The Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line has seen a small price increase, taking the RRP to RM296,888 on-the-road without insurance. This is RM10k more than the SST-added price of RM286,888, announced in July 2022 following the end of sales tax exemption for cars. Note that this is not a new-for-2023 price; RM296,888 has been in place since September 2022.
The H243 EQA 250 AMG Line was launched back in March 2022 as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s first full electric offering. Then, with 50% sales tax exemption for CBU imported cars, it retailed for RM278,201. Since then, MBM has introduced the EQB, EQC, EQE and EQS flagship.
No changes to the EQA’s spec and features list, but the max claimed range is now 496 km on the WLTP cycle, which is a fair bit more than the original 429 km on a single charge. This is achieved through the switch from asynchronous motor (ASM) technology for the single motor on the front axle to permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) technology, which brings about improved efficiency.
Click to enlarge price and spec sheet
The front-mounted electric motor continues to output 190 PS and 375 Nm of torque, good for a 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. Powering the motor is a 66.5 kWh liquid-cooled, 420-volt lithium-ion battery.
The battery can be fully recharged in five hours and 45 minutes via the AC way (11 kW, Type 2), while DC fast charging at up to 100 kW with an appropriate charger can get the pack from a 10% to 80% state of charge (SoC) in 32 minutes.
Once again, watch the review for our take on the EQA’s charging performance. That, and the specs generally, are rather underwhelming versus the electric competition, but the EQA is nevertheless a good drive according to Hafriz Shah.
Electrification is gaining some serious traction over at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, what with the company having announced a trio of all-electric offerings last month. However, the distinction of being the first in the new offensive belongs to the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line. The crossover became the company’s first fully electric offering for the Malaysian market when it was introduced in March this year.
Having sampled the car, Hafriz Shah says that while the EQA 250 may appear underwhelming on paper, especially with less than half the power of a similarly-priced Volvo XC40 Electric, numbers don’t always determine how things eventually shape up. Indeed, our man found the car to be really likeable, and more than the sum of its parts – watch the video to see why he thinks so.
The fully-imported EQA shares the same MFA2 platform with the H247 GLA, but adapted to accommodate the switch to electric propulsion. The biggest change, aside from additional weight, is that the EV sacrifices some boot space to allow placement of the battery modules, with the EQA offering 340 litres of boot space instead of the 435 litres found in the GLA.
To help differentiate the EV from its petrol sibling, the EQA gets an EQ-specific front fascia featuring a closed-off grille in gloss black and a new design for the headlamps, with blue detailing. The taillights have the same rectangular graphics as the GLA, but they are conjoined to form a full-width unit. An AMG Line package offers the car a sportier presentation, and exterior specifications include LED High Performance headlamps (with Adaptive Highbeam Assist) and 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels.
Inside, the EQA 250 features Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery, black-pore linden wood trim, a Nappa leather steering wheel as well as illuminated and EQ-branded door sills. There’s of course the usual twin 10.25-inch digital instrument and infotainment displays, part of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system.
Also on are powered/ventilated front seats with a memory function, a Thermotronic dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), an ambient lighting system, Keyless-Go and a hands-free powered tailgate.
Motive power is provided by a front-mounted electric motor offering 188 hp (190 PS or 140 kW) and 375 Nm, and this is good enough to get the EQA from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and to a top speed of 160 km/h. The motor is juiced by a 66.5 kWh liquid-cooled, 420-volt lithium-ion battery, which offers the car a travel range of up to 429 km on a single charge (WLTP cycle).
The battery can be fully recharged in five hours and 45 minutes via the AC route (11 kW, Type 2), while DC fast charging at up to 100 kW with an appropriate charger can get the pack from a 10% to 80% state of charge (SoC) in just 32 minutes.
The EQA 250 AMG Line is priced at RM286,888, on-the-road without insurance. It comes with a four-year, unlimited mileage warranty, while the EV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
Here’s a comprehensive gallery of the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line, which was launched back in March this year and is Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s first fully electric offering. Arriving fully imported (CBU) from Germany, the EQA benefits from the government’s electric vehicle incentives and is priced at RM278,201.25 without insurance. With the Step Up Agility Financing programme, you can get the EQA for as low as RM2,288 monthly.
