2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA First Drive Review

Introduction

By Lyndon Bell

The compact crossover market is quite strong these days, as is the entry-level luxury market. More and more, we’re seeing cars priced in the low $30,000 range from marques well known for more stratospheric pricing. With these factors in mind it was inevitable we’d eventually see entry-level compact luxury crossovers, and they are here in a big way.

Audi’s new Q3 and BMW’s X1 are already in dealer showrooms. While a bit smaller than these models but competitively configured, Buick’s Encore could be considered a contender here as well. Though higher priced, Acura’s RDX and Cadillac’s SRX are also players in this segment. Lexus has an all-new model coming soon in the form of the Lexus NX 200t. And, of course, there is now the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA.

Based on our drive experience, the Mercedes-Benz looks to be quite competitive within its class. Sleekly curvaceous and definitively sexy, the new small Mercedes-Benz crossover SUV is based on the company’s new CLA line of smaller cars introduced for 2014. Given Mercedes representatives say sales of the model are constricted only by the company’s capacity to build them, we’ve a feeling they’re going to have similar problem with this new crossover.

Models And Pricing

At launch, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is being offered in two trims. While you’ll see a $31,300 base price touted, that number applies to the front-drive GLA 250, which goes on sale in the spring of 2015. In showrooms right now, the base model is the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic, which starts at $33,300. The other GLA model offered is the GLA45 AMG, which starts at $48,300. Mercedes-Benz adds $925 for destination and delivery charges, so the true base prices are $32,225 for the GLA 250, $34,225 for the GLA 250 4MATIC, and $49,225 for the GLA45 AMG.

Standard features include a power rear liftgate, 18-inch alloy wheels (19-inch on GLA45 AMG), chrome roof rails, power adjustable front seats with memory, a USB interface port, Bluetooth audio and telephony, a multifunction three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel on a tilt and telescoping column, a 4.5” dash mounted display monitor, cruise control, one-touch power windows, automatic headlights, a trip computer, and rain sensing intermittent windshield wipers. Also included in the base price are a four-year/50,000 mile warranty, 24-hour roadside assistance, and a raft of advanced safety features, which we’ll get into in the Safety and Crash Test Ratings section of this first drive review.

Design

Small in size—but big otherwise, the design of the Mercedes-Benz GLA blends nicely with the curvaceous styling language currently in vogue at the world’s oldest automobile company. According to the literature, the GLA’s designers were going for sensual clarity as an expression of modern luxury; and while we find that phrase to be itself lacking in clarity, we can say the GLA is even better looking in person than photographs convey.

Further, it looks more expensive than its $30,000 base price would lead you to expect.

A delicate greenhouse drawn with gracefully flowing lines and a low glass to lower body ratio nicely offsets the rippling musculature of the Mercedes. Yet, when you’re inside, the view outward is uncompromised in all directions. The sculptural detailing on the sides of the GLA models adds considerable character to the look of the car and further conveys its elevated place in the overall hierarchy of automobiles.

In other words, they say, “I might be affordable—but I ain’t cheap.”

The face of the car features the three-pointed star mounted within the grille, as is characteristic of all sporting-oriented Mercedes models. However, as an option, the star can be ordered with a LED illumination package.

Yes, if you’re into it like that, your star can be all lit up at night.

Features And Controls

There’s nothing cut-rate about the interior treatment either. Seated at the steering wheel, you’re facing richly detailed instrumentation. The look of it says you’re driving something substantive—something very Mercedes-Benz. This is a key aspect of interior design, one many automakers seem to overlook.

The three-spoke wheel offers controls for the audio system, telephone, and the dash-mounted multifunction trip computer display, as well as voice activated functions. Mounted immediately behind the wheel are paddles for shifting the transmission. While we miss pushbutton start, (it’s n option) we do appreciate the fact the key only requires a twist and release—there’s no need to hold it while the engine cranks.

A large trim piece in the center of the dash can be ordered in your choice of wood, aluminum, or carbon fiber (in the AMG model). The video display, and three large air vents dominate this section, while just beneath them reside the audio and climate control systems. We like the fact the GLA does not make you access the display to activate the radio, though you do need the display screen for tuning stations. One significant plus though, if you know the frequency of the station, the keypad does permit direct tuning.

Comfort And Cargo

Leading the way on the comfort and convenience front is the power operated rear hatch. A nice touch, it adds functional elegance to the overall package. The seats come upholstered in MB-Tex “pleather” as standard equipment, but true leather is offered as an option.

Over our day of driving, we found the seats to be exceptionally comfortable and supportive. They’re terrific for long stints behind the wheel, as they induce no fatigue whatsoever. That said, the leather and alcantara upholstered sport seats featured in the GLA45 AMG models we tried will not suffer fat folks gracefully. Deeply bolstered, and very restrictive, while they do allow for some adjustment, if you’re in the upper weight percentiles, you’ll want to cut most fats, salt, and sugar from your diet before opting for these seats.

