Mercedes GLA review

The Mercedes GLA is the smallest SUV in Merc’s range and is essentially an A-Class that’s a bit bigger, a bit more practical and gives you a better view out thanks to its higher driving position. It’s an alternative to the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

When the first Mercedes GLA came out, jacked-up hatchbacks with a dash of off-road styling were viewed as a flash in the pan – a bit like fidget spinners or the Atkins diet. Turns out, these cars are here to stay.

But the latest Mercedes GLA commits more to the suburban SUV theme than before, so it’s 10cm taller than the old car and you can get it with massive 20-inch alloy wheels. Its gaping front grille is bigger than ever and the new LED headlights look super classy.

There are various vents and air diffusers on the car to give it a more sporty and off-road-ey vibe, but they’re fake and don’t do anything other than affect the car’s looks.

The Mercedes GLA’s interior has a very modern feel and the standout features are the twin infotainment displays like the ones you get in the Mercedes A-Class hatchback. It’s a shame though that the screens in entry-level Sport models are quite small and miss out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The system uses Mercedes’ latest MBUX software and it’s the best in the business. You can control it by using the touchscreen, a touchpad or by voice controls and you can even get an augmented reality sat-nav which overlays the directions on a live video feed from a camera above the car’s windscreen. Just the thing to help you navigate confusing roundabouts.

The digital experience is rounded off by the driver’s display screens behind the steering wheel instead of traditional analogue dials.

Overall, the interior quality is high, with nice materials on the dashboard and the doors. There are some scratchy, hard plastics a bit further down, however. It’s roomy too, with good seat- and steering-wheel adjustment for the driver, and passengers in the back will have a fair amount of space to get comfy.

The Mercedes GLA is a stylish, posh SUV, with the best infotainment system there is. But an Audi is more practical and a BMW more fun.

Where you won’t have plenty of space is in the boot. The GLA’s boot is smaller than the ones you get in a BMW X1 or Audi Q3. At least it does come with an electric tailgate as standard.

Currently there are two turbocharged petrol engines and two turbodiesels to choose from. The diesels can come with four-wheel drive, but every GLA gets an automatic gearbox. The gearshift is a lever on the steering wheel column, not on the centre console as in most other cars, which makes it easier to use mid-way through a tricky U-turn.

Around town the steering feels light enough to make manoeuvres straightforward and easy to dart in and out of traffic, while the suspension easily irons out bumps and potholes well.

On the motorway it’s quiet and relaxing but if you are after fun and excitement on a twisty road then there are other small SUVs that tick that particular box, such as the BMW X2.

Overall, the Mercedes GLA is a good, posh-feeling SUV, if not quite as well-rounded as equivalents from Audi or BMW. Still, if this is the car for you, check out the latest Mercedes GLA deals.