Mercedes GLA 200 d: the basic diesel SUV from Mercedes

Until the new generation arrives, the Mercedes GLA remains a very interesting compact SUV among premium models. That said, budget at least 36,000 euros to get yourself a GLA 200 d with automatic gearbox and 4×2 drive, our recommended minimum.

If you’re thinking about a Mercedes GLA, you’re probably wondering whether to wait for the next generation, which will be based on the new Mercedes A-Class 2018, or buy the model currently on sale. Let’s remember that this is the restyle carried out at the end of last year of the model presented in 2014.

Well, if you like the current one, don’t hesitate any further. The GLA is a fully current model, with a design that still catches the eye and plenty of virtues. We tested the entry-level diesel version, the GLA 200 d with 136 CV and 4×2 drive, which starts from 33,650 euros. Below it sits the GLA 180, with the 122 CV petrol engine, which costs exactly 2,600 euros less.

And before going on, the first recommendation: whichever one you choose, make sure it has the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic gearbox with 7 speeds. Those 2,400 euros will be the best money spent on this car, ahead of any other extra.

It looks like an SUV, it is compact

The Mercedes GLA can be described in the same way as other SUVs in this category, such as the Audi Q3 or the BMW X1: they look more like SUVs than they really are, if by SUV we mean a car you can confidently take off the tarmac. Among compact premium SUVs, if you’re looking for off-road credentials there isn’t much to choose from: the best resolved is the Range Rover Evoque.

The 200 d version with 4×2 drive and dual-clutch automatic gearbox is one of the most balanced in the Mercedes GLA range.

The Mercedes GLA has a line that really draws attention; I have always thought it was better resolved than the A-Class it is derived from. Of course, things change a lot with the AMG Line package fitted to our test unit. If you want it like this, you’ll have to invest 1,900 euros. It includes a complete exterior and interior styling kit, highlighting the AMG wheels with 235/45-19 tyres, the perforated brake discs with calipers bearing the Mercedes-Benz badge on the front axle, or the 3-spoke leather steering wheel with a flattened bottom. But this kit also includes more direct sport steering and a lowered suspension set-up by 15 mm, two elements that have a positive effect on handling on tarmac.

Forget this kit if you’re going onto tracks or dirt roads, in which case you should consider the “off-road” suspension, which raises the body about 3 cm compared with the conventional suspension, and choose mixed-tread tyres. But then the GLA won’t go as well on the road as the car we tested, which for me is the ideal configuration for a GLA.

Will 136 CV be enough for the Mercedes GLA?

And we get right into the dynamic side, where the first doubt may arise when choosing an engine. The GLA 220 d with 177 CV is not offered with a manual gearbox. And if we compare the automatic versions, the extra 41 CV of the GLA 220d come at an additional cost of 2,900 euros.

I’ll later give you alternatives on which to spend that money on extra equipment… unless you’d rather save it for fuel. And I can assure you that the difference in performance or driving pleasure between the two diesel versions isn’t worth paying a difference that could cover the fuel for the first 30,000 km for free, at the very least.

Neither the 136 CV GLA 200 d nor the 177 CV GLA 220 d are class references for refinement, but with the automatic gearbox things become much smoother. This small criticism regarding smoothness of operation perhaps wouldn’t apply if we weren’t talking about a car with the star on its bonnet, which you expect the most from. It also stems from the inevitable comparison with other engines in the category, which feel smoother. But in any case it’s a matter of “unpleasant” noise and feel in town and at low speeds. As soon as you get onto the open road, the issue is forgotten.

Unless you plan to leave the tarmac often, the lowered suspension is better than the “off-road” suspension option, which raises the ride height by 30 mm.

The balance between performance, consumption and driving pleasure of the GLA 200 d with the dual-clutch gearbox is very good. You have an “ECO” mode to favour low consumption, in which you can clearly notice that power delivery is limited when you press the accelerator. But you don’t need to use this driving mode to stay at consumption around 6.5 l/100 km, a very good figure.

