Should You Buy a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA?

• The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA starts at $43,000 in the United States and at $55,495 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.

• Modern design, great fit and finish, generously sized cabin for a subcompact.

• Jerky transmission, priced on the high side, MBUX interface takes getting used to.

We’re looking for a small crossover to suit our urban lifestyle. We’re willing to spend a decent coin, but we’re still responsible consumers. Yet we want something that offers strong performance when we escape the city for the countryside, and we want it to look the part too. And a luxury brand please, to reflect our utter good taste and financial success. Among several choices are the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA and its racy Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 variant.

The GLA subcompact crossover has the fit and finish, the skills and the looks to check all the boxes. It competes with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Audi Q3, the BMW X1, the BMW X2, the Cadillac XT4, the Jaguar E-PACE, the Lexus UX, the MINI Countryman, the Volvo XC40 (renamed EX40), the brand’s own Mercedes-Benz GLB and, arguably, the fully electric Genesis GV60 and Volvo C40 (renamed EC40). Only the Alfa, the BMWs, the MINI and the Genesis offer performance-minded alternatives that line up directly with the GLA 35.

Under the hood of the AMG GLA 35 4MATIC is a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four that develops 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, all of which is fed to all four wheels by an eight-speed dual-clutch AMG SPEEDSHIFT gearbox. New this year, 48-volt mild hybrid tech is incorporated, which temporarily adds 13 horsepower to the mix, but also a more seamless operation of the automatic stop/start system. The automaker claims a 0-to-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint of 5.1 seconds and a governed top speed of 155 mph or 250 km/h. Pretty good stuff.

Hey, wasn’t there a GLA 45? Indeed, but it’s gone for the 2024 model year. It sported a hard-charging turbo 2.0L I4 with 382 horsepower and 384 pound-feet, good for 0-60 mph dashes of 4.3 seconds. Oh well. The GLA 35 will have to do, and honestly, it does just fine.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 and all-wheel-drive 250 4MATIC aren’t slouches either. Their turbo 2.0L I4 engine produces 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, managed by a dual-clutch eight-speed autobox. It also adds 13 horses under certain driving conditions, compliments of its new 48V mild hybrid assist.

Here are the fuel economy ratings for the GLA in the United States and Canada. Premium fuel is obviously required in all cases:

The GLA 250 is pretty efficient. The X1, X2 and Tonale PHEV are more frugal while the Lexus UX is in a world of its own with its hybrid powertrain, while the rest soak up more fuel than the Benz. On the other hand, the GLA 35 consumes more liquid gold than the 312-hp X1 M35i and X2 M35i as well as the John Cooper Works Countryman. Still, during our test of the AMG variant, we managed an average of 27 mpg or 8.7 L/100 km.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA benefits from a mid-cycle enhancement with styling tweaks such as a revised front fascia, a new LED signature for the headlights and taillights and new alloy wheels, while the GLA 35 gets an AMG crest on the hood instead of the usual three-pointed star badge. Inside, the crossover received steering wheels, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an additional USB-C port,  speedier USB charging and updated active safety features. New interior colors accompanied by revised interior trim choices are also found, while the AMG 35 offers optional Performance seats.

As before, the GLA 35 is equipped with AMG-specific sport suspension and steering components, while the available AMG RIDE CONTROL dampers provides three different settings. The AMG high-performance brakes with four-piston callipers up front, pinching vented and perforated discs, gets the crossover to stop on a dime. Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, while 20- and 21-inch rollers are optional, with or without a black finish. The various drive modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual) get different suspension, steering and braking adjustments, while the AMG exhaust growls and belches quite a bit more in Sport+ than with the other modes. Racy engine sounds are also sent through the car’s speaker system.

The MBUX infotainment system is on board with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, now standard, flanked by a 10.25-inch fully digital driver instrument cluster. The system can also be controlled via touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, the instrument panel offers three different layout themes and can display the navigation map while driving.

Standard features include 64-colour ambient lighting, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, power-folding mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, wireless phone charging, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, safe vehicle exit warning, driver attention assist, automatic high beams, active park assist and more. Ventilated front seats, AMG Performance sport seats and steering wheel, navigation, a Burmester surround sound system, a 360-degree camera system, head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a few exterior appearance packages are optional as well. A heated steering wheel and heated windshield washer nozzles are available in the U.S., standard in Canada.

Pricing for the GLA 250 starts at $43,000 in the United States and at $55,495 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included, while the GLA 35 starts at $57,600 in the U.S. and at $67,495 in Canada.

Why You Should Buy a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA

• Because the GLA 35 is fun to drive fast and sounds pretty mean with the Sport+ mode engaged. That is, if the road ahead allows for spirited driving. While not as speedy, the GLA 250 has more than enough power and low-rpm torque to make the drive entertaining. The AMG variant is actually a decent daily driver with the Comfort mode activated as well.
• The cabin design is dazzling, with impeccable fit and finish and detailed air vents that we think enhance the overall look. The optional Burmester surround sound system is exquisite and is a reasonably priced extra. Also, the ambient lighting system actually adds ambience at night. However, some passengers commented that the Mercedes star motif on the dash and door panels looked tacky.
• Interior space is quite good, and much better than in the first-generation GLA, for those who are just thinking of trading in their old model. Headroom is among the best in the segment, legroom is average, and rear-seat occupants get adjustable seatbacks to optimize comfort on road trips. Cargo space is on par with those of its rivals at 15.3 cubic feet or 435 litres with the rear seats in place, 50.5 cubic feet or 1,430 litres with the rear seatbacks folded.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA

• Many rivals are more affordable, as the GLA is among the priciest of the segment. It’s especially the case in Canada, where the destination and delivery charges are set at $3,995 for the GLA 250 and $4,995 GLA 35. That said, the Benz does include a fair amount of standard features, such as the power sunroof, for one thing.
• Mercedes-Benz’s dual-clutch transmissions aren’t the smoothest-shifting on the market, and like many modern gearboxes, there’s an irritating throttle response delay when pulling away from a dead stop. The jerkiness of the GLA 35’s AMG-massaged tranny is further accentuated.
• The GLA’s new steering wheel’s touch-sensitive buttons are small, and those that require sliding a finger across, such as skipping songs or browsing the trip computer, are very difficult to use properly. Especially while the vehicle is in movement. The MBUX interface’s menu layout takes some time to master.

Final Word

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA has many qualities, and we can live with its shortcomings, because they aren’t major flaws to begin with. As long as we hold the line on option packages to jack the price up even further, being relatively high already, the GLA will serve urban professionals and empty-nesters just fine. The AMG GLA 35 is the icing on the cake for those who want a more rewarding driving experience, but they should realize that it comes with a slightly harsher ride and higher expected maintenance costs.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA

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