Latest Mercedes GLA Crossover: Test drive review

Very few body styles are as interesting to the car-buying public as the compact-sized SUV. It offers a higher driving position, better internal capacity over a sedan, and has more room for style. So you can understand just how important and exciting the arrival of this latest Mercedes-Benz GLA was for some Malaysians.

 

Even before its launch, the first batch of fully imported cars was sold out. Then when the local assembly started and the selling price dropped a little, bookings rose and the rival models like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 felt the sales sting. The only immediate rival that continued to sell well as the Volvo XC40.

New GLA Looks

The exterior is all new and it has a higher roof-line and wider shoulders with a face that includes an even more striking design, with vertical chrome-plated fins and MULTIBEAM LED headlamps with Adaptive High-beam Assist Plus. A similarly eye-catching feature is the aerodynamically designed 19-inch AMG 5 five-spoke light-alloy wheels with discreet AMG lettering.

New GLA Interior

The interior design features powered sports seats clad with ARTICO/microfiber material which offer improved lateral support to both the driver and front passenger. The driver and front passenger seat are 140 mm higher than in the A-Class and 50 mm higher than in the B-Class.

All-round visibility has also been improved in comparison with the previous model, mainly due to an optimised cross-section for the roof pillars, which now block out less of the surrounding area.

The latest version of the MBUX infotainment system with ‘Mercedes me’ connect further underlines the car's viability for everyday use and establishes an even closer connection between the vehicle, driver, and passengers. Whether it's operated with the touchpad, Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel, voice control, or gesture control: the operating system of this latest GLA is both versatile and flexible. Just say “Hey Mercedes”, to activate the interactive voice assistant.

The driver receives visual information via the 12.3-inch instrument cluster on the left and the 10.25-inch touchscreen display on the right. The multi-function steering had little soft touchpads to operate all necessary functions and you just need a few days to get used to it.

New GLA On The Road

This well-appointed SUV is no slouch from standstill and like its siblings with the same engine, the A-Class, and GLB Crossover, its responsive 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine provides for a top speed of 240km/h when needed from an engine output of 224hp and a very impressive mid-range punch of 350Nm of torque. This GLA in ‘sport’ mode sprints from 0-100km/h in just 6.9 seconds with an 8-speed slick-shifting gearbox working quickly.

Power delivery is smooth and the 8-speed semi-automatic gearbox swaps gears with no effort. It is seamless and smooth in its delivery and the engine never feels out of breath when you push past 200km/h on the open highway (deserted highway where there are no limits).

The cabin is well designed and with the good build quality, also, sound insulation is very good and traffic noise is heard as a slight whisper only. For a tall vehicle, this latest GLA does not fuss when you take a fast corner nor does it feel flustered when you exit a highway off-ramp at speeds. In fact, it feels as surefooted as its sporty sibling the A-Class sedan.

For its asking price and the available safety features and comfort accessories, this latest GLA seems like a good choice as the family's second car or even the first car for the daily commute. It does the job very well.

Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 AMG Line Specifications

Engine: Inline-4 Turbo

Capacity: 1991cc

Gearbox: 8-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission

Max power: 224hp @ 5,500rpm

Max torque: 350Nm @1,800-4,000rpm

Top Speed: 240km/h

0-100 km/h: 6.9 seconds

Selling Price: RM266,164.84