Mercedes-Benz GLA 2014 Review

Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI

Local launch and Road Test
Yarra Valley, Vic

A touch tougher in the looks department yet better riding and offering more luggage space and improved amenity, the GLA softroader could be the 'Goldilocks' variant of Mercedes-Benz' new family of compact cars. In entry-level front-drive 200 CDI guise, the car is priced sharply, has reasonable equipment levels and presents to those who perhaps never considered a Mercedes before, a new way of looking at the three-pointed star brand.

The line between hatch and SUV is getting more and more blurred. Subaru's XV is a good example. Essentially an Impreza hatch with taller suspension, it shares every panel with its donor hatch, and yet it is defined by a different model name and is reported in a different category for the purposes of VFACTS stats.

Mercedes-Benz could have very easily gone down exactly the same route in creating its GLA compact SUV cum-hatch cum-crossover. Instead, to give the Benz burghers their due, they took the A-Class hatch and set it aside. Rather than simply bolting on longer springs and dampers, the Stuttgart designers and engineers gave the GLA its own true identity.

Sure, it looks like part of the A-Class family and shares key footprint dimensions, but all of the GLA's panels, and even the blend of steel grades used in its body-in-white, are unique. So too are important dimensions such as H (hip) point (41mm higher than the A-Class), the front-rear seat couple distance and front and rear overhangs.

The GLA also offers more luggage space – and a special rear seat set-up which allows users to cant the backrest to almost vertical to maximise the litre-age. So configured, the GLA's 481 litre capacity (up from 421 in 'normal') all but matches the versatile B-Class MPV's 488 and is a substantial increase on the A-Class hatch's 341.

Built to compete in a segment that is very much flavour of the mid-decade, even in terms of the prestige subset of the compact SUV Venn diagram, the GLA arrives late to the party. Audi's Q3 and BMW's X1 are both well established and Land Rover's Range Rover Evoque is the reigning fashionista. Later this year, consumers will determine how serious a contender Lexus' compact NX will be.

But being late doesn't mean Mercedes-Benz can't set the cat among the pigeons – at least Down Under. It's a measure of the marketplace's concern that Audi has added a 1.4-litre TFSI entry level Q3 to its line-up and BMW has already repriced and re-equipped its X1 in response.

The 200 CDI which spearheads the GLA range locally arrive this month priced at a competitive $47,900. Powered by a 100kW/300Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, it's standard with Benz's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and is front-drive only.

Any disappointment that there's no all-wheel drive available at kick-off should at least in part be offset by the standard equipment list. Key features are nine airbags, Becker MapPilot navigation, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, Active Parking Assist, Bi-Xenon headlight and a reversing camera. Seat surfaces are Artico (fake leather) but other standard (safety) equipment inclusions are Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Pre-Safe, Attention Assist and Active Bonnet.

There's a substantial options list including goodies like COMAND navigation ($2490), a seat comfort package that includes heating and memory settings ($990) and, of course, the requisite AMG Line sports kit ($2490).

Our drive-away seven-day tester included all of the above options. It's important to note, however, that even without any add-ons, the GLA 200 doesn't present as a poverty pack 'orphan'. Witness the sensible 'luxury' inclusion of a powered remote rear tailgate – it's standard on all GLAs.

The entry-level GLA will be joined by the GLA 250 4MATIC petrol in June. Priced at $57,900, in addition to the same endearing 155kW/350Nm direct-injected turbo-petrol four that struts itself in the A and CLA 250s, the GLA 250 delivers heated/electrically adjustable front seats with memory function, intelligent light system, 19-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof on top of the 200 spec.

Importantly for some buyers (snow bunnies, I'm talking to you), it also adds all-wheel drive. Benz's Off Road Engineering Package is therefore also standard. When activated it changes the throttle mapping and shift points and modifies the behaviours of the stability control and antilock braking systems to better suit use on loose surfaces.

Just don't take the 'Off Road' part of the label too seriously. The 4MATIC system is still very much road-focussed. In this respect, GLA can't expect to compete with the competence, for instance, of the Evoque.

On-road performance of the 250 definitely takes a boost though. Benz claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.1sec for the turbo petrol with combined fuel consumption logged at 7.0L/100km in official testing.

Later in the year the hotshoe GLA 45 AMG 4MATIC will arrive. Powered by the same turbo-petrol 265kW/450Nm four as the A 45 and CLA 45 AMG models, the all-wheel-drive GLA-AMG is almost certain to be a sell-out success whatever we write. After all, the waiting list for the AMG-fettled A and CLA is already heading towards 2016 delivery territory.

Expect all the goodies from the $79,990 45: 20-inch wheels, AMG Night décor package, special leather sports seats, alcantara and Artico interior trim upgrades and so on. Metallic paint is a no cost option – hallelujah. Benz's excellent COMAND satnav and infotainment system (with DAB+ radio) is standard and the GLA 45 AMG also scores Distronic Plus radar cruise control and Lane Keeping Assist as standard.

For the time being though Australia's a 200 CDI only zone. So we hijacked an AMG Line equipped example from Mercedes-Benz Australia's launch fleet, turned right instead of left at the event's Yarra Valley lunch stop and kept driving for a week – or so.

And the report card that resulted was solid.

We've now sampled AMG and non-AMG kitted 200s and can vouch that the GLA drives like an ever so slightly larger A-Class – in itself not a bad thing. What it does offer in this base model variant over the A is improved ride quality, (slightly) better sight lines by virtue of its higher driving position and some worthwhile improvements in rear passenger comfort.

Steering and road holding seem, in isolation at least, on a par with its hatch counterpart but better than the B-Class. Steering is appropriately weighted and a touch more suppleness to the suspension actually translates to less discomfort and jostling on less than perfect roads.

And there's no real downside – for example there's little of the pitch and roll we so often associate with SUVs, even those of compact dimensions.

Smaller children might rail against the high waistline and narrow rear glazing, but my (teenage) passengers commented on both the feeling of space (a surprise to me) and comfort levels. At the pointy end, the GLA received passenger praise for front seat comfort and general fit and finish.

Mercedes claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.9sec for the 200 – it's no rocketship. At times the dual-clutch transmission, auto-stop start system and inherent lag of the turbo-diesel engine combine to delay traffic light getaways but thanks to the ready mid-rpm torque there's good in-gear acceleration on offer once above walking pace.

Noise levels are pretty typical of four-cylinder Benz diesels – that is to say, not yet top of the class. At least vibration (especially on auto restart) is well controlled. Kudos also for Benz's great brake hold function – it's excellent that this big car feature that lets you activate a park-style brake (at the lights, for example) has filtered down to the smallest Benzes.

Real world performance in town and on the open road is at least on a par with its segment counterparts save for one area: fuel consumption. Here the GLA is potentially ahead of the field.

Combined-cycle ADR testing suggests an impressive 4.6L/100km – and even more impressive is the ability to near match this in normal driving. Over almost a week of normal use including a weekend away on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, we returned the GLA having averaged 5.1L/100km.

Mercedes-Benz Australia expects the 250 4MATIC to be the top seller of the GLA range, but from our point of view, there's plenty to endear the 200 CDI.

No word yet on whether a turbo-diesel 4MATIC will join the local line-up, but as supply frees up into 2015 I wouldn't bet against it. Add in the potential to power-up the engine to a 220 CDI 125kW/400Nm output at a significant saving over the 250 petrol and Benz could be sitting on a minor hit...