Mercedes-Benz GLA Review & Prices

The Mercedes GLA is the German car maker’s smallest SUV, so it’s really more of a tall A-Class hatchback than it is a proper big 4x4. The G in the name is meant to refer to the big and butch G-Class off-roader, but the GLA, compared to that, is more like a pre-schooler wearing one of those inflatable T-Rex costumes. Grrr.

It’s the kind of car that you’ll be considering if you’re also looking at the likes of an Audi Q3, BMW X1, Range Rover Evoque or Volvo XC40.

The current version of the GLA hit the UK car market in 2020 and Mercedes gave it a mild tweak and update in 2023, which included some infotainment updates and a new front bumper that includes a pretend ‘bash plate’ – not that that should encourage you to go particularly far off road.

It’s a reasonably good looking car, the GLA, although it looks very hatchback-y compared to the more upright and chunkier GLB, and it’s pretty obvious that the GLA is an A-Class with a loft extension.

The closeness to the A-Class is most obvious inside, where the GLA shares the same conjoined pair of digital screens, which look like someone’s melted an iPad and stretched it out across the top of the dashboard. Both screens are 10.3 inches across as standard (it used to be the case that basic models got really teeny-tiny screens) and while the software isn’t the cutting-edge stuff you’ll find in the new CLA Electric, it’s pretty easy to use, not least because the GLA still has proper physical controls for its air conditioning.

There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as you’d expect, and the screens can be customised with different designs, according to your tastes. Overall quality is decent, as you’d expect of a Mercedes, and you get standard heated front seats with a mixture of fabric trim and Mercedes’ pretty convincing ‘Artico’ imitation leather.

There are some cheap bits and pieces though — the column stalks especially — which do let the side down.

The GLA is very roomy though. There’s loads of legroom and headroom whether you’re sitting in the front or the back, although it would be optimistic to try and get a grown-up in the middle back seat. The boot, at 435 litres, is okay, but nothing special compared with alternatives, and it shrinks to a mere 385 litres if you go for the plug-in hybrid GLA 250e.

Which is a shame, as the 250e is a good choice — it comes with a handy electric range of up to 45 miles, and it’s one of the few PHEVs that doesn’t mug you with dreadful fuel economy if you go for a long run on the motorway.

The other engine options are two petrols, which offer different power outputs from the same size engine, as well as a pair of diesels, one of which comes with all-wheel drive. You can also buy fast versions, called AMG GLA 35 and AMG GLA 45.

Whichever engine you pick, the GLA is good in town, thanks to good visibility that comes with the raised-up driving position, and a tight turning circle. It also rides comfortably over bumps (unless you’ve gone for one of the AMG versions), but the downside is that the GLA isn’t much fun on the open road (unless, again, you’ve gone for one of the AMG versions) although it’s a good cruiser on the motorway, with solid refinement.

Couple this with the high-tech interior and the Mercedes GLA is a decent posh SUV, but it’s not as well-rounded as the BMW X1. Still, if this is the car for you, check out the latest Mercedes GLA deals or get yourself a Mercedes lease deal. You can also browse used GLAs as well as other used Mercedes models from our network of trusted dealers, and when it’s time to sell your car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The Mercedes GLA is actually pretty reasonably priced, costing about the same in basic form — circa £35,000 – as the likes of a basic BMW X1, Volvo XC40, or Lexus UX (although the Lexus, it’s worth pointing out, is way smaller inside than any of these other models).

The Mercedes GLA is comfortable to drive around town and on the motorway, but the BMW X1 is more fun on a twisty road

In town

You have two suspension setups available in the GLA, and the way Mercedes describes them is very telling. Instead of ‘comfort’ and ‘sport’ there’s ‘comfort’ and ‘comfort with ride height lowering’ (which you get on AMG Line versions). It’s pretty clear where Mercedes’ priorities lie.

That’s a good thing around town. The GLA smothers bumps that would be felt with a thump in the BMW X1 and it’s smoother than the Volvo XC40 too.

You sit up high in the GLA, a whopping 140mm higher than in a Mercedes A-Class hatchback. That gives a good view out, which is especially helpful when keeping an eye out for hazards on busy inner-city roads.

All GLA models come with an automatic gearbox, so stop-start traffic won’t have your left leg aching. The GLA 180 and 200 petrol models have seven forward gears, the rest of the range has eight. If we’re being picky, the gearbox is occasionally a little jerky at very low speeds, but mostly it’s smooth and responds reasonably quickly.