For the money, you’ll also get a four-year, unlimited mileage warranty and the EV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first. Said battery has an energy capacity of 66.5 kWh and delivers up to 429 km of range following the WLTP standard.
When depleted, it can be recharged fully recharged fully in five hours and 45 minutes using the vehicle’s 11-kW onboard AC charger (Type 2 connection). The EQA also supports DC fast charging up to 100 kW via a CCS2 connection, and with an appropriate charger, the battery will get from a 10-80% state of charge (SoC) in just 32 minutes.
The liquid-cooled, 420-volt lithium-ion battery powers a front-mounted electric motor that serves up 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW) and 375 Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.
The EQA shares the same MFA2 platform with the H247 GLA, albeit with some alterations to accommodate all the EV components. For instance, the placement of the battery modules beneath the passenger and compartment and in the centre of vehicle means you get 340 litres of boot space instead of 435 litres in the GLA.
You won’t get a front trunk (frunk) either, as the electric motor takes up the space vacated by the internal combustion engine in the GLA. Since we’re comparing, it should be noted the EQA 250 AMG Line costs RM7036.41 more than the top-spec GLA 250 AMG Line that is locally assembled (CKD).
To make sure you don’t confuse the two, the EQA gets an EQ-specific front fascia featuring a closed-off grille in gloss black and a new design for the headlamps with blue detailing. The taillights have the same rectangular graphics as the GLA, but they are conjoined to form a full-width unit.
The standard AMG Line package throws in a sportier front bumper with a prominent and wider lower apron, accompanied by slatted corner air inlets. The rear bumper gets the same treatment with corner outlets and upturned trim, the latter highlighting the diffuser fins. Different as it may be on the outside, the interior shares the same design with the GLA.
In terms of equipment, the EQA 250 AMG Line comes with LED High Performance headlamps (with Adaptive Highbeam Assist), 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, Comfort suspension, Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery, black-pore linden wood trim, a Nappa leather steering wheel as well as illuminated and EQ-branded door sills.
As for technologies, the two 10.25-inch digital instrument and infotainment displays are part of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system, which offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as well as Mercedes me connected services and telematics.
There are also powered and ventilated front seats with a memory function, Thermotronic dual-zone climate control (with rear vents that aren’t in the GLA), an ambient lighting system, Keyless-Go and a hands-free powered tailgate. Acoustic Ambient Protection is also included to alert pedestrians and cyclists by generating sounds outside of the vehicle at speeds of up to 20 km/h.
On the driver assists front, the EQA comes with Active Brake Assist (autonomous emergency braking), the Driving Assistance Package, Active Distance Assist Distronic (active cruise control with low-speed follow and restart), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Parking Assist Parktronic and Urban Guard. The GLA also gained some of these items as part of a recent update, it should be noted.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launched its first full EV, the EQA 250 AMG Line, earlier this month. Priced at RM278,201 on-the-road without insurance, the CBU Germany “electric GLA” is quite good value, being only RM7k costlier than the CKD locally assembled GLA 250 AMG Line, thanks to duty exemption for EVs.
Now, Mercedes-Benz Financial has announced the Step Up Agility Financing programme, which tout monthly payments from as low as RM2,288. For the EQA 250, there are two five-year step up plans available.
With the first option, one pays RM2,288 a month for the first two years followed by RM4,148 monthly for the third to fifth year. The second option is RM2,288 for the first year, followed by RM2,688 for the second year and RM3,994 for the third to fifth year. The difference between Step Up and the regular Agility plan? See the tables below.
From L-R: Step Up Agility Financing options; regular Agility Financing vs bank HP loan
The above figures are based on 10% downpayment, but customers can make a bigger DP to further reduce monthly instalments as well as opt for additional insurance coverage and service maintenance. With Guaranteed Future Value, customers can choose to refinance, return or keep the vehicle at the end of the tenure. Choose return and Mercedes-Benz will buy the car back at a pre-determined price.
