Mercedes-Benz GLA (H247)

The Mercedes-Benz GLA is the cheapest Mercedes crossover ever made thanks to the fact that it belongs to the same bloodline as the A-Class and the CLA-Class. With the second-generation GLA, the Mercedes family of compacts completed their regeneration status starting from the latest A-Class, the latest CLA, all the way to this. What's it all about the second-generation GLA?

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA

With prices start at 37,271 Euros plus OTR, the GLA is no doubt the most affordable crossover in the lineup and it's competitively priced between the Audi Q2 and the BMW X1. A real bargain indeed but that's just the start of the story because it's time to get to know more about the GLA.

The previous GLA is basically a jacked-up A-Class and when park alongside it, you can really tell the difference between them judging by its tough cladding and heightened ground clearance. For the new model, it looks a lot different compared to the latest A-Class even though both of these cars share the same underpinnings.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA interior

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA interior

The interior shares the same story between its relatives, meaning like the A-Class, the new GLA has some ample spacing for five people, good boot space, the MBUX, colorful ambient lighting, so on, so forth. Although an improvement compared to the previous model, it still works like most compact luxury crossovers should. A total assurance indeed for people who find many uses with this.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The most powerful version in the normal GLA has a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 224PS of power and 350Nm of torque and when mated to an 8G-DCT, it does 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 240kph. Sounds and feels peppy for a crossover. Those looking for a more fuel-efficient one fit for car-sharing purposes but not going for the diesel should go for the one with the 163PS 1.3L turbo petrol engine that delivers 6.7L/100km of fuel economy combined.

Aside from the performance it delivers, the new GLA drives better than the previous model because it uses the same revised dynamics that its A-Class and CLA relatives possess, giving it more city car class dynamics in crossover packaging. Couple it with the 4MATIC and it feels more rugged and adventurous even in the mud. Yes, you can take shortcuts with it but not too much because it's tiny, it's urban, and it's expensive to break, especially when the GLA offers high levels of driver aids similar to what today's S-Class possessed. While it will disappoint speedo boys many, these cutting-edge safety features feel like the future is now. Scary but true.

Should you buy one? Well, since more and more people are into crossovers, the GLA has the potential to outsell its relatives by a wide margin, although most of the new models might end up used for car-sharing duties, but never mind all that because, at this rate, its relatives are getting unnerved right now, knowing that the GLA is the upperclassman of the family tree. The more you know.

Photo: Daimler AG

Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

The Mercedes-AMG 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine, first applied on the A45 AMG last year, brewed a new age for the high-performance brand of Mercedes-Benz and while this new engine pushed the A45 AMG as the most powerful hot hatch ever made, this engine scored two victories for Mercedes-AMG. It won two categories of the "Engine of the Year Awards 2014" in "New engine 2014" and "1.8L to 2.0L", showing the world how great AMG is. With the engine now in A45 and its CLA45 compact sedan, looks like the GLA-Class compact crossover will join the fray as the GLA45 AMG.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

Well, here it is and by its first appearance, it doesn't look that different from the A45 AMG, which is based on and when you park it alongside the CLA45 and the A45 AMG, you will notice that these triplets truly shared the same blood. When it's in the blood, it's in the blood.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG interior

Before the sortie, let's observe what's what about the GLA45 AMG. Well, yes. It's a jacked-up A45 AMG so you do get the similar looks from the A45 AMG. On the inside, it's a similar issue as well. The interior can be fitted with numerous extras such as a steering wheel wrapped in black nappa leather or Alcantara, seats upholstered in ARTICO man-made leather or DINAMICA microfiber, carbon-fiber trim, and different upholstery colors. That's sound unique and then we take a look at the engine that powers it.

The AMG 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine, found int he A45 and CLA45. develops 360PS of power and 450Nm of torque. It's mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed gearbox. How does it perform? I'll tell you that when it's sortie time.

Speaking of sortie time, it's time now for the GLA45's sortie and this is the perfect time to explain how does the GLA45 perform in the world around it and why this high-performance crossover should aware the various regions in the world that surrounds it. This can do 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds, slower than the A45 AMG, and the top speed electronically limited to 250kph. For a crossover, that's quicker than memorizing the whole "real Chinese soup" jingle from your head, but as a car, this is a different topic that needs further explanation.

Reason why it's slower than the A45 is because the GLA45 is somewhat 30kg heavier than the A45 AMG and when it comes to fuel consumption, not as good as the A45 because while the A45's fuel consumption is a combined 14.5km/L, the GLA45 would do it in 13.3km/L. That's a double whammy for the AMG crossover but don't be silly because we're not going to compare it to the A45, we'll be using the RS Q3 as its chief rival.

When compared to the RS Q3, the GLA45 really top trumps it. It's 0.7 seconds quicker in the 0-100kph time, 145kg lighter than the RS Q3, and it's 1.9km/L more fuel efficient than the RS Q3. Yeah. Simple as that.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

In the mobility stakes, the GLA45 really made me unaware because why would some people think that it's more fun to have one than the car that looks quite the same? The A45 AMG is a good hot hatch but its mobility, thanks to its power steering, really needs some tough love from the driver especially when it comes with the 4MATIC 4-wheel drive system. On the GLA45 though, that's a similar issue but because it's heavier than the A45 AMG, it's kinda nowhere near as good in the corners. Yes, you do get some understeering issues, but with patience and mastery, you would really know how to mobilize it like an ace.

