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| New Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV |
With added character, spaciousness and safety amongst its key features, it is the latest in a line of models first introduced six years ago, and later updated in a face-lifted variant launched in 2017.
The brand describe it as ‘a sporty, lifestyle-oriented’ partner to the GLB, and a companion to the GLC and GLE within their wider family of SUV models. Two design lines are Progressive and a high-performance AMG version.
In appearance, the new GLA has, as in the brand’s other SUVs, a single louvre radiator grille and central position star, side and rear views are characterised by its powerful shoulders, contoured coupe-like side profile, and doors that reach over the sills to give greater ease of access and improved impact protection. Front and rear under guards and all-round protective cladding emphasise its off-road character.
The inside has been a contemporary, high-quality look with the most visually striking feature a free-standing driver instrumentation and infotainment display that frames the view almost from door-to-door. The brand’s MBUX infotainment system and voice activated ‘Hey Mercedes’ driver assistance system, and touch-control pads mounted on the steering wheel, are standard.
There’s also more headroom, rear legroom and more boot space. The seating position for driver and front passenger is higher and more upright while all-round visibility has been improved.
Made more than 100mm taller (despite being 15mm shorter) designers have given it added interior headroom for driver and front passenger and considerably greater rear legroom for back seat passengers.
Track width has been increased by four centimetres while ground clearance has been raised marginally. Boot volume has been increased, helped by rear seats that can slide by up to 140mm and come with 40:20:40 split. A height-adjustable load floor (with rear seat backrests folded down) can be transformed into an almost flat loading area extending to the front seats, is standard. Other design features include details carried over from the larger 7-seat GLB and the GLC.
A Driver Assistance Package includes automatic inputs to assist drivers with routine and accident avoidance emergency braking, distance control, parking, steering, lane keeping, blind spot observation, speed limit keeping, driver fatigue alerts.
A special feature is a car wash function whereby, with a single command, exterior mirrors fold inwards, side windows and sliding roof close, the rain sensor is suppressed and other settings disabled - all of which can be automatically deactivated when the driver exits the carwash.
Engines available at launch, all turbo charged, consist of four petrol and three diesel versions. Petrols are a 1.3L, 163hp GLA 200; a 2.0L,224hp GLA 250; and GLA 250 4MATIC. The AMG GLA 35 and AMG CLA 45 will also be available to order at launch.
Diesels are all 1.9L and include a 150hp 200d; a 200d 4-MATIC and a 190hp 220d and 220d 4MATIC.
In the pipeline is a 180d 1.5 diesel and a plug-in petrol electric variant.
While prices have yet to be revealed, Ciaran Allen, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in Ireland said: “The arrival of the new GLA is being supported with attractive price and purchase finance arrangements pitched competitively against those of its main rivals and broadly in harmony with those of its predecessor.”
Mercedes-Benz believe its high levels of equipment, good looks and choice of features are likely to make it a winner in its sector. Against a sales backdrop of more than 6.5 million units worldwide, the luxury SUV segment is increasingly valuable to Mercedes-Benz.
