EV upgrade for our old Nissan Leaf. Merc EQA?

[Maccles]

So, we've had a few problems with our very old 100k Nissan Leaf lately - the suspension is very worn, which had resulted in the front tyres wearing very fast, and the battery range has been getting steadily worse as a result, and my wife has been stranded twice recently, once with the kids. We could get it all sorted (and will anyway), but she fancies something new, and I've discovered that the tax benefits of financing an EV through my limited company are such that replacing the leaf now seems to make sense.

Car will mostly be used for school runs (three kids in the back) and the odd longer journey. Would be great if it could manage the 200 mile round trip to visit her folks back home. We will be keeping our old 2014 Merc E250 CDI estate for tip runs, large loads and very long journeys, and I've got my Boxster S for when I feel like burning rubber. Budget is quite flexible - my Ltd company can drop a few grand as a deposit and easily handle a monthly payment of a few hundred quid for a PCP arrangement. So we've been looking at cars anywhere between £12k and about double that.

We were going to go and look at a VW ID3 (one of her pals has one and really likes it). We were going to go and look at this one today - but she can't get excited about it:

https://www.petercoopergroup.co.uk/volkswagen/used...

I really like the new Renault 5, and I thought we should have gone and had a look at this one. It has a range of 250 miles and looks the dogs bks! But wifey thinks these look too boy racer. She's a nightmare!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512128...

But now she's decided she fancies a Merc EQA. I can get on board with the idea, they look really smart and I expect they'll be very good quality. We're thinking of going to see this today:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512178...

Any thoughts on the above, things to look out for, better suggestions?

[Trevor555]

Maccles said:

But now she's decided she fancies a Merc EQA. I can get on board with the idea, they look really smart and I expect they'll be very good quality. We're thinking of going to see this today:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512178...

Any thoughts on the above, things to look out for, better suggestions?

I don't think any new cars are built with the "very good quality" idea nowadays.

I've seen a few large repair bills on the EQA's that surprised me at the mileage. (suspension work)

And a broken elec port, made of plastic, so tell everyone to be gentle with it. (wasn't covered by warranty)

If I was considering the Merc I'd want Merc warranty on it, otherwise it'd be a no from me.

Can you extend the Merc "approved used" warranty?

Edited by Trevor555 on Thursday 12th February 07:49

[confused_buyer]

Have you checked the write down allowances on new v used? It might work out cheaper to just look at new cars.

[Maccles]

Trevor555 said:

Can you extend the Merc "approved used" warranty?

Edited by Trevor555 on Thursday 12th February 07:49

Thanks, that's useful information. I'll ask about the warranty.

[Maccles]

confused_buyer said:

Have you checked the write down allowances on new v used? It might work out cheaper to just look at new cars.

I've run the numbers and for most of the cars we're looking at, used works out considerably cheaper. We also don't want a three month (or more) wait for a new car.

[Rough101]

The EQA is a bit odd, the seats are rather narrow, hard and uncomfortable (as with most A class) and the floor is so high in the rear that you get no under thigh support, so have that in mind when you try one out.

[Skodillac]

KIA e-Niro. 64kwh.

The KIA will out-reliability any electric Merc hands down.

Don't bother looking at the Renault 5 if you need to use the back seats. Even for children.

[Zetec-S]

Maccles said:

I really like the new Renault 5, and I thought we should have gone and had a look at this one. It has a range of 250 miles and looks the dogs bks! But wifey thinks these look too boy racer. She's a nightmare!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512128...

I love the look of the Renault 5, but I think you'd struggle to get 200 miles out of a single charge from what I read up on.

Ended up going for a Megane E-Tech instead as it was slightly bigger, and depending on time of year/type of driving I can get 200 miles out of it before worrying too much about charging.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

[Greenmantle]

Andrew

I have a Merc EQA 350.
I have had it from July 2024 and it is my daily car.
I have a spare car which is a diesel - but that is more about where I live (no public transport) rather than anything else.

Just ask away.

[66HFM]

If one of your main requirements is to have 3 kids in the back I think the Renault 5 would be tight, I'm not even sure if it has 3 belts in the rear....

We have a Honda e:Ny1, on one of the cheap PCPs, we have 3 daughters and the one who has to sit in the middle moans if we go over a 20 mile trip, as its more of a lump than a seat.
Range on ours in winter is circa 180 (max) without any heating etc on, drops a further 40/50 miles if heating/air con, 250 in summer but again without air con being used...

I haven't herd people raving about the EQA but to be honest I don't see that many around. Kona seems to be popular where I live.

[Russet Grange]

Model 3 would be my choice. £20k on a long range one.

[Maccles]

Greenmantle said:

Andrew

I have a Merc EQA 350.
I have had it from July 2024 and it is my daily car.
I have a spare car which is a diesel - but that is more about where I live (no public transport) rather than anything else.

Just ask away.

Thanks - appreciate that. Although we spent a couple of hours looking at them this afternoon and now have answers to all the questions I can think of.

We really liked them, especially the interior (its probably just 'perceived quality' but it seemed really nice inside) and my wife really enjoyed how they drive, so we've decided to buy one (although a slightly better spec than the one I originally linked to)

[Greenmantle]

Maccles said:

Greenmantle said:

Andrew

I have a Merc EQA 350.
I have had it from July 2024 and it is my daily car.
I have a spare car which is a diesel - but that is more about where I live (no public transport) rather than anything else.

Just ask away.

Thanks - appreciate that. Although we spent a couple of hours looking at them this afternoon and now have answers to all the questions I can think of.

We really liked them, especially the interior (its probably just 'perceived quality' but it seemed really nice inside) and my wife really enjoyed how they drive, so we've decided to buy one (although a slightly better spec than the one I originally linked to)

That's good to hear.

[samoht]

Looks like the EQA250 would just about do 200 miles under ideal conditions. The 250+ would do it, except in the depths of winter or other adverse conditions.

https://ev-database.org/uk/car/1147/Mercedes-Benz-...
https://ev-database.org/uk/car/1698/Mercedes-Benz-...

[BertBert]

Mrs Bert has a Cupra Born which she likes a lot. Same platform as ID3, but looks better inside and out to my eyes.

We have the long range version 2.5 years old, but it only has 2 seatbelts in the back. The normal range one has 3.

[osterbo]

Have you looked at the new Nissan leaf? It's getting reasonable reviews and is a natural upgrade.

They've also fixed some of the downsides of the earlier model with its air cooled battery pack.

[bennno]

Smart #1 is surprisingly good and well priced lightly used.

Or a R5

[moonigan]

BMW iX3 - Good value imho. Get the M Sport pro and it has every single extra bar laser lights. I've had one for 4 years done 45K miles. In those 4 years its not had one single issue and all I have done is put new tyres on it and change the brake fluid. BMW extended warranty was £350 last year. Efficiency is around 3 m/kwh at this time of year (180-220) rising to around 3.8 (260ish) in summer thats a good mix of town and motorway. Its a fantastic car!

Mine is currently valued at around £22-25K.

[POIDH]

Kia Niro EV is brilliant - I am currently seeking one.

(Not e-Niro, which while same running gear is just not as nice a place to be).

[Skodillac]

POIDH said:

Kia Niro EV is brilliant - I am currently seeking one.

(Not e-Niro, which while same running gear is just not as nice a place to be).

What's the difference? Is the e-Niro the old shape and Niro EV the current shape?