Another feature that comes with Step Up Agility Financing is MobilityPlus, where customers will be entitled to a replacement car should there be a downtime due to service or repairs. The temporary car will be a Mercedes-Benz, so there’s no “drop in standard” for customers, and the car will be not more than four years old, with free drop off and pick up within 24 hours of approval.
Aside from Step Up Agility Financing, Mercedes-Benz Financial also offers the Lease&Go programme, where customers can lease the EQA 250 for up to four years, starting from RM5,392 a month. While monthly payments for leasing is higher, one does not have to worry about downpayment, depreciation, disposal and insurance/road tax. Mobility Plus is included. It’s rental with a minimum two-year contract, basically.
From L-R: Lease&Go options for the EQA 250; MobilityPlus features
The EQA 250 is powered by a 190 PS/375 Nm electric motor that drives the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox. 0-100 km/h is done in 8.9 seconds and top speed is 160 km/h. The battery is a 66.5 kWh unit and it’s good for 429 km of range from a full charge in the WLTP cycle. At 340L, boot volume down by by about 100 litres compared to the ICE-powered GLA.
The battery can be fully recharged in five hours and 45 minutes using the vehicle’s 11 kW onboard AC charger. DC fast charging up to 100 kW will get the battery from a 10-80% state of charge (SoC) in just 32 minutes. A four-year, unlimited mileage warranty is included, and the EV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000 km.
The first 1,000 EQA customers will receive a free one-year subscription with JomCharge, which means unlimited charging at a 50% discount at all JomCharge charging stations. MBM says that 13 new DC fast chargers will be installed in dealerships this year, and EQ customers can use them at no cost until the end of 2023. More details in our full launch report.
Here it is – the Mercedes-Benz EQA arrives in Malaysia a year after making its world debut, and it’s available here in the sole guise of the EQA 250 AMG Line. The CBU car is priced at RM278,201, which makes it just RM7,036 more expensive than the locally assembled GLA 250 AMG Line.
In terms of power, a single asynchronous electric motor drives the front wheels, generating 140 kW or 190 PS and 375 Nm of torque. A single-speed gearbox regulates the motor, and helps propel the 2,040-kg (kerb weight) crossover from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The top speed is 160 km/h.
A 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery (420 volts, liquid cooled) is standard, providing a range of up to 429 km on a full charge. When charging via an 11 kW AC charger (Type 2 connection), the car can be fully juiced up in under six hours. The maximum DC charging rate is 100 kW (requires a CCS2 connection), which charges the battery from 10% to an 80% state of charge in approximately 32 minutes.
Watch our walk-around video to learn all about the baby EQ, and let us know what you think of it. You may also browse CarBase.my to check out its equipment and specifications in further detail.
GALLERY: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line official launch photos
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) electric vehicle offensive begins today with the launch of the H243 EQA, which is essentially the all-electric version of the H247 GLA SUV. Arriving in EQA 250 AMG Line guise, the new model arrives fully imported (CBU) from Germany and is priced at RM278,201.25 on-the-road without insurance.
The asking price factors in the government’s decision to waive import and excise duties for EVs, along with a 50% sales tax exemption that is set to end on June 30, 2022. Due to these incentives, the EQA is only RM7,036.41 costlier than the locally-assembled (CKD) GLA 250 AMG Line. Included is four-year, unlimited mileage warranty and the EV battery is covered for eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
For propulsion, the EQA 250 has a single asynchronous electric motor that drives the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox. Rated at 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW) and 375 Nm of torque, this allows the 2,040-kg (kerb weight) EQA to set a 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.
Said electric motor is powered by a liquid-cooled, 420-volt lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 66.5 kWh, which can be recharged fully in five hours and 45 minutes using the vehicle’s 11-kW onboard AC charger (Type 2 connection). Alternatively, DC fast charging up to 100 kW and a CCS2 connection will get the battery from a 10-80% state of charge (SoC) in just 32 minutes. A fully charged battery nets you up to 429 km of zero-emissions driving range following the WLTP cycle.
