MERCEDES-BENZ EQA

The EQA, much like the GLA, does not exactly look like a menacing SUV. Instead, it is more of a crossover that is designed for practicality than sheer visual dominance. This can be said for almost every other Mercedes electric car irrespective of body type. The shape and contour lines flow more elegantly than on several rival models - both in India and elsewhere.

The proportions of the Mercedes EQA are identical to the Mercedes GLA but there are several key standout highlights as far as the exterior design is concerned. The face, for instance, immediately tells you that here is an EV. In India, the model comes in the fully-decked EQA 250+ version and the EV gets a closed grille in gloss Black shade with 3D tri-stars surrounding the main Mercedes logo. The headlights on either side blend into the front grille while character lines on the bonnet add a fair bit of character to the face. There is also a horizontal light band connecting the two headlamps while the lower half of the face gets some degree of chrome treatment.

(Also check: In pics: Mercedes-Benz EQA, the smallest all-electric)

The face of the Mercedes EQA is rather simple but is smart enough to help it establish itself as an electric model. But move to the side and the slight sporty nature of the design comes into play - 19-inch AMG alloy wheels are very catchy and give a generous touch of aggressive appeal to the vehicle. There are more chrome outlines here, all the way around the window sills while there is a character line stretching across the lower half of the body.

The rear of the Mercedes EQA returns to being simple with a connecting light between the taillights being the only major standout design highlight.

Plush, typically plush - this is truly what the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz EQA is all about. Considering that this here is the top-version of the model, the company seems to have spared nothing to give it a very upmarket feel, and then some.

The steering wheel is new, the 12-speaker, 710-watt Burmester sound system is fantastic and the quality of fit and finish is typically Mercedes. The front two seats also have a generous amount of bolstering and support to allow comfortable journey. HUD or Head Up Display has been added and the in-built navigation on the main screen comes with augmented reality navigation for easier understanding of the route. There is support for gesture control as well and this is a neat little convenience feature which can be customised to a particular function on the screen - for us, it was to turn on the 360-degree camera for parking.

But Mercedes EQA also lacks a fair bit in some departments. The 10.23-inch main unit and the drive display continues to dwarf when the entire dashboard layout is taken into consideration. Backseat space is rather minimal and comfort is far from ideal too. Under-thigh support on the backseats is woefully missing and headroom for tall persons - those at six feet or more - is compromised. Blame it perhaps on the big battery eating into space here even though kneeroom and legspace is just about manageable for two. Thankfully, there is not much of a floor hump like in conventional luxury cars so a person in the middle can be adjusted. Boot space at 340 litres is a big let down as well.- remember, this is as much space as what sub-compact SUVs in the mass market offer.

Overall though, the cabin of the Mercedes EQA shines in terms of features and quality but feels rather wanting in terms of space and comfort.

The Mercedes-Benz EQA has a 70.5 kWh battery pack at its core. The acceleration time from 0 to 100 kmph is at 8.6 seconds - no, not the quickest in the league for sure. The top speed is capped at 160 kmph.

The battery inside can be powered from 0 per cent to 100 per cent using a conventional 11kW charger in a little over seven hours but use a DC 100kW charger and this time comes down to a lightning quick 35 minutes only.

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is not going to be the most excitable luxury electric vehicle and yet, it is a fairly enjoyable machine on the move. It is a front-wheel drive which offers around 187 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. There are four drive modes but acceleration, as mentioned earlier, isn't quite sensational.

But with EVs primarily being a city-based commute option, the EQA stands out in terms of the sheer refinement and control over noises from outside. The EV is in its best element when moving at traffic speeds and its compact proportions would make it easy enough to handle on typically congested roads.

On open highway stretches too, it is very well planted with good steering feedback and respectable overall stability. The suspension set up is slightly stiff but the ride over bruised roads isn't going to send shockwaves inside. Multiple levels of regenerative braking are aimed to improve range but ideally, only the ‘Normal’ mode is likely to be used for unhindered drive experience.