Flagship Mercedes-Benz EQA 350 coming to Australia

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed three new electric vehicles will join its local range over the next 12 months – and chief among them for its performance and affordability will be the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz EQA 350.

Local officials made the announcement at this week’s launch of the all-new 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 small SUV, which is the German car-maker’s most affordable EV at $76,800 plus on-road costs, slotting in under the larger EQC 400 that’s already on sale (from $139,700 plus ORCs).

While the EQA 250 is front-wheel drive and uses a single electric motor that produces 140kW/375Nm, the EQA 350 uses a 4MATIC four-wheel drive system and a twin-motor powertrain that produces a meatier 215kW/500Nm.

It has combined power consumption of 15.8kWh/100km and offers a WLTP-verified driving range of up to 432km. The EQA 250 has a 426km range.

According to Benz, the EQA 350 – which is slated to arrive in November or December this year – can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds (2.9sec quicker than the EQA 250), on its way to a governed top speed of 160km/h (as per the 250).

Its 66.5kWh battery can handle up to 100kW charging and be replenished from 10-80 per cent in just 30 minutes under rapid charge.

At the local EQA 250 presentation, Mercedes-Benz Australia’s product communications spokesman Ryan Lewis said: “We will also have EQA 350 arriving at the end of this year to complete the model range for us.

“The EQA 350 is a 4MATIC vehicle, so it has that additional motor on the rear axle ... 215kW, 520Nm. It will come with AMG Line as standard [with] 20-inch wheels and things like that.

“We’ll be able to talk about price and spec for that vehicle closer to its arrival.”

The EQA 350 has a different powertrain set-up to the larger EQC 400. Due to space constraints inherent with the EQA’s donor GLA-Class platform, the rear motor is smaller and a different type to the one powering the rear axle of the EQC.

Lewis told carsales that the importer expects the EQA 350 to sell for a price below $100,000.

Mercedes-Benz also offers an EQA 300 4MATIC (168kW/390Nm) model overseas, but this has been ruled out for Australia.

A longer-range EQA model is in development too, with a European launch due “later in the year”, but this is also not yet locked in for our market.

There are, however, two other all-new electric cars from Mercedes-Benz that are confirmed for release Down Under.

These are the Mercedes-Benz EQS flagship sedan, which is also expected late this year, and the seven-seat Mercedes-Benz EQB, which is based on the GLB SUV and is scheduled for release here in 2022.

Stay tuned for our review of the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 on July 8.