When Mercedes-Benz revealed the EQA compact electric vehicle concept in 2017, most people assumed it would enter production as a hatchback.
That does not seem to be the case, however, as our spy photographers have captured the EQA for the first time and it appears to adopt the bodywork of the upcoming GLA rather than the A-Class. That’s hardly surprising, though, given the market’s appetite for SUVs and crossovers nowadays.
It certainly makes more sense for the EQA to be a compact crossover rather than a compact hatchback, even though Mercedes-Benz will soon release an all-electric EQB as well. The more the merrier, right? Not to mention that there’s more room for the battery pack in a high-riding crossover than in a hatch – plus, Mercedes itself has followed the same practice in its ICE-powered SUVs, namely the GLA and GLB.
Related: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA Sheds Most Camouflage Two Days Before Debut
As the photos can reveal, the Mercedes-Benz EQA is still fully wrapped in camouflage but that can’t hide the fact that it uses the same body as the GLA. How do we know it’s an EQA, then? Well, the closed-off grille and the lack of tailpipes give it away.
Other differences compared to the second-generation GLA include the modified tailgate and lower positioning of the rear license plate. The EQA seen here is being benchmarked against a Tesla Model 3, but that won’t surprise anyone given that we’re talking about the world’s most popular EV right now.
As with the EQB, we don’t know much about the EQA’s powertrain. Given that we’re dealing with a compact crossover, front-wheel drive seems likely – especially since the EQB is expected to offer AWD as an option. As for the range, it will probably be similar to the Mercedes-Benz EQC’s 200 miles (322 km). The EQA will be built in Hambach, France and should debut sometime next year, most likely after the EQB.
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