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Mercedes-Benz GLA variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £31,699. Borrowing £28,529 with a £3,170 deposit at a representative APR of 11.9%.

48 monthly payments
£482.29
Fixed interest rate
11.9%
Total amount payable
£42,102.72
Cost of credit
£10,403.72
Optional final payment
£15,783.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

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Most of those buttons have been replaced by touch inputs for this latest car, and the result is a cleaner and more modern-looking dashboard.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.

Mercedes GLA FAQs

Now into its second generation, the glam Mercedes GLA is a five-door SUV that is Merc’s alternative to the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Lexus UX. For a little while, you’ll find late examples of the previous GLA alongside examples of the latest car, and both come with the option of sporty trim levels and a raging hot fast one.

This latest car also has an electric variant, even if the Mercedes EQA does have slightly different styling to the GLA. Don’t confuse the GLA with the CLA, either (but if you think the names are confusing, wait ‘till we get to the trim levels).

Whichever you pick, you’ll get a car that’s just over 4.4 metres long, so it’ll fit into all the same spaces as its main rivals. The latest GLA is 10cm taller than the previous one, and has grown into a proper SUV-looking car rather than a half-height crossover that’s clearly A-Class based. Despite the size difference not being massive on paper, the latest GLA brings more space than the old car.

The 11cm increase in legroom will be the most noticeable gain, while the new GLA is also 3cm wider than the old car, making it slightly easier for three adults to sit across the rear bench. Boot space is 495 litres, slightly more than in the old car and over 100 litres more than the space available in the A-Class hatchback.

For short or medium-length journeys, the turbocharged petrol engines are a good match, providing plenty of performance and utterly reasonable fuel economy. Motorway natives will be well served by the diesels, and speed freaks are catered for by the rapid AMG models. In the new model, there’s a frugal plug-in hybrid, too.

Mercedes as a brand is synonymous with luxury and you don't trade any away when choosing the GLA, despite it being the most affordable SUV in the company's lineup.

The cabin is trimmed in plush materials, and the look and feel of the switchgear is a cut above cars from more mainstream brands.

To enhance the luxurious image, we think the cabin looks its best with the fully upgraded dual-screen setup on top of the dash. This sees both the centre infotainment screen and the driver's screen behind the wheel upgraded to 10.25-inch units, and is standard on AMG Line Premium cars.

Mercedes is a premium brand, so you should budget more for servicing and maintenance than you might for a comparable model from a more affordable carmaker. This is in line with the maintenance premium you'll find on Audi and BMW models.

If you're in the market for a compact premium SUV, you'll be very pleased with the GLA. Mercedes' most recent cabin design used across its compact cars has proved to be a real winner, with a high-tech looking dual-screen infotainment setup, and plush materials to help it feel suitably upmarket.

This generation of compact Mercedes models has also fixed their predecessors' slightly ponderous driving experience, with a much more responsive automatic gearbox and punchier turbocharged engines.

Mercedes' recent performance in reliability surveys suggests there's a little more work to be done to shore up the durability of its cars. Nevertheless, most of the engines and parts used in the GLA are also used in other Mercedes models – along with some Nissan and Renault cars – so replacements shouldn't prove too challenging to locate.

Add an extended warranty onto your GLA when you buy it to protect yourself from unexpected repair costs once the factory coverage runs out.

Despite its compact billing, the Mercedes GLA should be able to tow most medium-sized caravans. Entry-level GLA 180 petrol cars will haul a braked trailer weighing 1,600kg, while all mid-range cars can pull 1,800kg. Range-topping GLA 250 and GLA 220d versions can pull a 2,000kg braked trailer.