The first 1,000 customers who purchase an EQA will receive a complimentary one-year subscription with JomCharge, which allows them to enjoy unlimited charging at a 50% discount at all JomCharge charging stations.
Additionally, 13 new DC fast chargers will be installed in strategic dealer sites this year, which EQ customers can use at no cost until the end of 2023. Of course, you can also plug the EQA into other compatible public chargers provided by other companies in Malaysia, although an AC Type 2 cable is only provided for this purpose.
While the EQA does share the second iteration of Mercedes-Benz’s Modular Front Architecture (MFA2) with the GLA, the platform has been re-engineered to accommodate the electric powertrain. For starters, the battery is comprised of five modules located beneath the passenger compartment in the centre of the vehicle.
As a result, the floor in the rear passenger compartment is higher than in the GLA and the boot volume is down by by about 100 litres by comparison at 340 litres. Additionally, the electric motor occupies the space where you would usually find an internal combustion engine in the regular GLA, so there’s no front trunk (frunk) available.
Styling-wise, the EQA shares the same basic shape and most of the body panels with the GLA, but the biggest differentiator is the front fascia which features tapered headlamps that flow into a closed-off grille, which is finished in gloss black along with the Mercedes-Benz logo.
The standard LED High Performance headlamps (with Adaptive Highbeam Assist) also come with blue detailing to signify that you’re looking at an EQ model, and the integrated daytime running lights are linked by a single light strip running across the top edge of the grille. Moving to the rear, the taillights are also conjoined and sport the same rectangular graphics as the normal GLA.
Our EQA comes with the AMG Line package, which includes a sportier front bumper that features a prominent and wider lower apron, accompanied by slatted corner air inlets. The rear bumper gets the same treatment with corner outlets and upturned trim, the latter highlighting the diffuser fins.
Distinctive as the exterior may be, life inside the EQA should be familiar for those who’ve ever sat inside the GLA. Included is the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system with twin 10.25-inch instrument and infotainment displays, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support as well as Mercedes me connected services and telematics.
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Other interior amenities are sports seats, with those at the front being powered, ventilated and having a memory function; Thermotronic dual-zone climate control (with rear vents that aren’t in the GLA); an ambient lighting system; a Nappa leather steering wheel; illuminated and EQ-branded door sills; a head-up display; a wireless charging pad; Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery and black-pore linden wood trim.
The rest of the kit list includes 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, Comfort suspension, Keyless-Go and a hands-free powered tailgate. The EQA also bests the GLA in terms of active safety systems, as it not only has Active Brake Assist (autonomous emergency braking), but also the Driving Assistance Package, Active Distance Assist Distronic (active cruise control with low-speed follow and restart), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Parking Assist Parktronic and Urban Guard.
For the safety of those not seated inside, particularly due to the quietness of the electric powertrain, there’s also Acoustic Ambient Protection that generates sounds outside of the vehicle up to a speed of 20 km/h to alert pedestrians and cyclists.
What do you think of the new EQA? Would you pay the premium over the top-spec GLA for an electric drive system and a more comprehensive kit list? Or are there EVs from other car brands that have caught your eye? Let us know in the comments below. Find full specifications of the new EQA 250 AMG Line on CarBase.my.
GALLERY: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 AMG Line official launch photos
It’s taken long enough, but Mercedes-Benz has finally pulled the covers off its new electric compact SUV, the EQA. Essentially a zero-emission version of the GLA, it’s the third model in the EQ lineup after the EQC and EQV and will soon be joined by the GLB-based EQB. It will go on sale in Europe in the spring.
As expected, the car’s links to its conventionally-powered sibling are visible all around, as it shares the same basic structure and most of the body panels. The biggest change is the redesigned front fascia, which features tapered headlights that flow into the closed-off gloss black grille. Gloss-black badges on the front fenders further differentiate the EQA from the GLA.
Full-LED lamps come as standard, with blue detailing that is consistent with the EQ brand. The “eyebrow” daytime running lights are joined together by a single fibre optic strip running across the top edge of the grille. This conjoined lighting signature is also found at the rear, although the outer taillights with their rectangular graphics have been lifted from the regular GLA.
