Used Mercedes GLA cars for sale

Mercedes GLA buying guide

What Mercedes GLA trim levels are there?

The Mercedes GLA has lots of similar sounding trim levels, so we’ll digitally hold your hand and ensure you get all the technology you want. All AMG Line trims get large alloy wheels, sporty interior trimmings and a neat bodykit, while no GLA is poorly equipped.

On the previous GLA, you could get SE, Sport, AMG Line and, latterly, Urban Edition. Standard equipment includes a reversing camera, smartphone connectivity and a powered tailgate. Sport adds a bigger touchscreen and two-zone air conditioning. The Urban Edition gets LED headlights and part-leather trim.

These days, the GLA range starts with Sport and then AMG Line. Both of these get pretty much everything mentioned above, apart from the larger screen. You need to go for Sport Executive or AMG Line Executive to benefit from the full-size touchscreen. These Executive trims also get front parking sensors and heated seats. AMG Line Premium adds keyless entry, while the AMG Line Premium Plus Night Edition adds big wheels, black trim, a sunroof and upgraded headlights. Phew.

The AMG GLA 35 and AMG GLA 45 S models are performance versions with their own high-spec kit lists. Even so, there are three trim levels for AMG GLA 35 buyers to mull over.

Mercedes GLA interior and technology

In isolation, the old GLA’s interior impresses with quality leathers and soft fabrics. The tech-filled touchscreen is a good height so that you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for a long time, and the bank of buttons below the turbine-like air vents makes it relatively easy to operate.

Most of those buttons have been replaced by touch inputs for this latest car, and the result is a cleaner and more modern-looking dashboard. It’s well worth going for a model with at least one big screen if you can, as the bigger screens fill out the bezel much better. The air vents have also had an update, and the quality of the materials used is top-notch for a car like this. Driving one of these will feel like you’ve got a luxury Mercedes at an affordable price.

Mercedes GLA engine range explained

Mercedes GLA 200 petrol – most popular

Probably the sweet spot of the range, the GLA 200 gives plenty of power for daily driving needs without requiring you to fill up every couple of days. The older GLA 200, with its 156hp 1.6-litre engine, is a little bit quicker off the line than the newer 163hp 1.3-litre car (the newer car is a bit heavier), but both feel responsive. You should get 40mpg or more from both cars.

Mercedes GLA 180 petrol

The GLA 180 uses the same petrol engine as the GLA 200, but with slightly less power – 122hp for old models, and 136hp for later cars. These are similarly economical and will be absolutely fine if you’re not bothered about a seat-of-your-pants driving experience.

Mercedes GLA 250 petrol

The previous GLA can also be had with a 211hp 2.0-litre petrol engine. With 4Matic four-wheel drive and a 6.6-second 0-62mph time, it’s as quick as some hot hatches, but it’s much less economical than the 180 and 200 petrols. As such, it’s an uncommon choice and hard to find.

Mercedes GLA 200d diesel

Both versions of the GLA 200d are capable of around 50mpg, so they may be slightly cheaper to run for long-distance drivers than the petrol engines. The latest version, with a 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engine, is quieter than the previous engine. While usually front-wheel drive, some GLA 200d cars may have Mercedes’ 4Matic four-wheel-drive system.

Mercedes GLA 220d diesel

The same diesel engine powers the 220d, but with power increased to 190hp (170hp for older cars). This engine comes with four-wheel drive as standard but, even so, it’s still capable of over 45mpg.

Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 petrol

The flagship GLA 45 (below) has got even more powerful for this generation, so there’s room for a GLA 35 model to sit beneath it. With 306hp and a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds, few drivers will find the GLA 35 to be too slow for their needs. When you are going a bit slower, it can return up to 32mpg, which is par for the course in a fast SUV like this.

Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 petrol

Along with the related A-Class and CLA, the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S plays host to the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine. The latest one produces a whopping 421hp – a figure no rival gets near – and has a 0-62mph time of just 4.3 seconds. In the time you took to read that sentence, the GLA 45 S would already be at A-road speeds.

Mercedes GLA 250e hybrid

A 38-mile electric range and up to 200mpg are the standout stats for the plug-in hybrid GLA 250e, which has been introduced with the latest-generation GLA. Both of those figures are dependent on the battery being fully charged as often as possible. The plug-in hybrid is really good for mainly local drivers – who can skulk around town without producing any emissions – with the occasional longer journey.