Mercedes-Benz EQA vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Aug 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Mercedes-Benz EQA
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 140kW
- Energy use
- 16.9 kWh/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 340L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 67
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$89,900RRP
- no option data for this car
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Mercedes-Benz EQA EQA250+
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $393 a week in repayments ($89,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
About $189 a week in repayments ($45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Subaru Forester starts $43,910 lower on RRP.
The Mercedes-Benz EQA currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Subaru Forester does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$189/wk(≈$821/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Forester at $45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Mercedes-Benz EQADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Mercedes-Benz EQA a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 6 of 10 key systems on the Mercedes-Benz EQA and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Mercedes-Benz EQA
- REC-006695 · published 12 Aug 2026Nine model lines: door lock defect (campaign RC5219)Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2026
- REC-006475 · published 10 Nov 2025The high voltage battery may short circuit if charged over 80 percent capacity.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
- REC-005949 · published 15 Apr 2024The electrical power steering control unit back-up software may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
- 2 more on the model page.
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
66.5kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 100kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 100kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Mercedes-Benz EQA features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Mercedes-Benz EQA stands out with ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz EQA gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Mercedes-Benz EQA uses a Electric producing 140kW and 385Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Mercedes-Benz EQA has the clear power advantage at 140kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Mercedes-Benz EQA measures 4,463mm long on a 2,729mm wheelbase, 192mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQA generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 340L in the Mercedes-Benz EQA and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 156L advantage.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 0.2 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Mercedes-Benz EQA costs about $811 a year (16.9 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Mercedes-Benz EQA) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Mercedes-Benz EQA), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Mercedes-Benz EQA: more power (140kW against 136kW).
The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $89,900) and the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 340L).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 67
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Mercedes-Benz EQA's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 3 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 29 points), practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 11 points), value (Subaru Forester ahead by 10 points). Boot space with the seats up: 340L in the Mercedes-Benz EQA, 496L in the Subaru Forester.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$189/wk(≈$821/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Forester at $45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Mercedes-Benz EQADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Mercedes-Benz EQA and Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Mercedes-Benz EQA by $43,910.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Mercedes-Benz EQA, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Mercedes-Benz EQA has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Mercedes-Benz EQA makes the most power at 140kW.
Track the Mercedes-Benz EQA & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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