Of course the 220 d goes faster. You’ll notice it mainly in the manoeuvre used least in normal driving: short acceleration, where the more powerful diesel needs almost 1.5 seconds less to go from 0 to 100 km/h. But with a top speed of 205 km/h, good low- and mid-range thrust and the help of the automatic gearbox when “kicking down”, I insist, the GLA 200 d is more than sufficient.

Another matter is if you want a GLA with four-wheel drive 4Matic, in which case the jump to the 177 CV 220 d is compulsory. But think carefully, since it costs 2,250 euros more than the 4×2 and also increases fuel consumption. If you’re going to frequent unpaved tracks, a 4×2 with “off-road” suspension and mixed-tread tyres is better, trust me.

One final note on engines. If you’re wondering whether the petrol option is worth it, the entry-level GLA 180 with 122 CV costs 33,500 euros, about 2,500 euros less than the GLA 200 d, with both fitted with the automatic gearbox. Above it is the 156 CV GLA 200, which with automatic gearbox comes to 39,765 euros. If your budget is very tight, choose the GLA 180; its 122 CV go further than you’d think. If not, once again the GLA 200 d is the excellent middle ground in terms of price and performance among the two petrol versions.

Behind the wheel of the GLA 200 d: a very “car-like” feel

Both in driving position and in the sensations it offers when driven, the Mercedes GLA lives up to the impression you get seeing it from outside: it’s much closer to a saloon than an SUV, even though the seats sit a little higher than in an A-Class. You’ll notice this especially when getting into the cabin, which, incidentally, is well resolved for both driver and passengers.

The driver faces a very well organised dashboard with impeccable presentation, where the only complaints we can make concern the feel and appearance of the plastic used on the sides of the centre console between the seats. In the automatic version, the gear lever moves to the steering column. Its operation seems less intuitive at first than the conventional lever between the seats. But once you get used to it, and with the steering-wheel paddles, it has its advantages, freeing up space between the seats for two practical covered storage compartments.

The navigation screen has a “floating” design that not everyone likes. Personally I have always thought that with this design it looks like an add-on, but beyond aesthetic matters, there’s nothing to fault. It’s positioned high, which makes it easy to see. And although it isn’t touch-sensitive, the central controller between the seats lets you operate and access all functions more quickly and intuitively than in other touchscreen systems that lack a central controller of this kind.

Passengers in the rear seats will have a space similar to that offered by an A-Class. As for luggage space, its 420 litres of boot capacity falls below the class average. But it’s usable thanks to very regular shapes and the tie-down rings or side net pockets for organising cargo. Beneath the solid cover that serves as a floor there is a false floor housing the puncture repair kit.

On the move, the Mercedes GLA, even equipped with the lowered suspension and more direct steering, doesn’t quite offer particularly agile or precise handling on winding roads. At least compared with some of its rivals when they’re also fitted with sport suspension. Where the GLA takes the lead is in comfort. Not only is it pleasant to drive, it’s also a very comfortable car for passengers. On the road, the engine is very quiet, you barely feel the wind, and the suspension soaks up bumps with the quality we’ve come to expect from Mercedes. For 1,400 euros you can fit a variable damping system, but given how well the configuration we tested works, it isn’t a necessary option either.

The equipment of the Mercedes GLA 200 d

So how much do I need to spend to get a Mercedes GLA 200 d without missing anything important in terms of equipment? Well, adding the automatic gearbox and the AMG Line styling kit to the base version’s price brings us to 38,000 euros.

You can stop here, and you already get a car with the essentials and a few extras. Standard equipment includes cruise control, LED headlights, air conditioning, push-button start, light sensor, roof rails, a sound system with 6 speakers and 100 watts of power, and a 7″ multimedia screen.

Looking at the options list, we find the Advantage pack interesting: for around 1,000 euros it adds a rear camera, rain sensor, electric tailgate, electrically folding mirrors, an 8-inch screen and Garmin navigation. Adding 370 euros for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility brings you to the border of 40,000 euros.

As with any Mercedes, the possibilities for personalising the car, both aesthetically and with safety or comfort features, are endless. And this is where option packs come into play, which can be more worthwhile than choosing options separately.

Mercedes GLA 200 d image gallery