Mercedes-Benz will take on Tesla TSLA, +3.93% and others with its new EQA electric SUV, a model that the automaker finally unveiled after numerous hints and thinly disguised concepts shown over the last several years.
The EQA 250 that bowed in January hasn’t yet been earmarked for American consumers, but it provides plenty of insight as to what could eventually be sold here as Mercedes expands is electric vehicle lineup.
In Europe, it will square off against the Tesla Model Y, and its electric range should be on par with the Standard Range version of the California automaker’s offering. The Environmental Protection Agency and its European counterparts measure estimate electric range differently, but the EQA in its current form is likely to have a real-world range of under 300 miles since the American test is widely considered a better indicator of battery range. The Model Y can be driven between 256 and 326 miles, depending on configuration.
Mercedes includes a 66.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the EQA 250, while an all-wheel-drive version will add a second electric powertrain.
Also see: Soon this cute robot will find you to charge your EV
The EQA 250 is a small SUV, stretching just 176 inches between its bumpers. That makes it slightly larger than the automaker’s GLA, which lends much of its underpinnings to the new all-electric model. Inside, the EQA is stylish, but nearly identical to the GLA. Its conventional switches and knobs as well as its twin LCD screens stand in marked contrast to the Model Y, which is notable for its spartan interior design.
More: 5 high-performance SUVs to spice up your life
Even if the EQA 250 doesn’t make its way to America, it likely serves as a clear indicator of the EQB that’s expected here. The EQB should be boxier and more spacious, and more in line with the Mercedes-Benz GLB. The GLB is slightly larger than the GLA, and it offers seating for up to seven passengers.
This story originally ran on Autotrader.com.