If you can keep the battery topped up, the plug-in hybrid is your best bet for driving around town because you can stick to the smooth, quiet electric motor. The 2023 update brought in a more powerful motor and bigger battery, so it’s better to drive and now has an electric range of about 35-40 miles in real world conditions, but the BMW X1 betters that with up to 55 miles, and the incoming new Audi Q3 PHEV will stretch that to beyond 70 miles.

On the motorway

The GLA’s suspension works just as well at speed as it does around town. This is a smooth, controlled and comfortable motorway cruiser.

You will notice the GLA is quiet as well as comfy. There’s little wind and road noise at speed, and not much more than a murmur from under the bonnet, whichever engine you choose.

Although it’s the weakest engine in the range, the 136hp 180 petrol isn’t out of its depth on the motorway. If that’s where your GLA will spend most of its time, though, we’d go for the 150hp GLA 200d, which has enough performance to pull off swift overtakes and will be very economical.

All models get active lane-keeping assist to keep you from straying in your lane, and Mercedes updated this to work better for the 2023 models. However it’s a bit of a shame that while basic cruise control is standard-fit, you have to get the expensive Driving Assistance package for adaptive cruise control, although that pack does come as standard for the diesel 220d 4MATIC AMG Line Premium and Premium Plus models.

On a twisty road

Without a doubt, the Mercedes-AMG cars are the ones to drive if you want to enjoy yourself on a favourite B-road. The 306hp GLA 35 and the 421hp GLA 45 are both rapid, although not quite as rewarding as a lower-slung hot hatch. They are also pretty expensive.

The rest of the range is above such silly antics. Sure, there’s decent grip, and for an SUV, the GLA doesn’t lean too much in the bends, but it isn’t really up for fun and games on a twisty road. If you want an agile premium SUV the BMW X1 is a much better option.

The cabin is pretty spacious, but the boot is smaller than you’ll find in alternatives

There’s plenty of space in the front of the GLA. Even really tall drivers should be able to get comfortable.

If you’re shorter in stature, you’ll definitely appreciate the high seating position that gives a good view out and is really supportive under your legs. You sit a lot higher than you do in a Mercedes A-Class, even with the seat on its lowest setting, and you can jack it right up if you want to.

Electric adjustment is standard on only the top trim, while all models get an extendable seat cushion for more under-thigh support. There’s also a good amount of adjustment in the steering wheel and seats, so it’s not too hard to get a comfortable driving position.

Storage is taken care of by really large door bins that can easily swallow a couple of bottles of water. The glovebox is a more modest size, but still big enough to be useful, and there are two cupholders at the base of the centre console. There’s a USB-C slot here too, with two more hidden beneath the armrest and two more in the back seats.

Space in the back seats

Headroom is good, even in cars with a full-length sunroof, which can eat into space. Only a very tall rear-seat passenger will complain that you should have bought a car with a regular roof.

There’s enough legroom for adults to get comfortable, and because the front seats are so high even on their lowest setting there’s plenty of room for those in the back to stretch their legs out in front of them. You also get two USB-C slots for the rear so there’s no fighting over who charges their phone.

ISOFIX mounting points for child seats are fitted to the outer seats but not for the front passenger seat. They’re not covered, which makes for easy seat fitting. With so much legroom you shouldn’t need to slide the front seats forward, even when fitting a bulky rear-facing seat.

Boot space

Boot space is not the GLA’s strong point. At 435 litres, there’s significantly less capacity than you’ll find in an Audi Q3, which has up to 530 litres, and the BMW X1, which has up to 550 litres. That said, it’s only a little smaller than the 452 litres you get in a Volvo XC40 and more than the 320 litres in the Lexus UX. You could also consider a well-specced Volkswagen Tiguan at this price, which has a massive 520-litre boot, and can be extended up to 615 litres by sliding the rear seats forward.

Go for the plug-in hybrid and the GLA’s capacity drops to 385 litres. That means it’s still behind an equivalent X1 (490 litres), but is actually slightly more spacious than the outgoing hybrid Q3 (380 litres).

The boot floor can be set to two heights. The higher position puts the floor level with the tailgate opening, making it easy to slide heavy items inside. The back seats split and fold if you need more room for bags. With the seats lowered, luggage capacity goes up to 1,430 litres (1,385 litres in the plug-in hybrid) which is a bit less than the BMW and Audi.

The cabin feels high-tech with its twin-screen setup, but there are plenty of cheaper materials to be found

The Mercedes GLA’s interior design is pretty swish, and you get a very good first impression with the high-tech displays.

Those twin-screens will grab your attention first, and while pre-2023 revision models had smaller displays as standard, all trims now get the dual-10.3-inch setup, which looks more coherent and upmarket.

