Revolutionize Your Drive: The Mercedes GLA, Affordable Luxury Redefined

Summary

• The Mercedes GLA SUV offers a more affordable price point compared to other luxury subcompact SUVs, making it accessible to a wider range of consumers.
• The base GLA 250 and GLA 250 4Matic are the best budget-friendly options, offering great value for the price.
• The current GLA is the last gas-powered model before Mercedes-Benz transitions to hybrid-only powertrains, making it a good option for those who prefer traditional gasoline engines.

Mercedes-Benz has built a strong brand image off of being one of the most luxurious offerings on the market. What we don’t often associate Mercedes cars with is value for money. However, the Mercedes GLA SUV has a more sensible price point than the rest of its siblings while still upholding the high-quality standard set by the German automaker.

The boom in the small SUV market is something that is common knowledge at this point and luxury subcompact SUVs are becoming more and more in demand. The GLA not only manages to stand strong in this class, but its excellent price point makes it incredibly accessible and brings Mercedes-Benz-level luxury to the everyman.

While the 2024 model is on the horizon, we take a dive into the current GLA on offer, the 2023 model year, and what Mercedes-Benz has to offer on their entry-level SUV. We explore what powers the GLA, its features, and the level of interior comfort that you can expect when jumping behind Mercedes-Benz’s value-oriented SUV.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources including the EPA.

Explore Two Trim Choices Available For The Mercedes GLA-Class

While the 2024 GLA is on the horizon. For those looking for a budget-friendly Mercedes-Benz, the current GLA on sale is the way to go. It offers a ton of features at a price that is practically unbeatable in the luxury subcompact class.

GLA Trim Levels

(Pricing sourced from Mercedes-Benz)

Of the four choices you have, the base 250 with and without the 4Matic are the options that we are going to look into in depth. While the AMG variants offer a ton of fun equipment that makes it quicker and sportier, our focus is on finding the best budget-friendly Mercedes-Benz for you. With a starting MSRP of $37,500, there are few sub-compact luxury SUVS that manage to compete. BMW X1, X2, and Audi’s Q3 are the best competitors on the market meaning that the GLA is one of only a few luxury options at this price point.

The Value-Packed GLA Trim Option

The two options that you are likely to be considering are the 250 with and without the 4Matic system. There is a $2,000 dollar difference between the two, which may seem like a lot for all-wheel drive, but there is more to it than that. The 4Matic comes with Mercedes’ Off-Road Engineering package, featuring tech like an off-road driving mode which can come in handy in day-to-day situations. However, should all-wheel drive mean nothing to you, going with the standard 250 is still a great choice, and you can save yourself another $2,000.

The 2024 GLA ContinuesTo Be Motivated By Gasoline Power

It’s clear that automakers around the world are moving away from pure gas-powered engines towards hybrid and electric powertrains. While many are excited by these innovations, gas-powered cars are still the most accessible. While we can’t confirm what changes will come to the next-gen GLA; Mercedes-Benz is going big on electrification. For those who value the simplicity of gas power, the current GLA will be the way to go.

GLA Performance

(Specifications sourced from Mercedes-Benz)

The GLA may not be the fastest SUV on the road by a long shot, but its power delivery is smooth and its eight-speed automatic transmission shifts seamlessly. It’s zero to sixty time is enough for day-to-day commuting and it gets up to highway speeds without any complaints. If you’re looking for a little bit more go, the GLA 4Matic shaves some time off of its zero to sixty, achieving the run in 6.6 seconds. This may not be noticeable to many, but that extra power delivery is a factor to consider.

GLA Fuel Economy

(Data sourced from the EPA)

One area where the Mercedes-Benz does not particularly shine is its fuel economy. Compared to other vehicles in its class, the GLA’s fuel economy is average at best. This is according to numbers provided by the EPA. From the table above, it’s obvious to see that the GLA is not the best SUV for those confined to the city and it does best in terms of fuel economy when taken on the highway. For those looking to extend their budget, this is an important factor to consider.

Experience Exceptional Interior Comfort with Mercedes’ Entry-Level GLA

One area where Mercedes-Benz always excels is the interior. The German firm prides itself on using high-quality materials throughout its vehicles and providing an experience for drivers and passengers alike. The GLA is no exception to this. The current generation also demonstrates how Mercedes is willing to listen to their customer base and make changes.

GLA Comfort And Cargo

The previous generation of the GLA had one major issue, it just wasn’t big enough on the inside. Mercedes-Benz heard the complaints of the people and made adjustments that created a roomier and more pleasant cabin for the driver and their passengers. Materials used throughout are consistent with what you’d expect from Mercedes and the overall interior design is excellent.

Cargo space is also decent. Mercedes has made that cargo floor and the sill the same height, making it easier to load and unload heavier items. The rear seats also now go all the way down, sitting flush with the cargo floor, providing more space when you need to haul extra stuff.

GLA Tech Features

The GLA utilizes Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX infotainment system, which could be a positive or a negative depending on who you ask. Two 7.0-inch displays are standard, one for the infotainment system and one for driver’s gauges. These can be upgraded to two 10.3-inch displays; it’s not quite the MBUX Hyperscreen found in flagship Mercedes models but it’ll do. The system can be operated with a touchscreen, voice commands, or a touchpad that sits on the center console.

Optional extras include heated and ventilated seats, fully adjustable rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and 64-color LED ambient lighting. The Premium Package also adds a ton of value to the GLA, granting you access to Keyless Go, hands-free driving, and a household-type power outlet, along with those 10.3-inch displays.

Enhanced Driver Assist Tech Hindered by GLA Paywall

Unfortunately, one place where you won’t be saving money is optional extras. Luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz place a huge premium on anything that they don’t include as standard. In the case of the GLA, this also refers to a ton of diver assist technology.

GLA Saftey Technology

(Pricing sourced from Mercedes-Benz)

The Driver Assistance Package, which will set you back quite a hefty fee, includes features such as Active Distance Assist, blind spot monitoring, collision detection and avoidance, and evasive steering assist, along with others. While some of these features are unique, many are becoming standard safety precautions in new cars and Mercedes should think about including them as standard.

The Parking Assistance Package will grant you access to a surround view system and PARKTRONIC, which will automatically park the car for you. While these features are useful, they won’t be worth the thousand extra dollars to some.

GLA Affordability

The GLA offers a high-quality interior along with tons of features that prioritize comfort for both the driver and the passenger. Its incredible starting price makes all of this really accessible to most. However, Mercedes-Benz has locked some important features behind hefty paywalls and we understand how this could deter you.

Despite this, though, there are still many people out there who find modern driver-assist technology intrusive and still hail gas-powered cars as king. If you’re one of those people and you’re looking for a bargain luxury SUV, the GLA could be the perfect car for you.