The time has come to put ourselves at the controls of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA, the second generation of the successful compact SUV from the German brand. This model has delayed its launch due to the pandemic, but it is now available at official dealers in Mercedes.
During a brief presentation to the press we were able to put ourselves at the controls of the Mercedes GLA 200, the most accessible version of this SUV. In addition, we did not miss the opportunity to get on the extreme Mercedes AMG GLA 45 S, the most radical version that is signed by AMG and whose heart is the most powerful four-cylinder in the world. 421 hp! Shall we start?
The challenge of the new GLA is “simple”: to surpass the predecessor generation. To do this, they have focused their changes on a few main pillars, which are the versatility, efficiency, safety and connectivity. You'll make it? We'll know in a few years when sales records can be compared, but the truth is that this car shows ways.
More aggressive, more dynamic and more SUV
Before taking a quick look at its exterior design, it's worth reviewing its body dimensions. Now it is slightly shorter, 1,4 cm specifically, but the wheelbase has been lengthened by 3 cm. The height has increased by 10,4 cm. The main dimensions They are 4,41 meters long, 1,83 wide, 1,61 high and have a wheelbase of 2,73 meters. Later we will see if these variations improve the interior or not.
Regarding the design itself, as you can see in the images the Mercedes GLA It takes the new aesthetics of the compact range of the brand and gives it the typical steroids that cannot be missing in all SUVs. It is also fair to recognize that the tested unit looks more marked and muscular due to the optional aesthetic packages it carries.
In this case we have a front aggressive in which the spectacular main grille and the sporty shapes of the lower area, shaped like a bone, stand out. Nor do I want to forget the headlights, which are standard in the entire GLA range are High Performance LEDs.
And it is that, among many other things, we must remember that the Mercedes GLA arrives in Spain from the completion Progressive, not being available here the most basic finish that is marketed in other countries.
The side stand the greater height of the body with respect to the predecessor model is appreciated. The doors are considerably higher, also making room for a larger glazed area. In this view we can see that the front and rear overhangs are short, having extended the wheelbase. The rims, by the way, can be up to 20 inches.
Meanwhile, the rear It welcomes us with an arrangement of lights divided between the tailgate and the wing, being able to read the inscription of the version on the left side. By the way, the gate is wide and leaves a large loading mouth close to the ground. In the upper part, a subtle and elegant roof spoiler appears, while in the lower area there is no lack of chrome "exhausts".
With a familiar interior and without missing the MBUX
As expected, in the passenger compartment we find a design similar to that of the entire compact range, that is, it is identical to that of the Class A, Class A Sedan, CLA Coupé and CLA Shooting Brake. Therefore, we can add little or nothing to what we have felt when we have climbed on some of these sister products.
We have the MBUX infotainment system, which comes with two continuous screens and three versions of different sizes: two 7-inch screens, a 7-inch frame and a 10,25-inch center or both 10,25-inch screens. In our case, the tested unit It brings 10,25 inches for both the digital box and the touch screen.
Although if you are not used to this type of system it requires some adaptation time, in a short time it becomes natural and intuitive, since everything is very well organized. What I do not like so much is that they are controlled by small touch surfaces from the steering wheel, because on some occasion we have inadvertently touched when maneuvering or looking for another function of the steering wheel controls. For the rest, its visualization and speed is very good.
El MBUX system, with voice recognition and user learning, is the best on the market. It is fast enough and understands our expressions in a much more efficient way than the rest of the brands that we have tried so far. In addition, it is capable of many functions beyond entering a destination in the browser. You can change the temperature of the weather, vary the ambient light or find us a restaurant for dinner.
For the rest, the general design of the dashboard and doors is very "pintón". It draws a lot of attention. Personally, I really like aerators. However, they don't seem so accurate to me. plastic materials used in many parts, such as all the gloss black in the central part, both on the dashboard and on the console. As we have said countless times, it is very dirty, it scratches easily and over time it is very likely that noises will appear due to mismatches.
The new Mercedes GLA is a spacious and versatile car
If we focus on habitability, the Mercedes GLA is a car large enough for most of families and potential clients. We have some front seats with a good headroom and a more than correct width. In addition, the driving position is successful and the settings are wide.
In the rear seats there is plenty of room for two adults. I think four people who are close to 1,90 tall can travel comfortably in this car. With my height of 1,76 and the front seat adjusted to my height, I have a lot of room for my knees and head. Also, there is enough space to place your feet. Of course, the central square is less wide and conditions the comfort of the two sides; something that is quite common in most cars.
It's been a long time since I've been in a first generation Mercedes GLA, but the memory I have is that it wasn't nearly as spacious as this one. On the other hand, in the new model the rear bench seat can be moved 14 cm longitudinally to expand the trunk space, playing with the distribution of space to our liking and needs at any given time.
And since we've quoted cargo space, the trunk has a volume of 435 liters, which is 14 liters more than in the previous model. The shapes are usable and the quality of the finish is very good. There are some compartments, straps and rings to hold the load.
