Small and Medium SUVs are where it is at, in an automotive sense, with the demand for tall hatchbacks the little guys going through the roof.
This has been a problem for Mercedes-Benz, especially in New Zealand. While they are on a roll in the luxury passenger car segment, they are lagging behind Audi and BMW in the all-important SUV market, simply because they don’t have any little fellas.
But that is about to change in a big way. The middle-size GLK is due here shortly, while the weird-looking knock-off of the weird-looking BMW X6, the GLC, has just been revealed. But while we wait for those to make it to local shores, Mercedes’ first salvo in the tall-hatchback small SUV war has landed.
We head to Queenstown to try out the new GLA 200 CDI.
What is it?
Allegedly an SUV, but we have our doubts…
Mercedes are pushing the GLA as an SUV with the lightest of evidence – a slightly raised ride height, higher seats, some exterior plastic cladding and roof rails are apparently all it takes to make a small hatch into an SUV these days.
Still, quite a number of manufacturers insist the same thing, so who are we to argue? It’s still like putting Winston Peters in a dress and trying to claim he is a woman though…
Anyway, the GLA comes to New Zealand in three guises; the GLA 200 CDI, the GLA 250 4MATIC and the GLA 45 AMG.
The 200 CDI is the first to launch and will be on sale in May, while the 250 4MATIC will land in July and we will have to wait until October for the mighty AMG model.
The 200 CDI packs a new 2,143cc four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that puts out 100kW of power and 300Nm of torque. Hooked up to Mercedes’ seven-speed dual clutch transmission, the engine consumes 4.6 litres of diesel every 100km in the combined cycle and emits 122g/km of CO2.
The 200 CDI comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, ARTICO man-made leather upholstery, automatic bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, Blind Spot Assist, satellite navigation, an electric tailgate, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, dual zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, a leather multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles, Active Parking Assistant with front and rear parking sensors and a backing camera.
The GLA 200 CDI costs $64,900.
The GLA 250 4MATIC gets a 1,991cc 155kW/350Nm turbo four-cylinder petrol engine hooked up to all four wheels via Mercedes’ seven-speed DCT. Fuel consumption is a claimed combined figure of 7.0L/100km, while emissions are 162g/km.
The 250 comes standard will all the equipment found in the 200CDI with the addition of the 4MATIC AWD system, 19-inch alloy wheels, an off road engineering package, a panoramic sunroof and electrically adjustable heated front seats. The GLA 250 CDI will cost $76,900 when it goes on sale in July.
The CLA 45 AMG is the angry little bastard of the range and gets AMG’s utterly feral 265kW/450Nm 1,991cc four-cylinder turbo petrol engine hooked up to an AMG-tweaked version of the seven-speed transmission.
With fuel consumption and emission figures of “Who the hell cares? This bastard is mental!” (actually, Mercedes haven’t confirmed them yet), the little AMG SUV boasts 20-inch alloys, AMG leather seats, an AMG instrument cluster, a leather/Alcantara AMG steering wheel, the COMAND infotainment system and a Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound audio system, aluminium sports pedals, an AMG body kit, high-performance AMG brakes, an AMG exhaust, sports suspension, rear privacy glass and Mercedes’ DISTRONIC plus radar cruse control system.
When it is unleashed in October it will cost $99,900.
What’s it like?
We only drove the entry GLA 200 CDI on the launch and rather unsurprisingly, like the slinky CLA sedan, the (slightly) jacked up GLA feels rather remarkably like an A-Class to drive. This is probably because they are all spun off the same platform…
This is a very good thing, by the way, because the A-Class is one of the best FWD hatches around, regardless of price. In reality the GLA adds a minimal amount to the ride height of the A-Class (around 30mm), so it is no surprise that the FWD GLA 200 CDI feels remarkably similar to the A when chucked into a corner – the nose tucks in eagerly and it scuttles through the corner with no drama and a lot of composure.
The ride is firmly controlled, but never uncomfortable, and handling is predictable and sharp.
Of course, being a Mercedes, everything feels wonderfully solid and well put together, with high quality materials used throughout the interior. There were a number of small rattles in all of the cars we tried, however, but then this seems to be a (relatively small) issue with most of the cars based on the A-Class platform.
What’s good about it?
It looks fantastic, regardless of whether you consider it a hatch or an SUV, with its muscular stance and bold styling. It is comfortable, well built and remarkably practical.
Handling it as typically good as everything else on this platform and ride comfort is good, despite the suspension sitting at the firmer end of the spectrum.
What’s not so good?
The engine is disappointingly lifeless. That is not to say it doesn’t do its job – it does what is required of it reasonably well, in fact – it just lacks the punch you would normally expect from a 2.1-litre turbo diesel engine.
It is understandable that this engine is the bottom-of-the-range variant and only packs 100kW/300Nm, but its lack of mid-range punch means that passing can sometimes get a bit hair-raising when the torque you are expecting just isn’t there…
First impressions?
Lack of grunt aside, the GLA is possibly the best thing to appear on the A-Class platform so far, and that is saying something, as we have pretty much loved everything that has used it, even the funny, upright B-Class.
The engine grumbles will be easily resolved when the GLA 250 4MATIC appears in a few months, and they will be utterly obliterated by the AMG version in October. But until then, the diesel unit is all there is to choose from.
Will this put anyone off? Unlikely – the 2.1 more than does its job, especially around town, and the seven speed DCT is a brilliant transmission, masking the engine’s lack of grunt around town.
If the lack of grunt is an issue, then the more powerful variants down the track will be well worth the wait.
Models/prices
GLA 200 CDI – $64,900
GLA 250 4MATIC – $76,900
GLA 45 AMG – $99,900
Powertrain
2.1-litre inline four-cylinder diesel turbo producing 100kW/300Nm; seven-speed dual clutch transmission; front-wheel drive (GLA 200 CDI), 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder petrol turbo producing 155kW/350Nm; seven-speed dual clutch transmission; all-wheel drive (GLA 250 4MATIC), 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder petrol turbo producing 265kW/450Nm; seven-speed dual clutch transmission; all-wheel drive (GLA 45 AMG)
Fuel consumption: 4.6L/100km (GLA 200 CDI), 7.0L/100km (GLA 250 4MATIC), Who the hell cares? This bastard is mental! (GLA 45 AMG)
CO2 emissions: 122g/km (GLA 200 CDI), 162g/km (GLA 250 4MATIC), No, really, it is so awesome no one cares (GLA 45 AMG)
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: Not tested
Air bags: 9
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
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