brand). But does the EQA deserve to succeed?
Yes and no. As a package, it works pretty well, but it is compromised by having to share much of its platform and some mechanicals with its petrol-engined stablemates. As a result it is pretty hefty – well over two tonnes, including a substantial battery and twin electric motors. Lugging that lot around means it’s more limited in range than its frankly better, more advanced Korean counterparts, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. If you’re not bothered about snob value or the particular sense of style that Mercedes-Benz brings to its cars, you may as well take one of the more spacious models from the Korean brands.