It’s not the latest-tech MB.OS software, which has made its debut in the new CLA Electric (and which is seriously slick) but the GLA’s screens come with sharp colours, crisp graphics, and plenty of options to configure the displays. This is still a very good system.

It really helps that there are physical heating and ventilation controls, and you don’t have to put up with the cheap-feeling bar of buttons that you’ll find on the screen of, say, a C-Class saloon. You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, so it’s easy to connect your phone and use your maps and music.

On top of the touchscreen, you can also control certain settings or navigate to menus by saying ‘Hey Mercedes’ and then asking a question. Voice control systems can sometimes be clunky but this is, again, one of the best and means you don’t have to get distracted by digging through menus. It’ll even tell you a joke, if you ask.

The screen ahead of the driver displays your relevant driving information such as your speed and fuel consumption, but it’s highly adaptable, with pre-configured styles that range from a classic, minimalist look to a sportier design with red graphics and more focus on your revs and speed.

Once you are done playing with the infotainment, look around you and take in the quality of the cabin. The turbine-style air vents look great and the metallic trims are classy and expensive looking. It’s only when you look lower down on the dash and doors that you start to notice some more scratchy plastics and the odd wobbly button.

Excluding the high-powered AMG models, the Mercedes GLA comes with five engine options in the form of two petrols, two diesels and a plug-in hybrid.

The petrol options, badged ‘180’ and ‘200’, are based on a 1.3-litre engine that makes either 136hp or 163hp. It’s the most affordable engine in the range and has an official fuel economy figure of up to 43.5mpg. It should prove more economical around town than the diesels.

If you regularly drive on the motorway, though, the 2.0-litre diesels are likely to be your best bet. The ‘200d’ will be enough for most – its 150hp output might seem a bit low and put you off, but it has enough power to get up to speed and pull off overtakes, and it will be the more economical of the two diesel options because it’s two-wheel drive. Official figures register up to 52.3mpg.

However, the ‘220d 4MATIC’ has more power at 190hp and the security of all-wheel drive might be appealing, particularly if you live off the beaten track or somewhere that experiences a lot of bad weather. It’s a bit less economical at up to 48.7mpg.

If you’re able to top up the batteries, or are looking for a company car and want the lowest benefit-in-kind rate, the plug-in hybrid is your go-to. It’s the most expensive to buy, but with a regularly recharged battery and predominantly town-based driving, you will see the best fuel economy and lowest running costs by miles. Official figures are over 250mpg, for example, but this will drop drastically if you ignore the battery and only use the petrol engine, although the CLA 250e is far from the worst in that regard, and you should still be able to hit 40mpg on a long motorway run.

The GLA 250e’s low-low emissions figure of just 68g/km means it gets the cheapest first-year road tax, but because it costs more than £40,000, you’ll pay the higher rate for years two-to-six. The high emissions of the petrol models mean you’ll have to cough up more in year one, but in Sport Edition and Sport Executive, you’ll just duck under the cutoff point for the more expensive rate in years two-to-six.

Mercedes usually builds very safe cars, and the GLA ticks all the right boxes when it comes to avoiding a crash or protecting you if the worst happens.

It was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2019, and scored the maximum five stars – though testing is becoming more stringent all the time. Adult occupant protection was rated at 96% and child occupant protection 90%. That said, an NCAP test from 2019 isn’t using the latest test criteria, so the GLA would probably get a lower score if it was re-tested today.

The GLA does come with a bonnet that pops up by 65mm in a crash with a pedestrian to keep them away from the hard and unyielding engine, as well as a blind spot monitoring system and Guard 360, which alerts the owner to any break-in attempts through the Mercedes app.

Since Mercedes introduced the updated GLA in 2023, it has improved assistance technology, such as a better lane-keep assistant and the ability for the automatic parking system (on top-spec models) to parallel park. This also introduces a 360-degree parking camera, while other trims just get a 180-degree reversing camera.

Lots of car buyers see Mercedes as a byword for quality, but while that reputation hasn’t necessarily always been born out in reliability or customer satisfaction surveys, recently Mercedes has been flying high.

In fact, in the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, while the GLA didn’t feature, the A-Class on which it’s based did, and finished in an excellent 11th position, with a massive rating for reliability and quality. The Mercedes C-Class finished in 5th place overall, while the big Mercedes GLE SUV actually came top of the chart, which speaks well of Mercedes’ quality and customer service.

All Mercedes come with an unlimited mileage three-year warranty, which is a similar time-frame to other manufacturers, though some put a limit on mileage. Lexus is the premium brand with the best warranty, as this can be extended up to 10 years through annual servicing.