What is it?
The entry-level version of the new Mercedes GLA crossover – and an interesting car for all sorts of reasons, not least because its price positioning puts it in direct competition with the most expensive launch version of the new Nissan Qashqai – one of our highest-rated introductions of 2014.
The new GLA’s closest rivals are the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, but the Qashqai comparison will be much more helpful if you’re seeking to classify this car. This is a crossover hatchback, not a compact SUV. It has up to 185mm of ground clearance, but the silhouette and driving position of a fairly large family five-door rather than of a typical 4x4 or station wagon.
While other parts of the world get a turbocharged 1.6-litre GLA200 petrol as a feed-in model, Mercedes’ UK distributor has declined to offer that car, and will instead use the GLA200 CDI to kick off with. Available in ‘SE’ and ‘AMG Line’ trim, and with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes, all versions of the GLA200 CDI will emit 119g/km of CO2 until the 4Matic four-wheel drive versions go on sale later this year.
Power comes from a detuned version of the same 2143cc turbodiesel used in the GLA220 CDI, which makes 134bhp and 221lb ft of torque. That mirrors the powertrain line-up of the smaller A-class hatchback, but not of the larger B-class hatchback or the CLA saloon, which use a harder-worked 1796cc turbodiesel to produce the same peak outputs for their ‘200 CDI’ derivatives.
Join the debate
nosha
good all rounder?
Will86
Growing on me
DBtechnician
Uk Roads
gazza5
.
Simply reason - it looks ok - but I would want the petrol version and do think Merc are missing a trick in not offering it. We would of waited for this car but with no petrol version its hopeless for my wife who does 5000 - 6000 miles a year. A diesel will be destroyed in 3 years of ownership as most her driving is under 10 miles.
Sporky McGuffin
Gazza5 - there is a petrol
Personally I'd like to see a GLA250 CDI - it seems a shame not to put the more powerful diesel in the range as that'd probably give very decent performance and sensible fuel economy too.
Maxecat
Diesel versus petrol
Diesel engines are far more efficient when cold compared to a petrol engine. The efficiency of a diesel engine remains virtually constant throughout it's load range unlike petrol that is very poor in stop start traffic and low speeds.
As for 3 years of 5k to 6k miles per annum destroying any diesel car that is plain wrong. A sister of mine has run a new BMW 118d coupe, motability, for over 2 years now and her total mileage is just over 5k in that time with no problems whatsoever and her trip to work and back of about 0.5 mile, four times a day, has caused no problems.
Mercedes is nor bringing the lower powered petrol version to the UK as very few people buy petrol cars in the UK anymore apart from the very small cheap cars where the additional cost of a diesel engine is a big percentage of the list price.
And those who still think that diesel cars produce too many particulates to be suitable for town use just need to look at the Euro 5 and 6 rules that show the limits are exactly the same for petrol and diesel with both being direct injection engines nowadays. Just look up which cities have the worlds worst particulate pollution, Beijing etc, and note that they have virtually no diesel cars on their roads.
Will86
Really Maxecat?
jer
My exp
btw I just checked the GLA250 petrol auto 4wd price starts at 29k before options AMG pack etc. sounds a lot to me. You gain a bit back in depreciation but loose massively in discounts and list price for being a slave for fashion in these soft roaders.
Sporky McGuffin
£29k doesn't seem that bad to
A34
So... is the Sunderland-built car better?
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