Since this is a crossover, what if you were in the case of tarmac, gravel, and snow? Thanks to the 4MATIC system and its high ground clearance, taking it to the dirt is all's well that performs well, although Mercedes-AMG still need some improvement though. Being a high-performance model, the GLA45 may not be quite suitable for your adventures as summer draws near to the climax and for day-to-day use, it's a so-so. It has a slightly bigger boot fit enough for your stuff you spent from shopping or groceries. It's a decent all-rounder because this crossover is made for the job but as a theory, it needs reworking to get the job done.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

So, should you buy one? Uh...not quite yet because the GLA45's intro price starts at 55,871 Euros, which is almost six grand more than the A45 and it's almost 1,300 Euros more than the Audi RS Q3 but as part of the AMG suvs, this is affordable to buy unless you are a mogul breaking things badly for science. Well, that's the end of it. While it's not quite as good as an A45, I certainly don't want the GLA45 to be in the pile of shame, although it could need some work done before its next sortie on the next day.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

It looks like the crossover segment in the automotive industry is going to stay longer than Bruce Forsyth. and those softroaders continue to grow due to the increasing popular demand. Luxury car makers, especially Germans, are no stranger to this category either. BMW has compact crossovers like the X1, Audi has the Q5 and the Q3, and as for Mercedes-Benz...not only they had crossovers like the GLK but now, they've added a new crossover that some say it was a worthy opponent to Audi's Q3 and BMW's upcoming sport activity coupe that is smaller than the X6.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

This is the GLA and like any crossovers based on their normal hatchback equivalents, the latest entry to the list of Mercedes-Benz crossovers has a message to the rivals and what was that message says? We may never know but it involves swearing, I think. Anyway, like any other crossovers I have ever witnessed, especially the GLK-Class, the GLA feels like an A-Class with a jacked-up suspension that was heightened to make it feel like it's taller than the A-Class.

So, what's it all about? Because this is the crossover version of the A-Class, the new GLA still retains the looks of the present-day A-Class judging by its familiar-looking headlamps, the side profile, and the rear view and if you manage to park this next to the new A-Class, you can't really tell the difference between this and the new A-Class. The same thing when their Q3 looked like the A3 perhaps but that's a different story because the new model is about 10mm higher than any midsize compact hatchback.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class interior

On the inside, it dons the familiar new Mercedes-Benz interior especially its cousins like the A-Class and the CLA-Class and you still get loads of tech gizmos suitable for the young urban professionals or yuppies. Unlike the A-Class, the GLA-Class has a bigger boot and the rear seats are okay, much okay that having a cramped space in an A-Class despite both of them have five doors exclusively. If you worked hard, you might be tempted to add this car with some optional extras such as the reversible camera, BlueTooth connectivity, Digital Audio Broadcasting, and some others.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Even though crossovers of today are still focused on being "on the road" rather than being "off the road", the GLA is a bit okay because while some models come standard with front-wheel drive, the drivetrain conventional crossovers do come, the GLA do comes with an optional 4MATIC four-wheel drive system. When it gets rainy or snowy or when the roads get harsher and harsher, this four-wheel drive system really does come in handy. Besides, this drivetrain dons well both on and off the road not to mention the good traction and the ride comfort that is as mild as...mild language and mild lyrics. Let's hope it wasn't too Rated SPG for this until we save it to the AMG model soon.

At launch, the GLA comes with  1.6L petrol engines with three configurations, a 2.0L turbo engine, and a 2.1L diesel engine with some additions to follow later not to mention the AMG model that comes with the same turbocharged engine derived from the A45 and the CLA45 cousins. The 2.1L diesel engine generates about 136bhp in the GLA 200 CDI and 170bhp in the GLA 220 CDI. As for the 2.0L turbo engine equipped on the GLA 250, it develops about 211BHP, almost as spicy as a dijon mustard. Although the acceleration sounds can be a bit of a wuss, the top-end GLA 250 4MATIC can do 0-100kph in 7.1 seconds and it gives up the ghost when it reaches 230kph. As for the 7G-TRONIC double clutch gearbox it features...it feels not that bad. Again, on the scale of Poor, Okay, Not Bad, Good, and Wheely Good, I would say it's on the Not Bad position because even though the double-clutch gearbox now comes with the smoother and responsive shifts, I think Mercedes-Benz could have done better than that, in fact with the update so successful, in theory, I think they might be put it to the A-Class and the CLA-Class as well but frankly, I don't hold much hope.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Price-wise, the new GLA starts for around 29,304 Euros (estimated $41,000 or Php1.85 Million) so it's expensive to own than the Q3 and the X1 but cheaper to own than its big brother, the GLK. Is it a smart buy, could be but when you festooned it with optional extras and when it breaches, you'll need your own.

Available colors: Jupiterrot, Zirrusweiβ, Nachtschwarz, Sudseeblau metallic, Kosmosschwarz metallic, Nordlichtviolett metallic, Polarsilber metallic, Mountaingrau metallic, Universumblau metallic, Orientbraun metallic, Designo Mountaingrau MAGNO.

Photo: Daimler AG.