2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What's New for 2017?
The most important updates to the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class are to its technology. For 2017, Mercedes is now including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on the GLA Class. The company has also given the car a slimmer touchscreen panel, a slightly redesigned instrument panel, and faux-suede upholstery in the GLA 45 if you opt for the AMG Dinamica package.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class – The Pros
1. A Sporty and Precise Ride Even in the Base Trim
The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class handles like a sporty sedan, even on its base trim. These vehicles can handle urban driving pretty well with their 36-foot turn circle and numerous safety features that help navigate dense traffic flow.
2. Powerful Engines in Both Versions
The GLA50 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 298 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that has steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. The GLA 45 has the same engine but gets an impressive 375 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. It also has a three-mode stability control system that has available launch control and lets you specify the level of intervention.
3. The GLA250 4Matic's Sporty Features
The GLA250 4Matic is an all-wheel drive that has a lot of sporty features, including an off-road status monitor for the 7-inch screen and helpful hill descent control. The 4Matic also gets from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, which is pretty impressive for a crossover.
4. Good Fuel Economy
All trims on the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class get decent fuel economy. The GLA250 gets 27 mpg combined (24 city/33 highway), the GLA 4Matic gets 26 mpg combined (23 city/31 highway), and the AMG GLA 5 gets 25 combined mpg (22 city/28 highway). These all tend to out-perform other crossover vehicles.
5. Many Standard Safety Features
The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class has a more-than-sufficient amount of safety features that come standard on each trim. All three trims come with turn signal mirrors, emergency brake assist, a remote anti-theft alarm system, and a pre-collision safety system. Additionally, the AMG GLA 45 has a xenon high intensity discharge headlamp, front and rear ventilated disc brakes, and rear integrated headrests.
6. An Elevated Driving Position
The driver's seat is elevated just enough to give a boost to visibility out of the front window. The driver's seat is also adjustable ten ways and is height adjustable, giving shorter drivers the extra elevation to see in front of the vehicle.
7. Good Acceleration
A standard claim from the company says, the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class is able to get from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.2 seconds, which is relatively decent for a crossover vehicle. However, these vehicles have shown that they can do even better than the company projects. The 4Matic gets from 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds, and the AMG GLA 45 tops that with an astounding 4.3 seconds to get from 0 to 60. Even many smaller vehicles struggle to get that kind of acceleration.
8. Privacy Glass
The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class offers privacy glass, giving the crossover an extra level of sophistication. These deeply-tinted windows are located on the liftgate and rear doors, giving the vehicle's rear-seat passengers an additional level of comfort.
9. Mercedes Me App
With the Mercedes Me smartphone app for iPhone and Android, you can remotely start your vehicle from where you are located with the simple push of a button.
10. Dual USB Audio Ports
Unlike other automobiles that feature only one USB audio port to be shared among a driver and passengers, the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class has two USB audio ports.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class – The Cons
1. A Lot of Wind and Road Noise
The high-powered engines on the GLA Class tend to make for a bit of noise while on the road. The cabin also receives a substantial amount of wind and road noise at higher speeds, so when you're on the highway, expect a noisy ride.
2. Awkward Stop-and-Go with the Automatic Transmission
When you're at a stand-still, the transmission is slow to engage a gear. You will also notice some stuttering while in stop-and-go traffic. The engine doesn't give much of a grunt, so it's really just the transmission that is making things a little shaky and awkward.
3. Minimal Cargo Capacity
The GLA Class is abysmal in terms of cargo space. With seats in place, you only get 14.9 cubic feet of space. If you fold the seats down, you get 43.6 cubic feet, which makes this crossover cramped for space.
4. High Liftover
While the standard power liftgate is a nice feature to have on the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class, the high liftover makes it rather difficult to load and unload large, bulky items like luggage.
How it stacks up to the competition:
GLA Class vs. 2017 Infiniti QX30
The QX30 compares well with the GLA. It struggles with road noise, is within the same price range, and gets about the same gas mileage. The QX30 gets slightly more cargo space with 19.2 cubic feet of space with rear seats in place.
GLA Class vs. 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mirage is significantly cheaper than the GLA and gets much better gas mileage, but it lacks the refined acceleration and nice interior quality of the GLA Class. It gets slightly more cargo space with 17.2 cubic feet of space with rear seats in place.
Conclusion
The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLA Class is a luxurious and sporty vehicle that offers a lot of safety features. If you can get past the clunky transmission and road noise, you might find yourself enjoying the ride this crossover gives you.
