A bland spanking new SUV
REMEMBER Elkgate? It was in 1997 that the then new Mercedes-Benz A-Class failed the famous elk test in which the car in a simulated test had to be able to swerve to avoid an elk. It failed spectacularly.
Mercedes fixed the problem and the A-Class went on to be a huge commercial success.
And so it deserved to be because it was a triumph of clever packaging and tidy styling.
Who would have thought that 23 years later Mercedes-Benz would have spun no fewer than seven different cars off the current A-Class platform?
Among them four-door coupes (CLA) and the hugely successful GLA crossover of which the company has sold a million examples since it was launched in 2013.
I never liked the GLA. Didn’t like the way it drove; didn’t like its looks either.
I’m no great fan of SUVs or crossovers but if you’re going to make one, make it look like one.
The GLA looked like an A-Class hatchback that had been inflated and then got a slow puncture.
We’re testing the latest, totally new GLA, that’s based on the A-Class that was launched a couple of years ago. My first observation is that the proportions are much improved.
It is 10 centimetres taller than the outgoing GLA but is 15mm shorter.
This raising and shortening gives it a much more recognisable
SUV stance. Big improvement but I still wouldn’t call the latest GLA very stylish or distinctive.
Bland is probably an accurate description.
Writing that sentence makes me think that I might have been a harsh in my criticism of another recently launched Mercedes-Benz crossover: the GLB.
Despite the B in its name the GLB is also based on the current A-Class platform and is therefore a close relative to the GLA.
Despite having seven seats it’s not that far adrift in price, either.
But I’m straying from the point. The GLB looks a bit like Postman Pat’s van but it is distinctive and has its own identity unlike this GLA.
Four different engines are available for the cooking cars, with hot AMG versions GLA35 and GLA45 on their way as is a plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s currently fitted to the A250e hatchback.
TWO ARE petrols of 1.3-litres and 2.0-litres fitted respectively to the GLA200 and GLA250 and two are diesels fitted to the GLA200d and GLA220d.
Models powered by the petrol engines are only two-wheel drive whereas the GLA220d is fourwheel drive and the GLA220d can be if you add £1,600 to the bill. It’s the GLA220d that we’re testing today and true to form we have one that’s almost at the top of the range.
The joining fee to the GLA club is £33,000 for the GLA200 in Sport trim.
Next up the ranking is Sport Executive then AMG Line and AMG Line Premium.
The latter is the trim level of our car and for that you’re talking £41,430.
Surprisingly for a test car it’s modestly optioned with only metallic paint adding £595 to the final price.
The GLA220d’s 2.0-litre diesel engine produces a strong 190bhp that propels the car from 0-62mph in 7.3secs which is more than brisk enough.
More importantly the old seven-speed automatic transmission (no GLA is available as a manual) has been replaced by the excellent eight-speed version that is smooth changing and almost always in the right gear.
The AMG Line comes with ‘lowered comfort suspension’.
Presumably this naming is a way of hinting at sportiness but reassuring customers that they’re not buying a boneshaker.
They aren’t, but there’s no question that the car would be better with more compliant suspension as the ride is choppy over potholes at low speed.
Much to my surprise I really enjoyed driving the GLA220d, much more so than I ever did its predecessor.
This trim level also brings with it Mercedes’ excellent 10.25in screens: one for infotainment and the other for instruments.
Lesser models come standard with seven-inch displays.
The tech all works well, including the voice activation ‘Hey Mercedes’ which most of the time understands commands accurately.
The quality is excellent and hard plastics well hidden.
There’s more space inside the new GLA and adults will be much more comfortable in the back than they would have been in the old model.
The rear seats can be slid backwards and forwards but you’ll be a bit disappointed by the 435-litre boot that is smaller than many of the GLA’s rivals’ luggage areas.And the GLB’s for that matter.
The new GLA is a big improvement over the outgoing car.
Better to look at and to drive; more spacious inside and equipped with the A-Class hatchback’s excellent infotainment suite.
You get more driver assistance systems, too, much of which are worthwhile.
A better car for sure, but still one that doesn’t measure up to its rivals in key areas.
If you’re a Mercedes loyalist I’d strongly suggest having a look at the GLB before you sign up for a new GLA.