The Mercedes-Benz GLA was first launched way back in 2013 with the current, second generation car arriving in late 2019. As the most compact SUV in the German brand’s line-up, the original GLA was effectively just a raised A-Class hatchback. The new GLA is taller, roomier and more SUV-like in stature, making it a far more worthy competitor in a crowded field, which includes competition from the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is one of the most sophisticated small SUVs on the road today. It prioritises comfort, tech and user-friendliness over sporty performance, delivering a premium crossover that feels calm, polished and resolutely modern. While rivals might be more exciting to drive, few offer such a complete package of refinement, comfort and everyday usability. For drivers who value luxury in a compact footprint, the GLA remains one of the class leaders.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioPrices for the most basic GLA 180 AMG Line get underway at just under £35,000 with costs rising as you move up the lineup. The range-topping full AMG version kicks off at over £73,000 but there are plenty of models and trim levels in between, most of which will set you back between £40,000 and £50,000. The plug-in hybrid variant, by far the most efficient when it comes to fuel, starts at just over £45,000.
As ever with Mercedes, there is also an extensive list of optional extras, which can bump the price up significantly, with the German brand offering an exhaustive array of advanced driver aids and other upgrades. While the options are plentiful, they don’t come cheap and costs can climb rapidly if you are not careful.
On the used market, second-generation GLA models can be found via AA Cars for as little as £13,500 with post-facelift cars available from around £25,000. Second-hand PHEV models are available for under £20,000, rising to over £35,000 for more recent, lower mileage examples.
The GLA is available with a choice of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, which have been given mild-hybrid systems for improved efficiency. There is also a full plug-in hybrid option – the GLA 250 e – which goes even further on that front.
The most basic petrol cars get a choice of 1.3-litre turbocharged engines, producing 134 bhp and 161 bhp respectively. Further up the range, buyers can opt for a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol unit, which produces 221 bhp. There are also a pair of 2.0-litre diesel setups, which produce either 148 bhp or 188 bhp, depending on which model you go for.
For maximum efficiency, the GLA 250 e plug-in hybrid combines a 1.3-litre petrol engine with a 75 kW electric motor for a total of 215 bhp and an electric-only range of up to 37 miles.
Meanwhile, the most powerful units are reserved for high-performance AMG variants, the most impressive of which is a hand-built 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 421 bhp and 500 Nm of torque. The fastest of these cars has a 0–60 mph time of just 4.3 seconds.
The GLA has been designed to offer a more comfortable and relaxed alternative to sportier rivals like the BMW X1. There is a softness to the GLA which feels in keeping with much of Mercedes’ SUV range and it is apparent from the moment you get underway. At low speeds, the GLA glides along the road with light and breezy steering making maneuverability easier than many cars of this size. Visibility is also good thanks to the raised, upright driving position, which offers an excellent view out onto the road.
When you leave town and head onto the motorway, the GLA continues to excel, where its impressive noise suppression for a small SUV results in a quiet and refined experience. Overall, the GLA feels like a grown up and composed motorway miler. Despite lacking the sportiness of some of its rivals, acceleration is still more than acceptable, which means that overtaking is smooth and stress-free.
With comfort at the core of its being, it is unsurprising that ride quality ranks among the GLA’s biggest strengths. The car retains a softness throughout the range – even on AMG Line models with larger wheels. Regardless of the surface, the car’s suspension keeps things settled over potholes, bumps and imperfections. While there are a few jitters at low speeds in models that don’t have adaptive dampers, overall the ride remains among the best in this segment.
The trade-off for this can be found in the handling – especially when the road gets bendy. While body roll is largely controllable, the GLA lacks the X1’s excitement and precision. There is also a lack of feedback in the steering, which fails to endear the model to driving enthusiasts. Despite these drawbacks, the car does feel safe, predictable and competent – if not particularly thrilling.
The cabin of the GLA blends modern design with high-quality materials, with the car borrowing heavily from Mercedes’ A-Class hatchback and larger GLB SUV. The dashboard is dominated by a twin-screen setup made up of a central 10.25-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster.
Premium touches include turbine-style air vents, ambient lighting with dozens of colour combinations and extensive use of soft-touch materials, all of which come together to create a space that feels more premium than many of its rivals. While there are still a handful of cheaper plastics here and there, the overall quality is excellent.
When it comes to comfort, the seats are supportive on long journeys, with most trim levels offering heating capabilities as standard. There are also ventilation and memory functions on higher spec cars. In the rear, there is a good level of space for a compact SUV, with Mercedes offering more headroom and legroom than the previous generation.
The Mercedes GLA offers a highly-competitive 485 litres of boot space, which rises to 1,420 litres with the back seats folded away. While these numbers are slightly reduced in plug-in hybrid variants, all models offer a practical load space which is more than a match for most day-to-day requirements.
Inside the cabin itself there are deep door bins, generous cupholders, a useful central storage box and well-placed USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. Families with small children will also benefit from the higher seating position and wide rear doors, which make it easier to get car seats in and out of the back.
These days, Mercedes is generous with the standard equipment it gives to all its models and the GLA is no exception. Even entry-level cars get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; LED headlights; a reversing camera; parking sensors and keyless start.
Moving up the range, the brand adds a number of more premium touches including Burmester surround sound; a panoramic sunroof; adaptive suspension; a 360-degree camera system and head-up display. Some models also add enhanced navigation with augmented reality; a powered tailgate and an advanced driver assistance pack.
The GLA is available in a wide range of different models, all of which come in AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and full AMG trim levels. Even the entry-level trim is well-equipped, though Premium and Premium Plus bring major tech upgrades.
Popular colour choices include Polar White, Cosmos Black, Mountain Grey, Iridium Silver, Denim Blue and Digital White.
The GLA offers a good level of safety and was awarded a full five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested by the specialist body. The judges were impressed with the car’s strong range of standard safety equipment which includes autonomous emergency braking; lane-keeping assist; blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.
Reliability has been a major area of improvement for Mercedes over recent years, especially when compared to previous generations of its compact platform. As a result, owners now report solid build quality and dependable engines.
Efficiency numbers do vary but petrol mild-hybrid versions of the GLA are expected to achieve between 29.7 mpg and 43.5 mpg. Diesel models are all capable of over 50 mpg and the plug-in hybrid can achieve 256.8 mpg in official test conditions. While this is technically possible by only using electric power and charging regularly, in the real-world drivers can expect closer to 60 mpg. Meanwhile, CO₂ emissions range from 31 g/km for the PHEV to around 174 g/km for the more powerful petrol models.
On the tax front, GLA models costing more than £40,000 fall under the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, adding an extra £425 a year for five years from the second year of registration.
London
London
London
Connect with us
