![]() The GLA doesn't offer seven-seats (that small SUV niche's reserved for GLB – in case you're wondering why it exists) but it does get a big and practical boot. Large footwells mean there's room for three people's feet, although the hard-packed middle seat won't be particularly comfortable over any kind of distance. There's more good news when you check out the back seat because even if you're tall, there will be room behind for someone the same size to sit comfortably. More the vertically challenged type with a penchant for taking people's heads off with your bowler? Worry not, the plentiful seat height adjustment means you're catered for too.įactor in the near-infinite steering wheel height and reach adjustment, and you really can't go wrong. In the front, its seats seem to have almost endless runners – something that used to be the preserve of Mercedes saloons – so even if you're a towering metal-mouthed baddie from a Bond movie, you should have plenty of room. It's a win-win situation (for Mercedes included because, well, the GLA costs more). The advantage of going for the GLA over its siblings is that you get a much more practical interior than in the A-Class, but without having to settle for the B-Class' odd beluga-whale like looks. It could just have hit on the winning formula that was missed by the old model. It has the premium feel of the A-Class and doesn’t cost a huge amount more to run, but looks more chunky and has a lot more interior space. Where the BMW steals a lead is in how fun it is to drive – the GLA can’t match the X1’s responsive steering or well contained body lean but it’s a minor criticism of a car that proves perfectly well mannered.įactor in that desirable Mercedes badge and it’s easy to see why you’d choose the GLA. Sure there’s some wind and tyre noise but it’s nothing like the drone you’ll get from the tyres in a BMW X1 and the GLA's lighter steering, standard automatic gearbox and crystal clear reversing camera makes it ideal in town. ![]() On longer drives you’ll find all GLAs are relaxing. As a result, no GLA gulps down fuel like it’s going out of fashion and the 250e plug-in hybrid’s ability to travel short distances on electricity alone could make you some serious savings on your commute. The GLA comes shaped from the modern SUV mould so while it looks quite rugged, only the top-of-the-range diesel comes with four-wheel drive as standard. Running costs are less noteworthy for the right reasons. A visit to the options list can do a lot to brighten things up – you can upgrade everything from the infotainment to the interior trims – so a cheap GLA can look quite different to an expensive one, but at a sizable price. It’s still based on the A-Class so you get a stylish interior design even if the quality isn’t as consistently rock solid as you’ll find in the Audi Q3 or BMW X1. You get plenty of room for four adults and a boot that’s big, usefully square and that closes electrically – handy when you’ve got your hands full. It is also a lot more practical than the car it replaces. Thankfully, its blunt front-end and boxier profile means this GLA isn’t going to be mistaken for a hatchback. That’s a good thing for this new GLA because if there was a criticism of the old model it would have been that it looked too much like an A-Class on raised suspension – a major problem when your target audience is crying out for a chunkily styled SUV. Mercedes-Benz's SUV range follows the same Russian doll philosophy as its saloons – they look nearly identical (military-spec G Wagon notwithstanding) but every model is slightly bigger than the last. The result is one of the best small-but-posh SUVs currently on sale. The Mercedes GLA throws into the mixing bowl everything you like about the A-Class – its posh image, high-tech interior and strong range of engines – then adds a tablespoon of practicality and a dash of SUV ruggedness.
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