2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic Shows Real Growth

In the automotive world, venturing into a new segment is risky business. Remember the two-seat convertible SUV segment pioneered by the Suzuki X90? No? Well, that’s because it failed to gain any traction. But, there are benefits to taking a chance, which is what Mercedes-Benz did when it launched the GLA-class. Not quite a hatchback, not a wagon, not a traditional SUV, the GLA-class seemed like a bit of a gamble, but now it’s entering its second generation with a number of notable and critical improvements. We just spent a few days with a new GLA250, the very model that the United States will get as an entry-level version.

At first glance, the GLA has grown up and looks far more contemporary and purposeful. The slightly overwrought, exaggerated aggression of the first generation has been dialed back in favor of cleaner lines. There are fewer creases than on the previous model, the front end looks more serious with its new grille, and if you opt for the AMG package, you get a toothy Panamericana grille like the AMG GT’s. The profile keeps a close link to the predecessor, with similarly shaped side windows. In back, the rear is now dominated by clean, horizontal taillights.

At 63.5 inches (up from 60.0 inches), it stands taller than its predecessor, and at 72.2 inches, it is 1.2 inches wider. Mercedes held the line on length, though, as the new GLA spans 173.6 inches, fractionally shorter than before. However, the wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer.

Inside, the changes are radical. The previous curvaceous and voluptuous dashboard with the tubular instruments makes way for a less cluttered style with two standard seven-inch TFT screens. The list of standard equipment is long, and it includes the MBUX infotainment interface with voice control. One drawback is the touchpad, which is fussy in operation and needs more attention than Mercedes-Benz’s good-old twistable knob.

Larger, 10.3-inch screens are optional and provide a wealth of information as well as changeable designs that will suit a variety of tastes. That is, if they can find the settings. They’re hidden deep in the menu structure. It is easy to find a comfortable seating position both up front and in the rear, and we liked elegant touches such as the hidden cupholders in the rear. The cargo area is a very useable 15 cubic feet and can be expanded up to 50 cubic feet if you fold the back seat.

Mercedes-Benz imbued the last GLA with lovely and precise steering, and the new model is just as good. Handling is on par with its German competition—the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 and X2—and more engaging than competitors like the Cadillac XT4 and the Lexus UX250h. Yes, the GLA sits taller than its predecessor, but it is easy and fun to whip around tight corners at remarkably high speeds.

The transverse-engine GLA has available 4Matic all-wheel drive that primarily drives the front wheels but sends enough power around to improve acceleration in slippery conditions. We took the GLA off the road for a bit and were pleased with the additional traction, but there is not enough ground clearance for serious off-roading.

Power comes from the new M260 engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is closely related to AMG’s 416-hp M139 turbo four. These new four-cylinders are part of the modular engine family that includes the M256 straight-six. In the GLA250, the engine is rated at 221 horsepower at 5500 rpm and offers up 258 lb-ft of torque from 1620 to 4000 rpm. Throttle response is prompt, and a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission is operated through a column-mounted stalk and features eight gears, one more than previously.

In the GLA, the engine revs and delivers power smoothly and quietly. Based on its power-to-weight ratio, we think the new GLA250 will sprint to 60 mph just under six seconds, making it about as quick as an X1 xDrive28i and considerably quicker than a Q3. Top speed for the U.S. model will be governed at 130 mph, but the German-market version we drove topped out at an indicated 150 mph. Maxing it out on the autobahn didn’t exactly help fuel economy. We didn’t come close to the Euro cycle’s promise of 34.1 mpg.

If you want a GLA with real autobahn prowess, wait for the 302-hp AMG GLA35 or the 382-hp AMG GLA45, both of which will launch a few months after the GLA250. The AMG models will feature a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system, and both will roar louder than the demure GLA250.

The GLA250 will arrive in the U.S. this summer as a 2021 model and will be available with front-wheel drive or 4Matic all-wheel drive. Pricing has not been announced, but we expect it will start close to $36,000, with 4Matic adding $2000, slotting under its boxier GLB250 sibling that’s built on the same platform and starts at $39,045. With the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 and X2 siblings, it has some formidable competitors that form this burgeoning class.

Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com