The original Mercedes GLA was essentially an A-Class hatchback in its Sunday best—but that was all it took to secure a million sales worldwide.
On the surface, this family SUV is extremely similar to the A-Class—albeit in its latest fourth-generation incarnation—although you wouldn’t necessarily guess from looking. Park the two side by side and it’s clear the GLA has a character all of its own. The difference is less clear inside, and that’s no bad thing. After all, the A-Class has one of the finest interiors in its class, while the GLA shares not only many of its eye-catching features but also its user-friendly MBUX infotainment system. Both models also share a diverse range of engines, an excellent mix of petrols and diesels as well as a plugin hybrid. There’s even a handful of hot AMG versions if you’re feeling fancy. But before we get into details, let’s check out the GLA’s key stats.
| Brand-new price range | £38,000–£69,000 |
| Car Planet price range | £18,000 / £365 a month |
| Trims | 5 |
| Engines | 6 |
| Available fuels | Diesel, petrol, hybrid |
| mpg range across all versions | 53–188 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Warranty | 3 years / unlimited-mileage |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £1,000 / £5,000 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £1,900–£10,000 |
Equipment, options and extras
Even the Mercedes GLA’s entry-level Sport is seriously well equipped, with climate control, heated front seats, 18in alloy wheels and keyless entry and start. In fact, given the fact the AMG Line trim focuses mainly on louder styling, if you’re looking to upgrade we recommend skipping it entirely and investing instead on the Executive package for its stellar infotainment system.
Costs, insurance groups, mpg and CO2
The Mercedes GLA is a little on the pricey side, costing more to buy outright than its key rivals the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. And while it should hold its value well against depreciation, the competition tends to excel in that area, too. That being said, its two diesel engines are impressively efficient—and what’s more, they’re RDE2-compliant, too, meaning they don’t incur a 4% penalty to add to its BIK ratings. All in all, though, the clear choice for company car drivers is the plugin hybrid 250e, which boasts remarkably low CO2 emissions and can travel over 30 miles on electric power alone. That means it sits in the same low-BIK tax bracket as the X1 xDrive25e. (It’s worth noting too that both sit in a lower bracket than the XC40 T5 Recharge.)
Safety and security
All Mercedes GLAs include as standard a driver drowsiness monitor, automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. You can also choose to have the speed limit displayed on the instrument panel. Furthermore, the Driving Assistance package brings an extra raft of features: blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a speed adjustment system which automatically slows the car as you approach bends, junctions and roundabouts.
The Car Planet verdict
The Mercedes GLA is one of the more prestigious family SUVs, although on the flipside this does mean some of its rivals are cheaper—and actually, it has to be said that some are a little more practical, too. But whatever you’re looking for, we can help.
Car Planet are experts in used cars in Watford and Hertfordshire. Our virtual viewings mean you can check out a car from the comfort of your own home, or you can come in and view our cars in person. Every car goes through a thorough 150-point check to ensure it’s totally roadworthy. We’re transparent, too: we always display the details of a car’s imperfections. We care about sustainability, which is why we plant a tree for every car we sell, and we provide a 7-day money-back guarantee to any customer who isn’t absolutely satisfied with our service. With our competitive finance deals and part exchanges, you’re sure to find what you need, so check out our selection of secondhand Mercedes GLAs today and let’s get the ball rolling!
