Mercedes GLA review (17/05/2014)
This week’s tester, the Mercedes GLA, was a really good example of the phenomenon. Wherever I went in the new compact SUV from the Stuttgart giant, people were falling over themselves to find out more about it.
Other than recognising the car as a Merc, few people seemed to have seen it coming.
The GL designation has long been established in the Mercedes lingua franca as being part of the company’s off-road and 4x4 product lines, with the famous ‘G Wagen’ leading the fray. But now it appears Mercedes has ambitions to establish the GL nomenclature across its model line-up and the GLA is its first attempt at doing so.
In essence, right now this machine will compete against cars such as the Range Rover Evoque, the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3 at the premium end of the scale. But it will have many other competitors, what with renderings of forthcoming Audi’s Q1 already infiltrating the ether.
And with existing machines such as the Mini Countryman, Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and the Suzuki SX4 all selling well, the competition is already fairly hot in the segment — premium or not.
Mercedes has, of course, been getting very aggressive at the lower end of the premium segment, what with the new B-Class, the CLA and the A-Class itself and now the GLA gives the company another button on its’ shirt in the small car market.
Many of the people who quizzed me about the GLA — ‘What IS that thing in your driveway?’ — are already established SUV fans and, judging by their reaction to the car, were anxious to find out lots more about this Merc.
Maybe it is that they were female — and without any hint of sexism here — already attracted to the SUV package for a variety of reasons (high driving position, practicality, etc); or were empty-nesters who, having finally shorn themselves of their kids, were simply looking for something small yet beautifully packaged for their less onerous current needs.
It may even appeal to men of a certain age who were looking for something new and different which does not cost a bomb and which looks really smart. For each and all these people, the GLA fits the bill.
And then there are the AMG and 4MATIC versions which cater either for the hairy-chested driver of either sex or the adventurous types for whom the lure of the great wide open is simply too much. We tried all these variants at the Malaga launch and were impressed.
However, here in Ireland the demand for some of these more outré GLA models will be muted and that is undoubtedly why Mercedes were anxious to get us into the relatively standard GLA 200 CDI ‘Urban’ version.
This particular car is powered by the familiar four cylinder 2,143cc turbodiesel unit which is now commonplace across so many of the company model lines and which will undoubtedly deliver sterling service.
With 100kW (136bhp) on tap and a healthy 300Nm of torque available between 1,400 and 3,000rpm it will turn in a 10 second (9.9 with the seven speed auto ’box as standard) and a top speed of 205kph.
In doing so it will also return a claimed 4.5 l/100km (62mpg), while emitting 119 g/km, which qualifies it for road tax Band A4 and a €200 annual cost.
However, given the zesty nature of the GLA — its sporting good looks certainly promise much — the turbodiesel was something of a disappointment.
I’m not sure if it was that the clattery diesel took much away from the sporty vibe the car exudes or simply that the aural resonation was not suited to this chassis. It must be said, though, that everything calms down nicely when thoroughly warmed up. Even so, were I buying one I think I’d be looking elsewhere in the engine line-up on offer.
Sure it performs well in the way that most modern diesels do, but it certainly won’t have your pants on fire with the excitement or driving pleasure it offers.
Pretty much everyone who came across the car while I had it was impressed by both the exterior and interior look, although one noted technophobe wanted to know why they had “stuck an X-Box screen in the middle of the dash”.
The ‘central media display’ — as it is so called by Mercedes — does stand out much in the same way a coffin might at a wedding, but it is very modern and also very functional as you can operate it through the multi-function steering wheel.
But the seating, the switchgear layout and the generally ambient interior are all very obviously from the Mercedes design studio and all the better for it. The car is relatively small, though, and the manufacturer’s claims about seating five comfortably are a little optimistic, particularly for longer trips.
As is ever the case these days, the ability to customise the car to the ‘nth’ degree is nearly limitless, although getting too excited about adding stuff on can be costly — vis the panoramic electric sunroof, which adds a princely €2,196 to the asking price, even if is a very nice thing to have on the car.
On the road the two-wheel drive version which will sell most here is a pleasing thing to experience; the steering is light but loads up nicely at speed, the handling is sure-footed and confidence-inspiring and the ride is taut but comfortable at the same time.
So what we have here is a very smart looking car indeed, but one which when compared directly with the rivals it will face, is a little short on space and practicality.
That said, its mere presence in your driveway is bound to get the neighbours excited.
From €39,260 (€43,964 as tested).
A very familiar thing from the established Mercedes engine line-up, but it seemed overly noisy in this chassis. Decent performance and excellent economy, though.
Comes with a very solid list of standard kit — air con., roof rails, auto lights and wipers, attention assist, Bluetooth, chrome kicker plates, etc. Add-ons will, as ever, ratchet up the price.
Undoubtedly a head-turner and the sportiest of all Mercedes’ compact contenders.
