The Mercedes-Benz GLA has long been the entry-level car in the German luxury brand’s SUV lineup.
This small but premium SUV competes with rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus UX, Mini Countryman and Volvo XC40. Its second-generation model has been on the market in Australia since 2020.
Now the car has received a nice mid-cycle update or “facelift”.
The exterior design has changed a bit – the headlights and taillights are now more modern, and the front bumper and grille are also new.
Inside, the car now has a new steering wheel, which has touch-sensitive buttons and a slider. In addition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, illuminated USB ports, and an additional USB-C port have also been added.
In terms of engines, the mid-range GLA250 4Matic and sporty AMG GLA35 4Matic for the 2025 model year now feature 48V mild-hybrid technology. It has a belt-driven starter-generator that can provide an extra 10 kW of power for a short period of time.
So, the question is—is this three-star small luxury SUV still the best in its segment? Let’s find out in detail.
Do you think the design or performance of the car is more important?
How much does the Mercedes-Benz GLA cost?
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLA200 | $63,600 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic | $80,500 |
| Mercedes-AMG GLA35 4Matic | $99,000 |
What is the Mercedes-Benz GLA like on the inside?
Although the Mercedes-Benz GLA is a small SUV, it doesn’t feel cheap or less premium when you drive or sit inside. The amount of force it takes to pull the door handle or the familiar ‘lock’ sound that comes after closing the door—everything has the quality of the German brand.
When you get inside the car, you will find very comfortable sports seats, which have electric adjustments and can be removed by hand with the thigh support. This means that tall, short, fat, or thin people can adjust the seat to their liking.
As standard, this GLA is provided with microfiber cloth and artificial leather (Artico). Although there is an option for real leather, I personally prefer microfiber—it makes you sweat less in hot weather.
Both front seats are heated, which is quite useful in the cold weather of Melbourne. When set to high, the seats heat up quickly, which is another good thing about microfiber.
In front of the driver is the AMG Line steering wheel, which is quite thick and wrapped in nappa leather, which is also comfortable to hold. However, the annoying thing is that all the buttons here are touch-sensitive and slider-type—such as sound control or cruise control. They are not easy to use, it would have been better to have physical buttons like before.
What is even more annoying is that these buttons are covered in a glossy piano black finish, which easily gets fingerprints and looks dirty.
Although there is a separate button to receive or end a phone call, there is no easy option to change songs—in the end, you have to reach for the touchscreen, which feels a little strange.
Behind the steering wheel is the old dual 10.25-inch screen setup, which was also in the previous version of the car. Now it has been redesigned a little in this facelift version.
The digital instrument cluster is absolutely shiny and high resolution. If you want, you can change the layout, and you can show various types of information. The Germans still know how to make a good instrument display.
There is another 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display. It looks good, but it may seem a little small compared to competitors. However, when you touch the screen, it responds very quickly, and the user interface is also easy to use.
Compared to the previous model, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now provided. And the smartphone mirroring screen is now visible across the entire display—which is very nice to see.
Just looking inside the car, you can understand that some updates have come over time. For example, the previous touchpad has been removed from the center console. Now there is a small storage space there, which does not fit a large phone properly—it looks uncomfortable.
The physical buttons for climate control are, to be honest, comfortable. There’s no hassle in setting the temperature by scrolling through the screen, although having to look at the screen to see what degree it’s set to is a bit annoying.
Almost everything inside the car feels premium, but the piano black finish has been used a bit too much. This glossy finish is also around the air vents—dust accumulates very quickly.
Although the interior is mostly black, there are ambient lights in some places that make the interior of the car quite special at night. There’s also a panoramic glass sunroof, which also tilts and slides—great for letting in air!
When you get to the back seat, you can tell that all the attention has been paid to the front seats. Not bad, but not that special either.
I’m 182 cm tall, and even in my driving position, I had decent leg, head, shoulder, and foot space. Two tall people can sit comfortably, but three will be cramped. If you sit in the middle seat, you have to fight with the huge transmission hump again.
At the back, there are air vents, a USB-C port, and a folding armrest with a cupholder—which is pretty standard.
At the very back, there is a power tailgate, which has a hands-free function. That means, even if your hands are full, the door will open just by waving your foot. Boot space is pretty good, but nothing amazing.
Sadly, there is no spare wheel here. The only hope in case of a breakdown in the middle of the run is the run-flat tire, or if you want, you can get a tire repair kit as a free option. However, for those who travel a lot on village or country roads, this will not be very convenient.
Do you want an SUV that is comfortable in the city and reliable on the highway?
| Dimensions | Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic |
|---|---|
| Length | 4443mm |
| Width | 1849mm |
| Height | 1584mm |
| Wheelbase | 2729mm |
| Cargo capacity | 425L (5 seats) 1420L (2 seats) |