2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Review, Pricing, and ...

With a higher style quotient than the boxy GLB-class, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA-class SUV gives up some practicality in favor of a swoopier roofline and ... SearchSubscribeNewCarsReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer'sGuideNewsletterVideosFollowShopDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationSkiptoContentReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer'sGuideShoppingSubscribesigninHomeMercedes-BenzGLA-classSelectayear202220212020201920182017HighsHigh-endstyling,eagerdrivingdemeanor,nicely-equippedinterior.LowsInfotainmentnotintuitive,expensiveoptionspackages,notasquickaspreviousgeneration.VerdictThe2022GLA250bundlescontemporaryMercedes-Benzluxuryandtechnologyandintoastylish,compactpackage.ByDrewDorianOverviewWithahigherstylequotientthantheboxyGLB-class,the2022Mercedes-BenzGLA-classSUVgivesupsomepracticalityinfavorofaswoopierrooflineandadditionalcurbappeal.Aturbochargedfour-cylinderenginedeliversperkyperformance,andhandlingisagileenoughtodeliversomethrillsonacurvyroad.Don'texpectmuchoff-roadperformancethough,evenwiththeGLA'soptionalall-wheeldrive.Inside,you'llfindalloftheinfotainment,luxury,andconveniencefeaturesthatMercedes-BenzoffersonitslargerSUVs.Lookingforsomethingracier?CheckouttheMercedes-AMGversion(reviewedseparately),whichcanbehadwithasmuchas375horsepower.WhereThisVehicleRanks1VolvoXC40STARTINGAT:$36,1952BMWX1STARTINGAT:$36,3953BMWX2STARTINGAT:$37,5954Mercedes-BenzGLA-classSTARTINGAT:$37,4505Mercedes-AMGGLA-classSTARTINGAT:$49,0006Mercedes-BenzGLB-classSTARTINGAT:$39,650What'sNewfor2022?TheGLA-classreceivesonlytwoupdatesfor2022:SiriusXMsatelliteradioanda115-voltpoweroutletarenowincludedintheoptionalPremiumpackage.Otherwise,Mercedes'ssmallestcrossovercarriesoverunchanged.PricingandWhichOnetoBuyWhilenoonewhobuysaGLA250islikelytoexplorethetrails,optingforthe4Maticmodeladdsmorethanjustall-wheeldrive.MercedesismakingtheOff-RoadEngineeringpackagestandardonthatmodel,whichprovidesanoff-roaddrivingmodethatdecreasesthrottleresponseandpowerdelivery.Somedriversmayfinditusefulincertainsituations,suchasplowingthroughheavysnow.Inourview,thePremiumpackageisamustasitaddsthelarger10.3-inchdigitalgaugedisplayand10.3-inchinfotainmentscreen,whicharecombinedinonecontinuouspanelandlendatech-forwardappearancetotheGLA'scabin.Engine,Transmission,andPerformanceThe2022GLA-classispoweredbyaturbocharged2.0-literfour-cylinderenginethatdrivesthefrontorallfourwheelsandmakes221horsepower;it'spairedupwithaneight-speedautomatic.Atourtesttrack,anall-wheeldriveGLA2504Maticsnappedoffazero-to-60-mphtimeofjust6.3seconds.Despiteitspeppyperformance,thatresultisactuallyslowerthanthelastgenerationmodel,whichmanageda5.7-secondresultinthesametest.Whilethe2022GLA250hasn'tlostallofitsspunkinessintheredesign,thesuspensionisnotablymorecompliantoverroughstretchesofroad—awelcomeimprovementovertheoldmodel.ViewPhotosMercedes-BenzFuelEconomyandReal-WorldMPGTheEPAestimatesthattheGLA250willdeliver25mpginthecity,34mpgonthehighway,and28mpgcombined.Theall-wheeldriveGLA2504Matic'sfueleconomyestimatesare1mpglowerinallthreemetrics.Mercedessaysaplug-in-hybridversionwillbeaddedlatertothelineup.Wehaven'thadachancetotestthenewGLA250onour200-milehighwayfueleconomytestroute,butwhenwedowewillupdatethisstorywithresults.FormoreinformationabouttheGLA-class'sfueleconomy,visittheEPA'swebsite.Interior,Comfort,andCargoOneofthechiefcomplaintsabouttheprevious-generationGLA-classwasitscrampedinterior.Mercedeshasrectifiedthatwiththenewgenerationmodel.Rear-seatpassengersaretreatedtoalmostfiveinchesofextralegroom,aswellasincreasedspaceforshouldersandelbows.ThiswillhelptheGLA-classcompetemoredirectlywithkeyrivalssuchastheAudiQ3,BMWX1,andVolvoXC40.Interiormaterialslookupscale,andthelayoutofcontrolsandclimate-controlventsissimilartowhatweseeontheGLB-classandA-class,withacolumn-mountedshifter,center-console-mountedinfotainmentcontroller,andcircularventsalongthedashboard.Cargocapacityisincreasedcomparedwiththeoldmodelandtherearseatsfoldflat;thecargoflooritselfnowisflushwiththatofthesill,whichshouldmakeslidingbulkieritemsinandoutofthetrunkeasier.Inourtesting,theGLA250fitsixofourcarry-onsuitcasesbehindtherearseat,onemorethanwhatwefitinthelastgenerationmodel.ViewPhotosMercedes-BenzTheCarandDriverDifferenceOurComprehensiveCarTestingExplainedWhyWeTest:EveryNumberTellsaStoryInfotainmentandConnectivityMercedes-Benz'sMBUXinfotainmentsystem—forbetterorworse—isstandardacrosstheGLA-classrange.Basemodelscomewithtwo7.0-inchdisplays,oneforthedriver'sgaugedisplayandonefortheinfotainmentsystemitself.Dual10.3-inchdisplaysareoptional.ThissamesetuphasbeenrolledoutthroughoutmuchoftheMercedeslineuptomixedreviewsfromoureditors.Thesystemcanbemanipulatedeitherviathetouchscreen,usingvoicecommands,orbyutilizingthetouchpadcontrolleronthecenterconsole.AppleCarPlayandAndroidAutoarestandard;navigation,SiriusXMsatelliteradio,ahead-updisplay,andaBurmesterpremiumaudiosystemarealloptional.SafetyandDriver-AssistanceFeaturesAutomatedemergencybrakingisstandardacrosstherange,butmoreadvanceddriver-assistancefeaturessuchasadaptivecruisecontrolandlane-keepingassistwillrequireaddingtheoptionalDriverAssistancepackage.FormoreinformationabouttheGLA-class'scrash-testresults,visittheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration(NHTSA)andInsuranceInstituteforHighwaySafety(IIHS)websites.Keysafetyfeaturesinclude:StandardautomatedemergencybrakingwithpedestriandetectionAvailablelane-departurewarningwithlane-keepingassistAvailableadaptivecruisecontrolwithsemi-autonomousdrivingmodeWarrantyandMaintenanceCoverageMercedesoffersabasicwarrantypackage,withcoveragestretchingfouryearsor50,000miles.TheLexusNXofferslongerwarrantytermswhileothers,whileotherrivalssuchastheBMWandtheVolvoofferlengthycontractsforcomplimentaryscheduledmaintenance.Limitedwarrantycovers4yearsor50,000milesPowertrainwarrantycovers4yearsor50,000milesNocomplimentaryscheduledmaintenanceSpecificationsSpecifications 2021Mercedes-BenzGLA250 VEHICLETYPE front-engine,front-orall-wheel-drive,5-passenger,4-doorwagon BASEPRICE(C/DEST) GLA250,$36,000;GLA2504Matic,$38,000 ENGINETYPE turbochargedandintercooledDOHC16-valveinline-4,aluminumblockandhead,directfuelinjection Displacement 122in3,1991cm3 Power 221hp@5500rpm Torque 258lb-ft@1620rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speeddual-clutchautomatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase:107.4in Length:173.6in Width:72.2in Height:63.5inCargovolume:15ft3 Curbweight(C/Dest):3400–3600lb PERFORMANCE(C/DEST) 60mph:5.7–5.9sec 100mph:16.4–16.6sec ¼-mile:14.5–14.7sec Topspeed(mfr'sclaim):130mph  EPAFUELECONOMY(C/DEST) Combined/city/highway:26–27/23–24/32–33mpgMoreFeaturesandSpecsMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz2023SprinterStartingat$41,000estC/DRating8.5/10Mercedes-Benz2024EQGStartingat$150,000estMercedes-Benz2023CLE-ClassStartingat$60,000estMercedes-Benz2023EQBStartingat$57,000estAdvertisement-ContinueReadingBelowMercedes-Benz2023EQEStartingat$70,000estMercedes-Benz2023GLC-ClassStartingat$45,000estMercedes-Benz2022A-ClassStartingat$35,000C/DRating8/10Mercedes-Benz2022C-ClassStartingat$44,600Mercedes-Benz2022CLA-ClassStartingat$39,250C/DRating8/10Mercedes-Benz2022CLS-ClassStartingat$74,000C/DRating8/10Mercedes-Benz2022E-ClassStartingat$56,000C/DRating9/10Mercedes-Benz2022E-ClassAll-TerrainStartingat$69,450C/DRating8.5/10Advertisement-ContinueReadingBelow