June 29, 2015 – Hatchbacks are too small and weak for some people, while SUVs are too big and inefficient for others. Luckily, there’s one segment that combines the best of both worlds, and that is the compact crossover segment, which is witnessing high demand nowadays.
Naturally, Mercedes-Benz weren’t going to just sit there and watch their main rivals, namely BMW and Audi, enjoy growing sales in this segment, which is why they introduced the all-new GLA-Class, to rival the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and others.
So, just how good is the new GLA crossover? Mercedes-Benz Lebanon (T. Gargour & Fils) gave us the GLA250 4MATIC for a day to find out, and we can say we’re quite happy with Mercedes’ new baby SUV.
Exterior
The first thing you need to to know is that the GLA is based on the A-Class, and the two cars bare a lot of resemblances as they both share Mercedes’ latest design language. The GLA is definitely the more appealing of the two; it has more road presence thanks to its bulkier proportions and raised suspension.
How do you know a car’s attractive? People stop to ask you how much it costs, and we’ve had a couple of people do so. The GLA’s definitely got style and charm, and the GLA250 we were driving came with modish Bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lamps and LED taillights.
This particular GLA250 also had the sleek AMG Line package, which features aerodynamic lower bodywork with aggressive front and rear bumpers, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels and painted brake calipers.
Interior
Inside, the GLA250 is a thing of beauty, with a modern and super attractive cabin that features high-quality materials. Some might not like the protruding 5.8-inch display screen on the dashboard, which comes as standard, but it never bothered and its placement felt practical.
The GLA250 we were testing came with sports seats, which are very comfortable and supportive; there’s also good room for five adults in the car, with the back seats offering decent legroom and headroom; cargo space is also pretty good, with room in there for lots of groceries.
There’s no shortage of standard equipment in the GLA250, which comes with air-conditioning, a reversing camera, cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, electric front seats, a panoramic sunroof and electronic systems such as ESP Curve Dynamic Assist that improves cornering precision via imperceptible braking intervention, in addition to Adaptive Brake that includes a Hill Start Assist feature and the HOLD function, which automatically prevents the vehicle from rolling forwards or backwards unintentionally from a stationary position.
All in all, the GLA 250 is a really good place to be seated in as it combines sportiness, luxury, comfort and practicality, which is really all you need from a car in this segment.
Performance
The GLA 250 4MATIC, as its name suggests, is all-wheel drive and it hides a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the bonnet that produces 208 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque and is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The small crossover is surprisingly good to drive; the steering is precise, the brakes aren’t too soft nor too stiff, and it feels nicely balanced thanks to the firm sporty suspension, which does have its disadvantages as it doesn’t soak up bumps and potholes very well, but it’s not something that will detract you from buying the GLA250, and opting for smaller rims might slightly alleviate this issue.
The engine delivers more than enough power for passing other cars on the highway and for traveling uphill, while the seven-speed transmission feels quite smooth and comes in three different modes: Eco, Sport and Manual. Eco improves fuel efficiency by reaching for the highest gears, while Sport holds lower gears longer, allowing more aggressive driving at the cost of fuel economy.
Overall, the GLA250 had a very car-like driving experience as it offers sharp and nimble handling and it exhibits little body lean around corners.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the GLA is definitely a winning formula from Mercedes-Benz and it has all the ingredients for success: a stylish and contemporary exterior, a super attractive and practical interior and a car-like performance that is suitable for most driving situations, although we wouldn’t recommend taking your GLA off-road very often.
If you want to learn more about the GLA, contact Mercedes-Benz Lebanon via their official Facebook page.