Mercedes GLA. The best partner for all seasons
The Mercedes GLA is a compact SUV produced by Mercedes-Benz (Germany) since 2013. It can be both front-wheel or all-wheel drive. In 2020, Israeli buyers could purchase the second generation of the 2019 GLA compact SUV.
In 2013, the Mercedes GLA was nominated for the title of ‘World Car of the Year’. And in 2014, the SUV was tested by the EuroNCAP and was awarded a five-star result as the safest car, while earning a record 96% for the safety of an adult passenger.
Origins
Mercedes first came up with the idea of creating their own compact SUV back in 2008, when the German magazine, Autozeitung, showed possible drawings of the new car. And only in 2012, the manufacturer confirmed its intentions to release a small VUS based on the A-Class. Thus, in April 2013, the company showed official images of the car and announced its name, the GLA. It took quite a long time to launch mass production, as the German manufacturer took a very serious approach to the testing process. The Mercedes GLA prototypes traveled around 1.8 million test kilometers, where 80 thousand kilometers were travelled off-road, and 2,000 km were travelled under the roughest off-road conditions. Plus 5,000 kilometers along the Nordschleife, another 6,000 kilometers along the Hockenheimring. And don’t forget about the grueling 50,000 km that were travelled at full speed and at full load on the Nardo ring and the Mercedes test track in Papenburg, the 12-week corrosion resistance test in salt chambers and the tests involving combination with a loaded trailer, which covered 25,000 km. And all this was definitely not in vain!
The first generation
It was produced from 2013 to 2020, while its restyling took place in 2017. The first Mercedes GLA (X156), built on the MFA platform, had a front-engine, front-wheel or all-wheel drive layout. It was equipped with turbocharged 1.6 and 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol engines, as well as 2.2-liter diesel engines with 136 and 170 hp. The engines were complemented by a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed 7G-DCT transmission. Even the basic trim level could offer numerous security systems, as well as such options as a parking assist system, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, a lane departure warning system, a blind spot monitoring system, a traffic sign recognition system and preventive safety systems. All-wheel drive versions were equipped with a descent assist system and an Off-Road Program that controlled the gas pedal and kept the transmission in low gears.
In 2014, the SUV was tested by the EuroNCAP and was awarded a five-star result as the safest car, while earning a record 96% for the safety of an adult passenger.
The compact SUV had a more rigid body. Compared to the A-Class, the GLA structure was composed of 73% high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. In addition, the engineers reinforced the body with several transverse beams at the bottom. And the responsive electric power steering and standard settings made driving even more enjoyable. The steering response was precise and smooth, and the steering wheel was perfectly insulated from shocks and hits. In short, the new GLA was a big success!
The second generation
It has been produced from the end of 2019 to the present (as of 2020). The second Mercedes GLA (H247), based on the MFA2 FWD platform, is equipped with the MacPherson strut suspension with forged aluminum levers at the front, and a multi-link suspension at the rear for maximum comfort and stability in motion. The rear subframe is isolated from the body with rubber bushings to reduce vibration. And thanks to its proportions and expressive contours, the new SUV looks truly formidable!
The 2020 GLA is designed in compliance with the latest Mercedes-Benz signature style. Its exterior combines the smooth plastic solutions and expressive stamped reinforcement plates. Unlike the previous mini-SUV, which had a hatchback-like body, the new generation can boast of an original and higher estate body, which made it possible to increase the useful volume of the passenger compartment and make the proportions of the car more off-road. Unlike the X156, which had a blank C-pillar, the new GLA has a C-pillar with a triangular window, making the silhouette look more elegant and emphasizing the dynamic nature of the style.
The interior of the new GLA is unified with the latest A and B-Class models: turbine deflectors, a three-spoke steering wheel, a tablet unit of two 10.25-inch screens, the first of which is the dashboard, and the second is the media system. The MBUX media system can be controlled with voice. The car can be equipped with a sunroof or a panoramic roof.
At first, the new model will be produced in two petrol versions: GLA 200 and GLA 250. The first version is equipped with a turbocharged 1.33-liter engine with 161 hp. The second version is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 221 hp. Both engines are combined with a double-clutch preselected gearbox: the GLA 200 is equipped with a 7-speed gearbox, and the GLA 250 has an 8-speed gearbox. The base model is front-wheel drive, while the GLA 250 can be front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The new Mercedes GLA is not only able to take you from point A to point B, but also to point W, meaning into the wild. At the same time, it always demonstrates its sporty nature. Thanks to its design and safety, it is the best partner for all seasons.
