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Consumer Reviews for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Read recent reviews for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Excellent Drive, but Very Expensive Maintenance
Tycoop , 02/19/2020
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class GLA 250 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
I’ll begin by admitting I have a strong personal affinity for the way German engineered cars perform and drive. BMWs and Mercedes have long been my favorite cars.
I’ve racked up 90,000 miles on the 2020 GLA 4Matic, and can sum up the car with the following statement: When the car is working properly, it’s a strong, sporty driving experience…but it’s a high-maintence car which requires … expensive upkeep.
Juxtapose this car with a similarly priced Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, Honda CRV, or Subaru Outback: They aren’t on the same level as the GLA when it comes to handling, driving experience, or overall performance. But Japanese small crossovers are extremely reliable and almost never suffer expensive malfunctions in the first 100,000 miles. Mercedes, unfortunately, aren’t as reliable in my experience. In other words…the Japanese cars don’t break. Mercedes do break.
The car experienced a severe problem with the powertrain at 70,000 miles, requiring a several thousand dollar repair. The standard warranty ends at 50,000 miles.
The car also requires transmission fluid service at 70,000 miles, which cost $1,000. The car has a nice 7 speed electronic transmission. But it’s not so nice that it justifies that kind of maintenance cost.
Like I said, the driving experience of this car is excellent. The suspension is nicely tuned for a comfortable, yet sporty drive…similar to BMW 3 series handling characteristics.
Steering control and feedback is responsive and tight, handling is sharp, and acceleration is strong throughout the RPM range.
It doesn’t drive like a typical front-wheel drive car (the 4Matic system doesn’t engage the rear wheels until the front wheels slip). There’s no “yanking” of the front wheels when accelerating hard through turns, and the rear of the car doesn’t slop around if you take corners aggressively. Very nicely balanced.
The dash and instrument cluster are dated and functionally obsolete. For example; the climate control system is located at the bottom of the dash. It’s difficult to mess with the climate control without taking your eyes off the road. Poor ergonomic setup in that regard. The car also has a full phone keypad on the dash. That was a nice tech idea back in 2003…but it’s been obsolete since the advent of Bluetooth and CarPlay.
The heated seats work perfectly, as do the electric seat adjustments. The small video screen above the dash is easy to see and navigate with the control wheel. CarPlay works flawlessly.
Options are expensive. The aforementioned similarly-priced Japanese cars offer more options in the same price range. But, they aren’t as much fun to drive, especially on the highway.
This car was designed to perform beautifully at highway speeds. It can safely cruise at 85mph all day and night, and do it with ease. The small turbo 4 cylinder engine doesn’t have much punch over 75 mph. But it provides smooth and consistent acceleration in city driving.
If you’re seeking an SUV large enough for a family, the GLA is probably too small. It seats four comfortably, but there’s not much space for luggage behind the rear seats for more than two people.
If you want a small crossover with a sporty driving experience, you won’t find a better automobile for the price. Just be prepared for high-maintenance costs after the warranty expires.
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