Which of these entry-level luxury electric SUVs sounds good on paper?
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the EQA electric SUV for Indian markets, slotting in as the brand's latest entry-level electric offering. The EQA will launch in India on July 8, and that's also when the price will be announced. But we already know what this SUV packs in so how does its specifications compare against its rivals, which include the likes of the BMW iX1, the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Audi Q4 e-tron (yet to launch in India, though)?
Mercedes-Benz EQA vs Audi Q4 e-tron vs BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Dimensions
The Mercedes-Benz EQA is not just the smallest offering from the Stuttgart-based manufacturer but is also one of the smallest in the segment. It is 37 mm shorter than the BMW iX1, and 128 mm shorter than the Audi. The wheelbase is interestingly longer than the Beemer, but shorter than Audi and that should eat into its legroom space, especially when you compare it with that of the Volvo XC40 Recharge. But despite its smaller proportions, it is the second heaviest SUV in this competition after the Audi Q4 e-tron which also happens to be the longest of the lot.
Specification
Mercedes-Benz EQA
BMW iX1
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Audi Q4 e-tron
Length
4463 mm
4500 mm
4425 mm
4591 mm
Width
1834 mm
1845 mm
1873 mm
1865 mm
Height
1624 mm
1612 mm
1651 mm
1639 mm
Wheelbase
2729 mm
2692 mm
2923 mm
2773 mm
Kerb Weight
2470 kg
2085 kg
2205 kg
2750 kg
Mercedes-Benz EQA vs Audi Q4 e-tron vs BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Battery, Range and Charger
It's the Volvo XC40 Recharge here which gets the biggest battery pack here, and while that might not translate to a longer range, it does come equipped with the 150 kW DC fast charger as standard which takes just 28 minutes to charge the battery from 0-80 per cent.
Both the Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX1 come with the 11 kW AC fast charger. And while the former's battery pack is significantly bigger, interestingly Mercedes is offering the EQA with a 100 kW DC fast charger option which is the least powerful fast charger in this lot. In comparison, the Audi Q4 e-tron not only gets the second largest battery in this competition, but it also gets the most powerful DC fast charger of the lot at 175 kW.
Mercedes-Benz EQA
BMW iX1
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Audi Q4 e-tron
Battery
70.5 kWh
66.4 kWh
78 kWh
77 kWh
Range
497 - 560 km
417-440 km
505 km
449 - 523 km
Charger
11 kW AC/ 100 kW DC Fast Charger
11 kW AC/ 130 kW DC
150 kW DC
11 kW AC/ 175 kW DC
Charging Time (0-80%)
7 hours 15 minutes/ 35 minutes
6 hours 30 minutes/ 29 minutes
28 mins
8 hours/ —
Mercedes-Benz EQA vs Audi Q4 e-tron vs BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Performance
When it comes to off-the-line acceleration, the Mercedes-Benz EQA is the slowest of the lot, followed by the Beemer, and Audi Q4 e-tron. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is the quickest here, which indicates that it has the better power-to-weight ratio of the lot. But credit goes where it is due, despite being the heaviest of the lot, the Audi is still quicker than the BMW and Mercedes, which are significantly lighter EVs.
Specification
Mercedes-Benz EQA
BMW iX1
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Audi Q4 e-tron
0-100 kmph (seconds)
8.6
5.6
4.9
5.4
Mercedes-Benz EQA vs Audi Q4 e-tron vs BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Cabin and Features
Cabin space has always been impressive with Mercedes-Benz cars, and the same continues here as well. The EQA gets a dual 10.25-inch screen setup, wherein one acts as the instrument cluster and the one on the left is for infotainment purposes. The cabin gets a new dual-tone grey and rose gold finish and it also features Merc's new steering wheel design. Some of the stand-out features available with this electric Merc include ambient lighting, four drive modes, a 12-speaker sound system from Burmester, blind-spot monitoring, heads-up display, wireless charger, USB type-C ports, dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable front seats, and a 360-degree camera system to name a few.
The same dual-screen set-up on the dashboard can be spotted in the BMW iX1 as well. Both the Audi and Volvo go for a more conventional set-up where the instrument cluster and infotainment screen are separate screens. In the Volvo, there's a distinct charm of minimalism, while in the Audi a lot of cuts and creases characterise the dashboard making for an aggressive-yet-sophisticated appeal. The BMW iX1, on the other hand, keeps matters minimal to the point where even the controls to the AC have been shifted to the infotainment screen.
As for their features list, all except for the Volvo XC40 Recharge are available with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Volvo misses out on the latter. Ambient lighting is available with all three, along with dual-zone climate control, plus premium sound systems. Ventilated seats are available in the mix as well, but they are restricted to the front row only, just like the Merc.
Price
Currently the Indian market only gets the BMW iX1 which is priced at ₹66.90 lakh and the Volvo XC40 Recharge which costs ₹54.95-57.90 lakh and so we think that the Mercedes-Benz EQA will get an aggressive price. So we expect the price to be around ₹65-69 lakh.
Verdict
A lot is going on here with the Mercedes-Benz EQA, but so is the case with its competition as well. However, while it may be dimensionally bigger than some, performance-wise, the new EQA is not that exciting on paper. But how does it feel to drive one in the real world, stay tuned to this space, for we are driving the new EQA in Jaipur as we put this story out and you'll know more on July 8.
