MERCEDES GLA REVIEW

List price from £25,850 Lease price from £361 The verdict 7

With the GLA, Mercedes has created a car that's half hatchback and half 4x4

Mercedes is by no means the first manufacturer to build a hatchback-sized car with an elevated driving position and the option of four-wheel drive. However, the Mercedes GLA looks sleeker than rivals such as the Audi Q3.

The GLA promises lower running costs, too, whether you choose a petrol engine or a diesel, and it comes loaded with safety kit.

Here's what we like about this car

Space

Tight in the back and boot can be tricky to load

If you’re after a practical car that’s great for carrying the family and their clobber then you should probably look elsewhere.

While there’s plenty of space in the front of the GLA, headroom is quite limited in the back. And the awkwardly-shaped rear door openings mean you have to be careful to avoid clouting your head when getting in and out.

he boot could also be more practical; it’s easily big enough to take a couple of large suitcases, but loading them can be tricky due to the rather small aperture.

At least the rear seats fold flat and there’s lots of useful in-car storage spaces.

Comfort

Reasonably comfortable, but diesels are noisy at times

The GLA is based on the A-class hatchback, which feels downright uncomfortable on most road surfaces. Fortunately, the GLA’s is a much more forgiving car, whether you have the standard suspension, or the slightly firmer setup that’s fitted to AMG Line versions.

Instead, it’s the driving position that can cause discomfort. The steering wheel is a little short on reach adjustment, so taller drivers may find themselves sitting with their arms outstretched. And while the front seats hold you tightly in place in corners, more thigh support would be welcome on long journeys.

The diesel engines sound quite gruff when you’re accelerating, but they quieten down at a steady cruise, and wind and road noise are kept in check.

Dashboard layout

Looks great, even though it’s not as intuitive as it could be

You operate most of the GLA’s functions by scrolling through menus on a colour screen. But while this system is similar to the ones in the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, it takes longer to get to grips with because there are more sub-menus and the shortcut buttons are nowhere near the dial that you use to scroll.

More positively, solid materials and an attractive design give the dashboard an upmarket feel, which is marred only by a screen that looks like it was tacked-on as an afterthought.

Easy to drive

The controls are light and you get a good forward view

Light steering and pedals make the GLA easy to drive around town. Plus there are ridges in the bonnet that help you judge where to position the car on the road.

True, narrow rear side windows leave hefty over-the-shoulder blind spots, so changing lanes is harder than it should be. But a reversing camera is standard on all models to help with parking.

The cheapest version of the Mercedes GLA is the 200 CDI diesel, but this feels sluggish, so it’s worth upgrading to the 220 CDI diesel if you can afford to. Not only does it feel usefully stronger, but it adds an automatic gearbox (this costs extra on the 200 CDI) and four-wheel drive.

The brisk GLA 250 and insanely fast GLA 45 AMG petrol models complete the lineup. Like the 220 CDI they come with four-wheel drive and an auto gearbox.

Fun to drive

Not as sharp as some, but it handles well enough

The GLA responds quickly to steering inputs, which makes it feel impressively agile. But its steering is rather numb compared with the Audi Q3’s, so it isn’t as fun or reassuring to drive on a winding road.

The GLA also leans over more dramatically than the Q3 when you turn into a bend. But there’s plenty of grip, whether you have four-wheel drive or not.

Reliability

Mercedes has a good customer satisfaction record

The GLA is too new to have been included in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey. However, Mercedes has an excellent record, finishing fifth out of 27 manufacturers in 2013.

You also get the reassurance of a warranty that lasts for three years, no matter how many miles you do, whereas Audi covers you only for the first 60,000 miles.

Fuel economy

More efficient than all its premium rivals

Fuel economy is the GLA’s strongest suit, with every model more efficient than equivalent versions of rivals.

Even the petrol-engined GLA 250 averages more than 40mpg in Government tests, while the 220 CDI diesel manages 55.4mpg and the 200 CDI diesel 62.8mpg. High-40s should be easily achievable in the real world.

Affordability

Just a pity the two diesels aren’t priced closer together

The 200 CDI diesel is very attractively priced, but the fact that the 220 CDI diesel and 250 petrol are available only with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox bumps their prices up.

They’re still cheaper than similarly-equipped rivals, but it’s a pity you can’t choose cheaper, two-wheel-drive or manual versions, as you can with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

At least the GLA should hold on to its value pretty well. And its low CO2 emissions keep road tax bills affordable.

Safety

Based on some very safe cars, so should perform well in a crash

Independent safety body Euro NCAP is still to crash test the GLA, but we’d be amazed if it didn’t perform well because it’s closely related to the A-class and CLA, which both achieved the maximum five-star rating.

The Mercedes GLA is also bristling with standard safety features, including systems that prevent skids and locked brakes, provide braking assistance in an emergency, and warn if the driver is becoming drowsy.

A system that can detect when an accident is imminent and reduce the chances of injury by automatically tightening the seat belts and priming the airbags is available as an option.

Standard spec

Some pricey options, but Mercedes is far from stingy

Every version of the GLA comes with air-conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, a digital radio and a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection. Meanwhile, the more expensive AMG Line models add sportier looks and firmer suspension.

Sadly, sat-nav is a very expensive option, and you also have to pay extra for a dual-zone climate control system that lets the driver and front passenger select different temperatures.