2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Spiraling prices. The GLA range starts at $38,500, or $40,500 if you want to upgrade from front-wheel drive to AWD, which is standard on both performance variants. That pricing seems eminently reasonable on paper, but in the showroom, things can get out of hand. If you want those twin screens with their stunning high-definition navigation – which you do – they cost $3,100 as part of a package. If you want the $1,700 safety pack containing adaptive cruise and other driver assistance tech – which you also do – you need to add the screens and nav first. There’s no way around it. Some buyers will be forced to add options they don’t want to obtain the options they do. It’s obvious that Mercedes makes more money this way, but it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

At least standard specifications are generally decent. The base GLA packs a power tailgate and power front seats clad in synthetic leather, while a four-year warranty is bundled in as well. You can add anything from a Burmester audio system to wooden dash trim from the options list, and it’s possible to spend as much as $83,000 on an AMG 45 model. Frankly, that sort of money would be far better spent elsewhere.

Did you say AMG? We did. There are two flagship performance models in the GLA range, using a high-efficiency turbo engine to generate 382 hp in the AMG 45 model; the less powerful AMG 35 still produces 302 horses. Performance from the former engine is particularly ballistic, yet the GLA’s dynamics remain unflustered. The steering is sharp and communicative, the multi-link rear suspension contributes to a comfy ride, and the GLA’s relatively low stance results in relatively little lean in the corners.

If comfort over speed is on your priorities list, the standard 250 model’s two-liter turbocharged engine still produces 221 horses, and it’s well matched with an eight-speed dual-clutch auto ‘box. It can’t live with the AMG’s blistering acceleration, but it’ll be perfectly adequate for most people. It rarely sounds or feels strained, and 25 mpg combined fuel economy is decent, even if it does require premium fuel.

Losing the space race. If you expect an SUV to offer bounteous space for people and cargo, the GLA might disappoint. Its A-Class lineage becomes particularly evident at the rear, where there are only 15 cubic feet of cargo space. Dropping the rear seat increases this to 50, while the back bench itself is fine for two adults and can be augmented with reclining functionality from that endless options list. It offers 38 inches of legroom by default, but you won’t fit three abreast, and headroom is limited by the GLA’s sleek roofline.

Things are better up front, where the power-adjustable front seats are supportive and comfortable. A note of caution regarding the heavily bolstered AMG bucket seats, though – they might not suit Sir Mix-a-Lot’s entourage, for instance.

Final thoughts. The GLA-Class is a fitting starting point in the sprawling Mercedes-Benz SUV family. It has enough cheap trim pieces and space compromises to make buyers of more expensive models appreciate their bigger budget. At the same time, it offers enough quality and style to tempt those who want Merc kudos and the stylistic trappings found in the marque’s luxury sedans and performance coupes on a $40,000 budget. Childless couples and young families will find the (optional) glass display screens and milled switchgear very tempting as they sit in the dealership’s display model.

Our biggest gripe with the GLA is the accountant-led process by which adding Option A requires adding Packs B and C, even if you don’t want the latter’s features. Mercedes has previously been known for doing this, and it can sour the buying experience, potentially putting some people off entirely. You also have to accept this is only a four-seater with limited cargo space, and we’re unable to vouch for its safety since neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has crash-tested it yet. The GLA is flawed, then, but it remains a seductively tempting mini-SUV.

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