Legroom’s aplenty up front as you’d expect from a Mercedes. The rear seat is fairly generous, four adults could ride for a while if the people parked in the front two are willing to give up some slack for the folks in the back. Head and shoulder room are more than adequate throughout the GLA.

The rear set folds for added cargo capacity. With it in place, the GLA Mercedes offers 31.8 inches of cargo floor; with the seat folded, that number expands to 54.9 inches.

Safety And Crash Ratings

Standard safety features include; 24-hour roadside assistance, dual stage force limiters and pretensioners for the seat belts, collision prevention with autonomous braking, dual stage front airbags, front side airbags, front window airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, four disc brakes, ABS, brake assist, stability control, traction control, a driver drowsiness monitor, an anti theft alarm with an engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring, run-flat tires, and a smart key with a panic button.

Optional safety features include; blind spot assist, smart cruise control, lane keeping assist, active parking assist (it’ll park itself—both parallel and perpendicularly), rear side airbags, keyless start, and wheel locks.

Neither NHTSA nor the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has crash tested the GLA as of this writing (September, 2014).

Engines And Fuel Economy

Power for both the GLA 250 and the GLA45 AMG come from a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder aluminum engine with direct fuel injection (and variable valve timing for the GLA45 AMG). It also incorporates an Eco mode featuring a start/stop function.

Configured for the GLA 250, the engine delivers 208 horsepower, 258 ft-lbs of torque, and a 6,500-rpm redline. It is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission feeding the front wheels in the standard GLA models, and all four wheels with the GLA 4MATIC powertrain. The multimode transmission features economy, sport, and manual shift algorithms.

Fuel economy is rated at 24 miles per gallon in the city, 32 on the highway, and 27 combined—for the all-wheel drive powertrain. Numbers for the front-drive powertrain have yet to be quoted as of this writing.

The GLA45 AMG gets 355 horsepower out of a twin-cam version of this engine, which is assembled by hand for this application. It is capable of generating 332 ft-lbs of torque between 2,250 rpm and 5,000. Redline is set at 6,700 for this version of the engine. The seven-speed dual clutch transmission is employed here as well, but all GLA45 AMG models use all-wheel drive.

Fuel economy is rated at 23 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 25 combined.

Please note the fuel economy numbers quoted here are MBZ’s preliminary estimates, the EPA’s numbers had yet to be released as of this writing.

Driving Impressions

Quiet and smooth, with huge lungs and very long legs, this compact Benz loves the highway—big time. Delivering exceptional comfort to boot, you’ll enjoy long distance travel, in either the standard or AMG configurations. The steering is nice and precise, and grip is remarkable, though there is a bit of body roll owed to the increased ride height of the GLA 250.

You’ll like driving the GLA Benzes a great deal.

With the 250, throttle tip-in is a bit subdued, particularly when the transmission is in the Eco mode. Push the pedal, the car responds gradually, as the various computers do all they can to deliver the strongest MPG number possible. Of course, when you switch to the Sport mode or the Manual mode it changes for the better, though immediacy is still a bit lacking.

While we’re on the Eco subject, the start/stop feature is a bit jarring on the restart, exhibiting a roughness we find uncharacteristic of Mercedes-Benz product. It’s not horribly so, we just expect more sophistication from Mercedes.

For driving enthusiasts, the one to get here is the GLA45 AMG. We actually enjoyed driving it more than the CLA45 AMG, with which its mechanicals are shared. You barely have to slow for corners, as the GLA45 boasts tremendous grip. Quick off the line, with abundant pull, this is a car from which you get a highly visceral response.

Run the engine to redline, reveling in the delicious engine note, flick the paddle behind the steering wheel for an upshift, and you get a delightful POOFT from the engine as the fuel cutoff activates to accommodate the gear change. It’s worth running the engine hard just to hear it. The driving part of this car they got very right.

Final Thoughts

While the GLA 250 is configured for mild off roading, we’re willing to bet most of the people buying it will never stray from the paved network of roadways. For this reason, we wonder why the Mercedes-Benz product planning team saw fit to increase the ride height of the GLA 250 by 1.2 inches for the U.S. market.

One look at the car and you can immediately tell it was an afterthought, even when the 19-inch wheel and tire package is fitted. The car looks like it’s perched on four stilts. If we bought a GLA 250, the first thing we’d do is restore it to its European ride height. Which, in turn would eliminate the slight body roll we spoke of earlier and improve the handling of the car even more.

While we’re on the subject of things we’d change, pricing of the AMG model, starting at just under $50,000, we feel is a bit on the stiff side. Particularly when you configure it with options. Our test car came in at just under $65,000. That puts it in territory with a number of cars boasting considerably more horsepower for the same money.

One more thing, even though the GLA 250 has a low $30,000 base price, when you take it in for servicing, you’ll be expected to pay like the well-heeled people who bought more expensive models. You’d best be ready to pay if you want to play, because they ain’t giving nothing away.

Pros And Cons