Mercedes-Benz GLA

Is first impression, the last? Does your opinion change once you have spent some time with a person or a car for that matter? Can you dislike someone at first glance and later realise that you are perfectly compatible?

That is the sort of experience I had with the GLA during the drive from Chandigarh to Shimla. I am not a big fan of compact crossovers and will prefer a sedan for both comfort and handling. To begin with, the GLA was just another compact SUV, but by the end of the drive I was willing to give it a lot more leeway. The compact SUV from Mercedes will come at a price point that will pit it directly against premium sedans and for many this will be the more sensible option for various reasons.

The GLA is a mighty good looking car, especially when compared to the other SUVs in the Mercedes range. It is based on the new MFA platform that also underpins the A-Class, B-Class and the CLA sedan and similarities are so evident that some might say this is the A-Class on steroids.

The GLA is not one of the larger SUVs in the segment, but it gets more than a few cosmetic elements that make it look bigger. The front grille gets thick horizontal slats and a big logo, the wheel arches are massive and so are the bulging lines on the bonnet and the side of the car. Only when you spend some time with the car, you will realise that the GLA is not really big even for a compact SUV, but the impression that it leaves on the onlookers is totally different.

Unlike the burly and brutish elder siblings, this entry-level crossover is pretty. The front is a combination of the A-Class and the B-Class with the addition of the big air intake on the bumper with brushed aluminium surrounds. The bonnet is a lot bigger in proportion than the size of the car and it has the same busy design. The side profile is not SUV-like, the GLA is not a tall car and this is one angle which makes it look like an extra-large hatchback. Here the lines are similar to that of the CLA with a downwards sloping shoulder line and a thick waistline. The roof spoiler looks particularly good from the side angle; there are a few nice design elements on the roof as well, unfortunately those are a little hard to notice. The GLA is also one of the few cars that get 18-inch five-spoke alloy-wheels as standard and they look neat.

The rear end appears cluttered to me; the design is an extension of the A-Class and there are so many elements that it takes away the elegance. There are a couple of chrome strips, the bumper gets brushed aluminium cladding that also has twin exhausts with chrome tips, the tail lamps have LED treatment and even the spoiler gets little cuts asking for attention.

Overall, the GLA is certainly the best looking compact crossover in the segment. It might not have the size of its rivals, but it makes up for the lack of it by being a showstopper purely on its design.

Step inside and it feels like sitting in a little larger B-Class. The five rotary AC vents, tiny LCD display, the positions of the cup holders, 12V socket are all standard across cars based on the MFA platform. The colours here are either beige or black in line with the exterior and the main difference is the features list.

The front seats are power seats with memory function, there is navigation, engine start/stop function, seven airbags for safety, panoramic sunroof, the rear armrest has bottle holders, the interior is lit up with ambient lights and it gets the nine-speaker Harman Kardon music system that sounds brilliant.

The GLA is longer, wider and taller than the Mercedes hatchbacks, although at 2699mm the wheelbase is same as that of the A-Class. That means there is still some amount of space crunch, especially at the back row. My extra-large teammates (read: Venkat and Pratheek) won’t be happy to sit here, basically due to the lack of leg room. On the other hand the sunroof has released decent amount of headroom. The GLA cabin can accommodate four but the extra person on the rear bench is going to be uncomfortable as it is not wide enough and the big transmission tunnel adds to the misery. At 421 litre the boot space may sound big enough, unfortunately some of it is occupied by the space saver tyre, which according to Mercedes makes more sense than run-flat tyres, on Indian roads.

The visibility from the rear windshield isn’t much, so the dependence of the camera and parking sensors is paramount. It may seem that I am being too critical of the cabin of the GLA, however its rivals don’t perform any better – the BMW X1 and the Mini Countryman probably as bad both in space and quality, while the Q3 offers only so much more.

Anyone looking for a premium crossover needs to take this into consideration – the cabin space or rather lack of it as part of the bargain.

The GLA will be available with both the petrol and diesel engines. Both use the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and send power to the front wheels only. Mercedes has decided not to offer the AWD option with the standard GLA, it will be a part of the AMG version that will go on sale in October. Omitting the all-wheel-drive looks like a smart move, it adds no value driving in our pothole riddled city or highway roads. In fact, it only brings down the efficiency, apart from adding to the cost. Of course, it gives people certain bragging rights, but instead cost saved has been smartly used by Mercedes to load it with extra features.

The gasoline version is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit that is used in the E-Class 200 CGI. It is good to deliver 181bhp and 300Nm of torque, those are great figures considering the weight and the front-wheel-drive setup that further reduces the transmission losses. This is a quick car, with ample bottom end torque and also decent peak power. Hit the gas and the car will surge ahead irrespective of the speed, making delicious sound post 4,500rpm. Only downer is the torque-steer, and there is plenty of it (one of the flip sides of FWD setup) – irrespective, enthusiasts will love this one every bit.

The more practical option is the oil-burner that uses the 2.2-litre unit delivering 134bhp and 300Nm of torque. This one is not a slouch either, although there is more power at the bottom-end so quick overtakes requires you to use the paddle-shifters and down a gear or two. This is 60kg heavier than the petrol and all the additional weight is right under the bonnet, this has reduced the torque-steer a lot. The diesel has an ARAI efficiency figure of 17.9kpl; the figures of the petrol variant are decent as well at 13.8kpl.

The gearbox isn’t the quickest considering DCT. It works perfectly fine during leisure driving, however, it lags a bit when pushed hard.

The high seating position gives a commanding view from the GLA. It has a premium feel, and these along with the looks of a big car give it the edge to muscle around in the bumper-to-bumper city traffic.

The ground clearance of the GLA sold in India is about 30mm more than the car sold in the international market. At 183mm, it has decent ground clearance to tackle most hurdles on the Indian roads and also do a bit of water wading.

However, this raised height has affected the dynamics a little bit. The suspension set up is a compromise between handling and comfort – it is firm, yet not so much that it will let you go screaming around the bends. At city speeds, the ride is very comfortable; the suspension flattens all the bumps. High speeds on highways are not an issue either, only rough stuff and twisties affect its composure. The GLA is still a tall car and a little bit of body roll is felt while pushing the car through bends.

The cabin is not very well insulated, we could hear thuds every once in a while and the tyre noise is evident post 100kph. It rides on 235/50 R18, and these are biased towards efficiency. My biggest complaint is about the steering, it is nice and easy for everyday city commutes, but out on the highway it feels vague – it does weigh up, but lacks precision and is nowhere close to the needs of an enthusiast.

The best part of the GLA is that you don’t need to worry about every small thing on the Indian roads. And then it is comfortable while doing all of that and capable of getting you quickly from one place to another. I only wish it was more fun while doing this job.

The GLA offers almost everything that you expect from Mercedes-Benz. It is comfortable, feels luxurious, looks great and has road presence of a compact SUV. It will fall in a segment, where there are plenty of options from luxury brands, both the crossovers and entry-level sedans.

Mercedes is not talking about a shock entry price – there will be just two variants (one petrol & one diesel) both loaded with features and will hence command a premium. But, it is the price that will be the deciding factor for the fate of this car. I expect it to compete with the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class on pricing, but, like the sedans, this car need not slow down for the infinite number of potholes and speed humps in India. I do not deny that there are certain flaws that come with the front-wheel-drive package, however the overall package makes lot of sense. The GLA is a perfect option if you are looking for a little more than just the premium badge; with its compact size, more than decent performance and great efficiency (particularly for diesel) – it is practical.