The centre light strip and the lower-mounted Three-pointed Star have pushed the number plate downwards, now nestling in the black plastic bumper insert. As with other Mercedes models, the EQA is also offered in AMG Line trim, adding sportier front and rear bumper designs as well as a double louvre grille. The wheel options measure up to 20 inches in diameter and are available with blue or rose gold highlights.
Aerodynamics are a major consideration for electric vehicles as engineers eke out every last kilometre of range. The EQA has a drag coefficient of only 0.28, which is lower than the GLA despite larger 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. Key features include cleaner front and rear fascia designs, aero wheels, an active air intake, improved headlight and radiator sealing and optimised underbody panelling.
Inside, the EQA is almost identical to the GLA, which itself shares much of its interior with the B-Class. The dashboard features cutouts in front of the driver and passenger, into which sits a freestanding display panel. As usual, the car will be equipped with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) and twin displays that measure either seven or 10.25 inches across.
The infotainment touchscreen features EQ-specific menus for charging options, electricity consumption and energy flow, while the instrument display swaps out a rev counter for a wattmeter that measures electric power being used and recuperated. One unique feature is the optional fibre optic illumination for the decorative trim, although customers can also choose from the usual wood and aluminium options.
Aside from the typical Progressive and AMG Line models, the EQA will also be offered in Electric Art trim, which includes grey faux Artico leather and rose gold highlights on the air vents, seat piping and fabric, the latter derived from PET bottles. There will also be a special-edition Edition 1 version that adds blue air vents and blue fabric under the genuine perforated grey leather.
Just one powertrain variant is being offered at the moment, the EQA 250. This uses a single asynchronous front-mounted electric motor to deliver 140 kW (190 PS) and an impressive 375 Nm of torque, enabling the car to get from zero to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 160 km/h. A 66.5 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery provides a range of 426 km on the WLTP cycle.
Mercedes is promising a number of other models to come, such as all-wheel-drive versions with a synchronous rear motor that will also include a high-performance AMG variant, according to Autocar. Such a system would be capable of adjusting the torque split up to 100 times a second. Alternatively, a long-range front-wheel-drive EQA will have a predicted range of over 500 km on the WLTP cycle.
To save space, the 420-volt battery features a double-decker design that slots under the rear passenger space, with the taller portion sitting under the boot floor. The GLA’s Modular Front Architecture (MFA2) wasn’t designed for full electrification, so the rear floor had to be extensively reworked, reducing rear legroom and significantly cutting cargo space from 435 litres to just 340.
You’ll be able to charge the EQA using up to 11 kW of AC power, although charging times will vary depending on the infrastructure of the country you’re in. The car is also capable of accepting up to 100 kW of DC fast charging, which would fill the battery from 10 to 80% in just half an hour. European and American buyers will receive a CCS charging socket, while those in Japan and China will get their own region-specific ports (which we assume would be a CHAdeMO socket in Japan).
Helping to extend range is the Eco Assist feature, which provides driver coaching to maximise efficiency. It also uses navigation data, traffic sign recognition and information from the car’s sensors to determine whether to coast or recuperate energy when the driver lifts their foot off the pedal. Meanwhile, Navigate with Electric Intelligent calculates the quickest route to the destination while taking into account charging stops.
In Europe, Mercedes is also introducing a Green Charging initiative, producing certificates of origin for charging stations to encourage the wider adoption of renewable energy sources. This is integrated into the Mercedes me Charge service, which provides access to over 450,000 charging points across 31 countries – claimed to be the world’s largest charging network. The Ionity network of fast charging points is also included.
As with the GLA, the EQA will come with front MacPherson strut and rear four-link suspension as standard, with adaptive dampers available as an option. Mercedes is touting several improvements in refinement, including the isolation of the powertrain and ancillaries, increased structural rigidity, revised rear subframe mounts and new vibration-reducing elastomer bearings on the rear axle.
The EQA will also feature all the usual Mercedes active safety functions, including standard autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist. On the options list is the Driving Assistance Package, which adds adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, active speed limit assist, evasive steering assist, blind spot monitoring and Pre-Safe Plus.
