2021 Mercedes-Benz EQA leaked with minimal camouflage

The upcoming 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQA electric small SUV has leaked on social media with minimal disguise, ahead of its expected unveiling in the coming months.

Images of a lightly-disguised EQA prototype posted on Instagram by photographer @wilcoblok (pictured top of story, and below) reveal an exterior and interior design largely identical to its combustion-engined GLA counterpart, though with an assortment of unique styling cues to set the electric variant apart from other Mercedes-Benz models.

Unique front and rear fascias – inspired by the larger EQC electric mid-size SUV – headline the exterior changes. Styling highlights include a wider, closed-off front grille, new LED headlights (likely connected to the grille, like the EQC and EQV) and a more aerodynamic lower front bumper.

While much of the upper part of the rear tailgate remains obscured by camouflage, gaps in the swirly wrap reveal new, likely full-width tail-lights, complemented by a revised lower bumper (sans an exhaust outlet) below.

Inside the cabin, differences between the leaked EQA and recently-launched GLA appear minor, with the electric model featuring the same dual 10.25-inch touchscreens, quad central air vents and leather seat trim.

While not fitted to the leaked prototype, expect the production-ready EQA to gain a number of additional exterior and interior touches to denote its electric powertrain, including blue exterior accents, aero-focused alloy wheels, EQA badging, EQ-specific displays for the infotainment system, and rose gold interior accents, as per the EQC and EQV.

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Above: A Mercedes-Benz EQA prototype spied earlier this year.

Details of the Mercedes-Benz EQA's powertrain remain thin on the ground, though unconfirmed reports out of Europe suggest a choice of 60kWh and 110kWh lithium-ion battery packs, mated to single or dual electric motors with combined outputs of 150kW, 200kW or 250kW.

A performance-focused AMG EQA variant could also be in the works, with performance matching or exceeding that of the turbocharged GLA 45 S.

Given the EQA's closest competitors, the Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge and upcoming Audi Q4 E-Tron, offer WLTP-rated driving ranges of 418km and (an expected) 450km, the all-electric Benz would need a similar or better claim to be competitive against its rivals.

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Above: The Mercedes-Benz EQC, in not-for-Australia, non-AMG Line guise.

Previous reports have pointed to a 500km figure in the EQA's most energy-dense guise.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQA is expected to make its official debut in the first half of 2021, following a delay in the car's launch due to the COVID-19 pandemic, battery supply issues and a reorganised production schedule for the related EQB electric SUV, as reported by British publication Autocar.

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