I had the pleasure to own a Mercedes EQA 350 for a year and now I own a BMW iX1 xDrive30. To be more precise, both cars belong(ed) to my wife. But that’s not the point here. I can really compare those two EVs. And as much as they play in the same league, they are quite different.
And I have to admit, while I am a BMW guy, the EQA did a great job, the best was that I sold it after a year for the same price as I actually bought it.
Mercedes Benz EQA 350 4matic, technical data
- vmax 160 km/h
- power up to 215kW / 292 PS
- range 412-459 km
- 0-100 = 6s
- max charging speed 100kW
- weight 2.110 kg
- loading volume 340- 1.320l
- size 4.463 x 2.020
BMW iX1 xDrive 30, technical data
- vmax 180 km/h
- power up to 230kW / 313 PS
- range 417-439 km
- 0-100 = 5,6s
- max charging speed 130kW
- weight 2.085 kg
- loading volume 490- 1.495l
- size 4.500 x 2.104
What are the main differences between the BMW and the Mercedes?
Well, basically they are both really cool EVs. And while the Mercedes is – as per their DNA – a bit more comfortable, the BMW is a bit sportier. The loading volume is significantly smaller in the Mercedes, looks like BMW did a better job in fitting the whole EV parts in the car. (both have no frunks, for the frunk-junkies out there).
I liked driving both cars a lot, quick, quiet, all wheel drive.
To me the main differences are the following. The BMW manages way better to smoothen the transition from recuperation to breaking. It’s really not anything you feel, hear or realize, while in the Mercedes it’s a light rumble and you clearly feel and hear it. Then the entertainment system. The Mercedes EQA sometimes took quite some time to boot its satnav. Actually it took sometimes up to 2 minutes and even though I usually know where to go, it was a bit annoying. The BMW OS is way quicker.
Result: And the winner is: BMW
Yes, I am biased as I live in Munich and love BMW. Still, the Mercedes is a great car and was the only alternative that met my expectations in terms of „feeling“ and luxury. At the time, BMW had no EV in that segment. But as soon as the iX1 was available, I switched back to BMW and I love it.
Let’s see what Copilot has to say about those two cars.
- The BMW iX1 xDrive30 has more power (313 hp vs 292 hp), more top speed (180 km/h vs 160 km/h) and more cargo volume (490 l vs 340 l) than the Mercedes EQA.
- The Mercedes EQA 350 has more torque (520 Nm vs 494 Nm), more range (493 km vs 440 km) and more battery capacity (79.8 kWh vs 66.5 kWh) than the BMW iX1 xDrive3013. Both cars have a similar charging power (11 kW AC, 100 kW DC for the Mercedes, 11 kW AC, 130 kW DC for the BMW) and a similar acceleration (0-100 km/h in 6 s for the Mercedes, 0-100 km/h in 5.6 s for the BMW).
- Both cars also have a similar size and weight. The BMW is slightly shorter (450 cm vs 458.7 cm) and slightly wider (184.5 cm vs 183.4 cm) than the Mercedes. The BMW also weighs slightly more (2085 kg vs 2045 kg).
- Both cars have a similar price range. The BMW has a RRP of 55,000 EUR, while the Mercedes has a RRP of 56,424 EUR.
- In summary, the BMW iX1 xDrive30 is a slightly sportier and roomier car, while the Mercedes EQA 350 is a slightly more efficient and range-stronger car. The choice depends on your personal preferences and needs.