USED CAR ROAD TEST: MERCEDES GLA

Imagine a MK3 model Mercedes A-Class hatch with a little extra practicality and a more adventurous outlook and you’ll have this car – the GLA compact Crossover – in mind

Though Mercedes sees this GLA as part of its SUV portfolio, there’s nothing very SUV about the way it looks.

This is essentially an A-Class with an added dose of attitude, with looks centred on a rakedback windscreen and a front end that sports big air intakes, flutes in the bonnet and smart smeared-back headlights.

One area where the GLA clearly betters the MK3 A-Class (and its direct rivals) is in the boot however, with 481-litres of luggage space.

When it comes to drive traction and transmission, much will depend on engine choice.

From the launch of the GLA range in 2014, the emphasis was firmly on a 2.1-litre diesel lineup that began with the 136bhp GLA 200 CDI.

In front-driven form, this base diesel model makes 62mph in around 10s dead en route to 127mph.

Prices for this first generation GLA model start at around £17,600, with values rising to around £28,000 for a later 17-era car.

If you want petrol power, the 1.6-litre 154hp GLA 200 variant was introduced in 2016 and starts at around £21,700 for ‘SE’ and ‘Sport’-trimmed variants.

Now the GLA might not directly compete with RAV4style SUVs but, given that it costs the same sort of money, we can see a number of people being tempted by what’s on offer here.