This post was brought to you by Mercedes-Benz.
The all-new EQA by Mercedes-EQ, which is an electric crossover is now available in Malaysia. Mercedes-Benz wants to show that you don’t have to compromise on luxury if you choose an electric vehicle. Here are four things you can expect from the EQA 250.
Electrified power train
Electric vehicles are known to produce instant power, and this is no different with the EQA 250. A single electric motor located on the front axle provides 370Nm of torque. When required, it can propel the EQA 250 from 0 to 100km/h in just 8.9 seconds.
Where the EQA 250 demonstrates the benefits of an electric power train is during overtaking. Since there are no gears to change, you get a near-instantaneous response from the electric motor when you depress the accelerator pedal.
The 66.5kWh battery pack provides up to 429km of zero-emissions range and can be recharged from 10 to 80% in just 32 minutes with a 100 kWh DC fast charger. Using the onboard navigation system or the Mercedes me mobile app, you can easily search for charging stations along your route. Alternatively, you can charge your EQA 250 at selected Mercedes-Benz dealerships for free.
Mercedes-Benz is also giving the first 1,000 customers 50% off for a one-year subscription with JomCharge, which provides unlimited charging.
An interior that’s modern and premium
Stepping inside the EQA 250, you will be greeted with a mix of high-tech gadgets and premium materials. Dominating the dashboard are two crisp 10.25” displays for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. Powering both displays is Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver is treated to a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel and a heads-up display.
Being an AMG Line model, the EV comes as standard with sports with the driver seat getting an electrically adjustable 4-way lumbar support.
Active safety systems keep you safe
Mercedes-Benz didn’t skimp on the safety features of the EQA 250. You will find a whole host of active safety systems to keep you and others safe. The list includes Active Brake Assist or commonly known as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Distance Assist with Extended automatic Re-start in traffic jams, Active Steering Assist, Parking Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist.
It is not only your safety the car looks after but also the safety of pedestrians. Since there is no engine sound to alert a pedestrian of your presence, the car is fitted with Acoustic ambient protection. When travelling below 20km/h, say in a residential area, the car will produce a hum to notify pedestrians of an approaching vehicle.
Ambient lights do more than just lighten the mood
Like all modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the EQA 250 comes fitted with a 64-colour ambient lighting system that runs across the beltline of the car. It also extends into the turbine-style air vents. However, Mercedes-Benz also uses the ambient lighting system to provide visual feedback. When reducing the aircon temperature, the lights in the air vents will turn blue to indicate it’s getting colder. Turning the temperature up will make the lights glow red.
In addition, the ambient lighting system is also part of the safety system. It works together with the exit warning alert system. If you open the door and the EQA 250 detects traffic coming up from behind via the blind spot monitoring system, the ambient lighting on the door sill will flash red together with an audible chime.
And the cost of all of this?
Thanks to the incentives given to EVs by the Malaysian government, the EQA 250 is exempted from import and excise duties, sales tax, and road tax. So, despite being fully imported from Germany, the car is priced at RM278,201.25 on the road without insurance.
For a piece of mind, the Mercedes-Benz EV comes with four years, unlimited mileage warranty for the vehicle. On top of that, the battery pack gets eight years or 160,000km mileage warranty, whichever comes first.
For more information on EQA by Mercedes-EQ, log on to mercedes-benz.com.my.