Mercedes GLA: Mechanical range and prices
We now move on to the mechanical range. Currently, all the Mercedes GLA available in Spain come with an automatic transmission. There are front-wheel drive versions and others with 4Matic all-wheel drive. In the following table I leave you graphically all the available options, engine, power, transmission and traction. By the way, also Prices starting with each engine.
| Denomination | Fuel Efficiency: | Motor | Power | Change | Traction | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denomination | Fuel Efficiency: | Motor | Power | Change | Traction | Price |
| GLA200 | Petrol | 1.3 liters | 163 CV | 7G DCT | Front | € 40.800 |
| GLA 250 4Matic | Petrol | 2.0 liters | 224 CV | 8G DCT | 4Matic | € 51.150 |
| GLA 200 d | Diesel | 2.0 liters | 150 CV | 8G DCT | Front | € 41.125 |
| GLA 200 d 4Matic | Diesel | 2.0 liters | 150 CV | 8G DCT | 4Matic | € 43.450 |
| GLA 220 d 4Matic | Diesel | 2.0 liters | 190 CV | 8G DCT | 4Matic | € 45.450 |
| AMG GLA 35 4Matic | Petrol | 2.0 liters | 306 CV | AMG SpeedShift DCT | 4Matic | € 63.950 |
| AMG GLA 45 S 4Matic+ | Petrol | 2.0 liters | 421 CV | AMG SpeedShift DCT | 4Matic+ | € 84.875 |
As you can see, we have five alternatives among which to choose, to which we must add the sports GLA 35 and GLA 45 S from AMG. The best-selling versions will be the two least powerful, that is, the GLA 200 and the GLA 200 d. They have enough power for most users, with 163 and 150 hp respectively.
At the wheel with the Mercedes GLA 200
As we said at the beginning, the contact It has been brief. We have not had long tours or several days of use to test it thoroughly, but this contact has helped us to get some first impressions. We start by talking about the GLA 200 and later we will do a quick review of the incredible AMG GLA 45 S.
La Mercedes GLA 200 version is highly recommended for those customers who are going to make mostly short journeys and not too many kilometers throughout the year. Nevertheless, for only 325 euros more we can opt for diesel 200 d, a very tempting option.
It is an agile car with a good touch, although I admit that I have missed a bit more of feeling from the direction. Meanwhile, the suspension is comfortable for asphalt in good condition and smooth bumps, but it is also true that does not properly absorb the sharpest bumps and sudden irregularities, such as expansion joints, asphalt changes, somewhat broken pavements or manhole covers.
When we step on any of these irregularities they are noticeable, although it is no less true that the seats are comfortable and absorb part of that blow. Also note that this tested unit fits inch wheels 19, which are not exactly the most ideal for seeking comfort.
The positive side of having a slightly hard-set suspension is that when we decide to do a dynamic driving hardly any rolls and pitches appear. The inertias are sufficiently contained, and this is something to take into account when we talk about an SUV car, with a high center of gravity.
Regarding the engine, in most situations the 163 hp and 250 Nm of torque are enough. If we accelerate hard, the gearbox reduces the gears that are necessary and the engine pushes with enough force. On the negative side, I have only noticed a little delay from when we accelerated until we began to notice that acceleration, as in the old turbo engines when it took time to “charge” and send pressure. For the rest, as I say, very correct.
Standard equipment in Spain for the GLA
At the wheel of the extreme Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S
During this presentation to the media, the brand also offered us a “ride” with the newcomer. Mercedes AMG GLA 45 S. This is the most performance variant of this car. Furthermore, I must mention that the 45 S versions of the compact range use the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder in history in large series.
We're talking about this 1.991 cc. develop no less than 421 CV at 6.750 revolutions and 500 Nm of torque to 5.000. His performance on paper is amazing. It declares a 0 to 100 km / h in 4,3 seconds and a top speed of 270 km / h, and that is electronically limited. Yes, they are higher figures than many supercars from a couple of decades ago.
Aesthetically it is very aggressive. Call for war both abroad and within. He is very focused on sportsmanship. And as it asks for war, we are not going to leave this sports SUV wanting to take the occasional hug. So, foot on the brake and start button. The sound is powerful when starting, but not devastating either. Even more content if you are in comfort mode. As I adjust the seat, steering wheel and mirrors I wonder who the hell would buy this thing...
I leave the enclosure and at the first manhole cover I already realize that this car is serious. It is not a normal GLA with a lot of power. Even in comfort mode it is perceived that the suspension is hard. For its part, the direction does not have too much weight to facilitate a calm and daily use. To get the best out of this car you have to use the right thumbwheel and go to the sports driving modes.
As there is very little time, I directly jump to the Sport+ mode. The address becomes heavier, the setting of the suspension makes it practically a table and the response of the engine and the change is much more lively. In addition, the sound of the engine is greatly increased.
An acceleration lane, 421 hp, automatic transmission and AMG Performance 4Matic+ drive; impossible to resist. Low a couple of gears to place the speed of rotation in the high zone and right pedal to table. In an instant he kicks us in the butt to leave us glued to the back while the sound of the engine fills the cabin.
With the generous tactile paddles we spliced a couple of gears on the edge of the ignition cutoff and unfortunately the speed limits mean we have to brake. There are very few seconds of emotion, but what a feeling… It's a shame not to have a closed area or a circuit to try to find the limits.
On the open road -and more with some traffic- it was not possible to get even close to the limits of the chassis, much less the brakes. However, we took advantage of some long and closed curve entering or exiting the motorway to get a brief idea. The lateral grip is very high, while the motor skills even with the car fully supported it is worthy of envy. Be careful, let's not forget that it is an SUV!
Who buys a compact SUV with 421 hp and 85.000 euros?
Without a doubt, it is a car that makes no sense. Who would buy this Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S? You have to pay too much attention to the heart and let yourself be guided by it to buy it. Even more so considering that the starting price without extras is practically 85.000 euros.
Personally, I think I would always bet on this same version in the Class A or in the CLA, but it is really surprising how well it goes and how little inertia it presents in this body all the way. The 45S is very focused for the circuit, so it is difficult for me to understand this product beyond looking for appearance. For me, the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 is more understandable, with its 306 CV and already offering a good level of fun, and more comfort than the 45 S.
