Used Mercedes EQA 2021-present review

You're likely cautiously captivated by the Mercedes EQA: intrigued by the luxury, electric power and SUV body style, but put off by the price of a new one.

However, have no fear, the EQA is one of the cheapest premium electric SUVs you can find on the used market. Many are available for less than £30,000.

Your entry-level variant is the 250. Acceleration is acceptable, albeit tame by electric car standards, with 0-62mph happening in 8.9sec. Range is a similar story. You'll officially travel 263 miles on a full charge – around 210 miles in real-world conditions.

The 250+ gets a larger battery – 70.5kWh, up from 66.5kWh – and a more impressive, 316-mile official range. Performance stays the same, though.

It's the opposite with the 300 and 350 variants. They have the 250's battery and range but up the pace. The 300 and 350 can reach 60mph from a standstill in a respectable 7.7sec and 6.0sec respectively. That's a decent improvement, although they still can't deliver the same sucker punch that a Jaguar I-Pace, let alone a Tesla Model Y Performance, can.

The EQA is no spring chicken in the corners, either. The steering is light and mostly accurate (so it's great around town), but it's also very numb just off-centre and it never gives you a great sense of connection with the front wheels. There's a lot of body lean as well.

It’s all the more disappointing, then, that the EQA’s ride doesn’t make up for its lacklustre handling. Even on 18in alloy wheels (the smallest available) and with optional-from-new adaptive suspension, the EQA has a firm, unsettled ride at all speeds.

At least the driving position is comfortable, with plenty of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel. The driver display is paired with a second 10.0in screen that handles infotainment, and the two are slickly fused together to give the impression of a single giant widescreen.

This is one of the best infotainment systems around. It’s the latest generation of Mercedes’ MBUX system, and it can be controlled via the touchscreen itself, through the (quite capable) voice command function, or – crucially – using a trackpad between the driver and passenger seats.

That conveniently located trackpad (which is augmented by smaller pads on the steering wheel that can be operated with your thumbs) makes this one of the easiest and safest systems to operate while driving.

Only BMW’s slightly more intuitive iDrive system is better, and it’s certainly easier to use than the touchscreen-only system of the Volvo XC40 Recharge, which is also spoilt by small menu icons that are difficult to hit on the move. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present on all EQAs.

The other good news is that the impressive tech and attractive design are backed up by very good build quality. The EQA is right up there with the XC40 in terms of general fit and finish, with materials that feel very high in quality; it’s only a slight wobble in the climate control panel that lets the side down a little.

Compared to the Mercedes GLA that it’s based on, the EQA's rear floor has been raised to accommodate the batteries. As a result, the rear bench isn’t as far above the floor as you might be used to, and your knees will be higher than they would be in a regular GLA – or many other electric rivals, for that matter.

There’s no compromise on legroom, though, so six-footers will still be able to get in the back and stretch out in reasonable comfort. In fact, the EQA is roomier in the back than the Kia e-Niro and on a par with the spacious XC40 Recharge.

Unfortunately, the EQA disappoints when it comes to boot capacity. At 340 litres, it has 100 litres less volume than the GLA and is in fact a similar size to that of the Renault Zoe (338-litre), which is a much smaller electric car. Its closer rivals the e-Niro and XC40 boast 451 litres and 452 litres of storage respectively, and the Ford Mustang Mach E a whopping 502 litres.

If you're interested in buying a used Mercedes EQA or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Around £25,000 is your starting point – expect an EQA 250 from 2021. A 350 from 2021 will set you back around £31,000.

The 300 arrived in 2022 and will cost you around £33,000. The 250+ turned up in 2023 and will cost you around £34,000.

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Charging

When it comes to charging times, the EQA is reasonably competitive. From new, it has an 11kW on-board charger (some rivals only provide 7kW), with which an 11kW home wallbox will give you a 10-100% charge in five hours and 45 minutes.

When it comes to fast charging, the EQA can charge at a maximum speed of 100kW, a rate that delivers a 10-80% charge in 30 minutes. Bear in mind that the Tesla Model 3 can charge even faster, though, and has the huge advantage of getting access to Tesla’s superbly maintained and widely available Supercharger network.

Insurance and servicing

Depending on your chosen variant, the EQA belongs to insurance groups in the high 30s and low-to-mid 40s. For an electric SUV, this is average.

For two services of a 2021 EQA, we were quoted £576 via Mercedes.

Take away the price and we'd choose the 250+ every day of the week, its 316-mile range being the sole factor. However, you'll need an extra £9000 to buy one over the regular 250 and such a premium isn't quite worth it. Until the 250+ nears the 250's prices, we'll endorse the latter.

What about the 300 and 350+? Well, they aren't very compelling options, because they don't get any more range than the 250 does, plus the rise in performance isn't enough to warrant the extra cash. If you're easily spending more than £30,000, go for the 250+.

Your two available trims are Sport and AMG Line. This is an easy one: choose AMG Line. It's much more common on the used market and, as a result, it and Sport are similarly priced. As well as the front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, heated front seats and automatic climate control that you get with Sport, AMG Line has some sporty styling touches (exterior and interior).

Our favourite Mercedes EQA: 250 AMG Line

Arguably, the EQA's chief rival is the 2021-present Audi Q4 e-tron. It's that brand's smallest electric SUV, although it's slightly bigger than the EQA (and around £4000 more expensive as a used buy).

If you don't mind a slightly older car, the 2018-present Jaguar I-Pace is worth a look – when used, it starts at around £20,000. It's luxurious and great to drive, plus its official range is 292 miles. Mind you, the I-Pace's reliability record is poor.

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If you're interested in buying a used Mercedes EQA or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.