2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Description

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA Review

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA is the smallest and cheapest SUV in the German automaker’s lineup, slotting below the GLC. The GLA is among a wave of entry-level luxury crossover SUVs, such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Infiniti QX30, that have struck a chord with buyers thanks to their relative affordability, top-class amenities, SUV-like utility and higher seating position. Like these rivals, the GLA looks more akin to a stylish, taller hatchback than a regular SUV, but this baby Mercedes is agile and does offer all-wheel drive and even an off-road package for venturing off-pavement. The GLA250 also has a look-alike, the heated-up AMG GLA45, with 375 horsepower and race-carlike reflexes.

Driving The Used 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The GLA’s tidy size makes it a friend in cities and urban environments, where its easy-to-park manners and maneuverability help it slither through congestion. In traffic and in-town driving, you’ll observe its start/stop feature, which cuts engine power at idle. Restarts aren’t too jarring but noticeable all the same. You can defeat it with the press of a button. On the toll road and at greater speeds, the GLA can feel a bit twitchy — another outcome of its smaller size and wheelbase. With a 0-60-mph time of just over seven seconds, the GLA isn’t slow but doesn’t feel particularly fast. Some faster lag can be felt, especially when you floor it from a rolling stop. We also wished for a touch more refinement from the 7-speed twin-clutch automatic. Driven with enthusiasm in the twists, the little GLA feels planted and holds its own.

Interior Comfort

The GLA’s 2-row/5-passenger cabin is a relaxed cocoon. As its small proportions suggest, passenger space is at a premium in the back, where legroom comes up short. The same can be said for storage nooks up front, although we always feel comfortable in the multi-adjustable driver’s seat. The design below the standard 8-inch center display looks tired. However, the buttons are convenient to see and use. The elegant air vents remind you that you’re in a Mercedes luxury vehicle. The GLA’s cargo space of 17.2 cubic feet with rear seats up expands to 43.6 with them folded.

Exterior Styling

The GLA may be classified as an SUV, but it’s not regular slab-sided. This little Mercedes crossover SUV combines the characteristics of a hot hatchback with the higher ride height of a sport-utility vehicle. If you want more ruggedness, the Off-Road Package raises the body over an inch and adds modified ride settings. We’re not really into the 2018 GLA’s lower front lip, which looks like a catfish crossed with a sad-face emoji. You can turn the frown around with the AMG Line or Night package, which replaces a tauter, skid plate-style treatment.

Favorite Features of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

More than ever, we live in a generation of automotive distractions. That makes automatic emergency braking systems such as the GLA’s Active Brake Assist all the more relevant — and potentially life-saving. If a collision seems imminent, the car will alert you. If you fail to brake, it ultimately will.

ELECTRONIC BRAKE HOLD

You’ll probably embrace this feature if you stop more than go. A button presses the brake for you when you’re at a stoplight. This allows you to take your foot off the pedal to relax and instantly hit the accelerator pedal.

Engine & Transmission of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The GLA250 uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine tied to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Sport mode calibrates the car for quicker responses, and there are shift paddles mounted to the steering wheel for those times you want to play the part of an F1 racer. As previously mentioned, it’s perfectly normal for the engine to shut off at stoplights. The Mercedes does it to save gas and cut emissions. Called Eco Start/Stop, the system can be disabled. Note that the GLA likes to drink premium unleaded gasoline.