2017 Mercedes GLA Facelift Review
Car Tested: 2017 Mercedes GLA Facelift; Road Test No. 867
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 37.05 – 44.37 Lakhs
The GLA is a stylish car for the urban jungle that stands out with its unique design
Mercedes’ A-Class siblings in India are quite popular amongst the young luxury car owners. The hatch looks quite sporty but has limited practicality, the CLA has a swanky rear but cabin space is below average. However, the biggest sibling GLA offers the best of both worlds – style and practicality. Recently Mercedes gave it a mild facelift just like the other two. We drive the updated compact SUV to see the changes and examine if the three-pointed star is really a worthy alternative to the full-size mass market SUVs.
Motor Quest: The Mercedes GLA is an all new car that was launched in 2014 globally without having any predecessor. It is an entry-level SUV in the Mercedes lineup positioned under the GLC mid-size SUV. The GLA competes with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3 and is offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts. You also get an AMG version of the GLA in India.
The rear bumper gets muscular and the tail lights are new
Exteriors – The biggest USP of the Mercedes GLA is the design. Keeping the target audience in mind, the German carmaker has made it look so attractive that I feel it is the best looking compact luxury SUV in its segment. However, what I don’t like is the size, which makes it look more crossover than SUV unlike its rivals. The facelifted GLA comes with cosmetic tweaks including a new grille, which makes it look butch, new SUV-focused bumpers, revised LED tail lights and the gorgeous new alloys. The mild tweaks have made it look fresh and more SUVish. For a perspective, if you look at a white GLA on the road now, you won’t say it’s an A-Class!
The mild changes are not immediately visible inside the cabin
Interiors – Now step inside and this is when you can’t make any difference between the A siblings if you are not a keen observer. Only way to feel the difference is the seat height, which is slightly above the average sedan height but in the world of SUVs, it is still low. What changes in the GLA facelift you ask? Well, nothing major apart from the new three-spoke steering wheel, ambient lighting with 12 colours and a bigger 8-inch infotainment display that now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The steering now has a 3D effect to it, the horn pad jutting out, looks nice. The screen is bright and clear but it’s not touch, you have to control it via the COMMAND system knobs. Otherwise everything is similar and the dashboard looks quite attractive, specially the slightly updated instrument cluster. I also like the way the aircon vents are styled, practical yet flashy. However, I really can’t digest the fact that a Rs. 40 lakh + Mercedes doesn’t come with auto climate control! It doesn’t even have a reverse parking sensor but thankfully gets a camera.
The seats are very comfortable but headroom is limited at the back
The GLA gets mild updates inside but still looks very modern and stylish
What you would like in the GLA is the fantastic quality, consistency and the feel of materials. Everything is top notch, the equipment list is quite strong too, push button start, panoramic sunroof, electric seats, driving modes, electric tailgate, etc. The seats also get soft leather which smells nice too. Now the rear seat experience is average if you have the SUV practicality in mind because headroom for tall passengers is limited and because of the huge transmission hump, the middle passenger might find it a squeeze. The tailgate now is electrically operational. The boot is quite big and accommodating but the spare space saver wheel just eats up a lot of space.
The 220d offers better performance now with quicker acceleration
Performance – We are quite familiar with the 2.1-litre diesel engine of Mercedes. We drove it in the lower tuned 200d guise earlier and now the facelift comes with a 220d 4MATIC version. This engine now produces 170 HP and 350 Nm, which is about 30 HP and 50 Nm increase over the 200d. The result? It feels quicker and more responsive in the mid-range and the throttle response is better. However, the acceleration is still linear and doesn’t provide that immediate thrust which you get with some of its rivals. Also, I’ve noticed this engine’s character across the A range which doesn’t feel that refined and is quite loud even at idle. The positive side is that it doesn’t drink much and you get a healthy tank range. The GLA also comes with driving modes that affect the throttle response and steering feel. The 7-speed dual clutch transmission with steering mounted paddle shifts offers smooth changes but isn’t the quickest when it comes to aggressive driving.
The suspension is well tuned to handle bad roads and hard cornering
Driving Dynamics – Mercedes has upped its game in the dynamics department with the newer lot of cars. Same is the case with the GLA and its ride and handling balance. I really like the way it soaks bumps and takes undulations. You won’t feel out of place on bad Indian roads with this pliant ride quality. Well, ride has been Mercedes’ forte always but they have managed to strike the right balance of handling as well. The nose turns in quickly with your steering inputs and the feedback isn’t numb. It provides consistent feel while cornering and you know where it’s going. Body roll is there but it’s not to the extent that you get annoyed, the roll is controllable. I was a bit disappointed with the brakes of my test car because the previous publication who got hold of it had tested it on the BIC. The brake pads were worn off and the pedal feel was inconsistent.
There is no dearth of safety equipment in the GLA as expected
Safety and After Sales Service – Safety is a big priority for the three-pointed star and the GLA gets high-tech equipment including ABS, ESP, 6 airbags, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring system, attention assist, etc. Mercedes is spreading its foothold in the Indian market rapidly and the network is getting quite strong pan India. In this scenario you need not worry about the after sales, which is quite manageable even in non-metro cities. Yes, it is a German luxury car and you should be ready for heavy bills if you damage a crucial part.
The biggest USP of the Mercedes GLA is its jaw dropping design
Verdict – There are some Android users who find their phone value for money and there are some Apple users who are addicted to the ecosystem and feel satisfied using the expensive phone. Same is the case with feature loaded full-sized 7-seater SUVs and compact luxury SUVs. Those who are living the ecosystem of luxury cars and can afford a Rs. 40 lakh compact SUV, the GLA is a beautiful car. You not only arrive in style and turn heads on signals but you also feel relaxed and comfortable driving the Merc. The improvements that come along with the GLA are appreciated because it looks more SUV, offers better features inside and gets a stronger engine. However, if you are a big driving enthusiast and don’t care about the extra Merc bling, then you might want to consider the rivals.
The relatively small size makes it look more like a crossover
What’s Cool
* Updated styling cues give the GLA more presence
* The bigger screen, new steering and small changes make the cabin more interesting
* The dashboard design having swoopy lines looks much better than its rivals
* The ride and handling balance is sweet and the 220d engine feels much better
What’s Not So Cool
* Lack of auto climate control and reverse parking sensors is shocking
* Interior space compared to the rivals is limited
Alternatives: BMW X1, Audi Q3
The new golden brown colour suits the personality of the GLA
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Further Reading –
Mercedes GLA Long Term Review
Mercedes GLA Review
Mercedes GLA vs Audi Q3 vs BMW 1-Series
Mercedes GLA vs Audi Q3 vs BMW 1-Series – Video