Despite the success it has known (more than a million units have been sold), the “label” of being just little more than a higher Class A has always accompanied the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
In this second generation, Mercedes-Benz bet on leaving this idea behind, but was it successful in its intentions?
In a first contact, the answer is: yes you did. The biggest compliment I can pay to the new Mercedes-Benz GLA is that it stopped me from remembering its less adventurous brother whenever I see him, something that happened when I bumped into his predecessor.
Whether it's (much) taller — 10 cm to be precise —, which guarantees distinct proportions, or because it lost the various decorative and plastic elements that the previous GLA used, this new generation has a more “independent” style of the model on which it is based.
Inside, the differences arise back there
If on the outside the Mercedes-Benz GLA managed to detach itself from the “label” of Class A higher on the inside, this distance is more discreet.
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This way, even the front seats will have some difficulty in distinguishing them. The dashboard is exactly the same, which means that we have the very complete MBUX infotainment system with its four control modes: voice, steering wheel touchpad, touchscreen or the command between the seats.
Very complete, the infotainment system requires some getting used to, given the massive amount of information it provides.
The quality of assembly and materials are on a par with what you would expect from Mercedes-Benz and only the highest driving position indicates that we are in charge of the GLA and not the A-Class.
The interior of the GLA is identical to the Class A.
That said, it is in the backseats that the Mercedes-Benz GLA departs from its brother. Equipped with sliding seats (14 cm of travel), it offers between 59 and 73 cm of legroom (Class A is 68 cm) and the feeling we get is that there's always a lot more space than in the German compact.
Also in the luggage compartment, the GLA reveals that it is friendlier to all those who like to travel with their “home on their back”, offering 425 liters (435 l for versions with gasoline engines), a value well above the 370 liters of the A-Class and also (slightly) higher than the 421 liters of the previous generation.
Is driving different too?
The first difference we feel driving the new Mercedes-Benz GLA compared to the A-Class is that we are sitting in a much higher position.
Once underway, the truth is that you will hardly confuse the two models. Despite sharing the platform, the reactions of the Mercedes-Benz GLA are different from those we feel at the controls of the A-Class.
Common to both is firm damping and direct, precise steering. Already “exclusive” to the GLA is the slight adorning of the bodywork at higher speeds, thanks to the greater height and that reminds us that we are behind the wheel of an SUV.
Basically, in the dynamic chapter, the GLA assumes in the SUV segment a role similar to that of the Class A among compacts. Safe, stable and effective, it exchanges some entertainment for a considerable amount of predictability, allowing us to bend quite quickly.
On the highway, the Mercedes-Benz GLA does not hide its German origins and “takes care of it” the long draws at high speed, and in this chapter it counts on a precious ally in the Diesel engine that equipped this unit.
With 2.0 l, 150 hp and 320 Nm, this is associated with an automatic transmission with eight ratios. A pair that works quite well, with the support of a set of driving modes that really make a difference whenever we select them.
While the “Comfort” mode is a compromise solution, the “Sport” mode helps us to make the best use of the dynamic potential of the GLA. It improves throttle response, acts on the gearbox (which keeps the ratio longer) and makes the steering heavier (maybe even a little too heavy).
Finally, the “ECO” mode unleashes the full savings potential of the 2.0 l Mercedes-Benz Diesel. If in “Comfort” and even “Sport” modes this had already proved to be economical, with averages running, respectively, around 5.7 l/100 km and 6.2 l/100 km (here at a faster pace ), in “ECO” mode, economy becomes the watchword.
Able to activate the “Free Wheel” function in the transmission, this mode allowed me to reach averages around 5 l/100 km on open road and around 6 to 6.5 l/100 km in urban areas. It's true that we can't go running for that, but it's good to know that the GLA is capable of taking on different “personalities”.
Is the car right for me?
Despite being less familiar than the GLB, in this new generation the Mercedes-Benz GLA is much more than an A-Class for climbing sidewalks.
With a more distinctive style than the German compact, more space and a ground clearance of 143 mm (9 mm more than the previous generation), the GLA offers a versatility that its brother can only dream of.
Whether it's the right choice? Well, for those looking for a premium SUV that's spacious qb, road-going by nature and with a Diesel engine that's pleasant to use in the most diverse circumstances, then the GLA may well be the right choice, especially now that it's moving away from the crossover concept and taking over itself more clearly as an SUV… which we no longer “label” as a higher Class A.