• Impressive MBUX digital dashboard
• High quality fixtures — mostly
• Fiddly touchpad system

How is the quality and layout?

For the 2024 model update, Mercedes-Benz has largely left the interior unchanged. That’s no bad thing because it looks good and exudes a high-quality first impression.

So, the EQA’s cabin is what you’d expect from a Mercedes-Benz. The big digital displays for the infotainment look impressive, and although there are two of them, they’re behind a single darkened skin, which adds to the premium appeal of the car.

The main surfaces of the dashboard, the centre console and so on look and feel expensive, and the main touchpoints feel chunky and hewn from good quality materials. But it’s not perfect. There are some poorer surfaces lower down in the cabin, though, and the column stalks — one for the lights, indicators and wipers and another for the drive selector — let the side down.

Infotainment and tech

The big MBUX screens that span half the width of the dashboard look really good, and you can individualise the layouts and style through three different themes — Classic, Sport and Progressive.

There are four ways of controlling what happens on the two 10.0-inch screens. You can use the slightly fiddly touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel – you can use the excellent ‘Hey, Mercedes’ digital voice assistant (which is better than many rival systems at understanding what you want, but still a bit hit-and-miss).

You can also have the option of touchscreen control (the simplest way, but the most distracting on the move), and there is also a laptop-style track-pad on the console. At least you’re not stuck for choice when interacting with the menus.

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Once inside those menus, there can be a touch of information overload — there are a lot of options and sub-menus from which to select, for everything from electric motor and battery performance to the settings for the 64-colour ambient lighting.

The graphics are well laid-out, and also that they look suitably expensive and high-tech, inviting you to go exploring. Many owners will use the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality, which is now wireless.

Comfort

• Very comfortable front seats
• Good visibility
• Sports seats optional

You can get upgraded sports seats in your EQA if you go for the AMG-Line model, but to be honest you don’t really need them. The basic EQA gets seats wrapped in synthetic leather that adjust manually for height and lumbar support.

Mercedes-Benz says they have more under-thigh support than most rivals’ seats, although we’d argue with that. They’re very good seats, though, and the driving position is spot-on too, so you’ll not feel too tired after a long day at the wheel. The manual adjusters aren’t the easiest to use, though.

The EQA can be had with the Energising Comfort Plus package first launched in the CLS, which sounds like the answer to a question no one asked, but actually enhances comfort on long drives by offering massage functions, smartwatch connectivity, mood lighting, bespoke music and even a power nap feature you can use when parked up.

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