Mercedes GLA: clearance, reviews, price and specifications (photo). Mercedes-Benz GLA series overview

31.03.2019

Mercedes-Benz GLA - the most compact model SUV class in the history of Mercedes-Benz. The model was developed on the platform of the A-class hatchback, to compete with premium BMW crossovers X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40. The car entered production in 2013. Initially, sales of the car started in 2013. At the end of the same year, the crossover of the same name received the prestigious title " Best car years in the world. The car has a stylish and aerodynamic design, and fits perfectly into the overall design concept of Mercedes-Benz. In particular, the design of the car is associated with the latest models of Mercedes-Benz, among which are the E- and S-class sedans.

In 2017, a restyled modification of the Mercedes-Benz GLA was released. In general, the crossover has retained the good proportions of the body, borrowed from the concept car of the same name. In addition, the car received additional options, and at the same time it did not lose its off-road capabilities - at least the ground clearance remained the same.

The GLA engine range is presented economical engines. In particular, the basic version is available with a 1.6-liter 122-horsepower engine, an alternative to which is a 109-horsepower 1.5-liter diesel engine. You can then choose between gasoline engines with a working volume of 1.6 and 2.0 liters, with a capacity of 150 and 184 horsepower, respectively. A variant with a 2.1-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 177 hp is also available. With.

Ground clearance:

Generation 1 - 154 mm.

Owner reviews

Konstantin, Leningrad region. Comfortable crossover with a roomy interior and a large trunk. And in extreme cases, you can fold the rear row seats with one movement of your hand, and as a result you get a flat floor for loading long items. This is important for me, as I often transport such goods. I used to have an A-class hatchback, which has recently paled in comparison to the glamorous crossovers that are gaining popularity. I also ride it, but very rarely. Both cars are reliable, but the GLA is more comfortable. The ground clearance of the crossover is not much greater - only 154 mm, like a regular passenger car. When buying this model, the main criteria for me were a dynamic and stylish appearance with strict forms, spaciousness, equipment and, of course, a three-pointed star on the hood. I think that all owners of the A-class should change to the GLA-class.
Alexey, Perm. I have owned a GLA crossover since 2014. Booked a car immediately after the presentation. The car still looks great to this day. It has long been believed that such foreign cars change every three years, but a completely different opinion. The car suits me in everything, so why change it? Because the warranty is over, and immediately run to a car dealership? For some, this is quite logical, but I got used to the car, I tried it, so to speak, and I'm not going to refuse yet. Perhaps it makes sense to sell when the second generation GLA comes out. And in 2017, only a restyled version appeared. Minimum changes. The car stands steadily on the road, accelerates quickly and almost does not heel - thanks to the ground clearance of 154 mm. Perhaps the main drawback is the ground clearance, with which the GLA can hardly be considered a full-fledged crossover. But I drive mostly around the city, as well as to the country. Suspension energy intensity for country roads Enough, no matter what anyone says.
Marina, Nizhny Novgorod Region. I've been driving this car since 2017. The GLA SUV is so beautiful that it is unlikely to become obsolete soon, and it makes no sense for the Germans to churn out the next generation, despite the four-year age of the GLK (the car appeared in 2014). I work as a car dealer and I am well versed in premium cars. I consider the Mercedes brand to be one of the best in terms of price, practicality, handling and adaptability to Russia. This proves my GLA class. Despite the clearance of 154 mm, it is enough for safe ride along suburban country roads and domestic roads. There are also no problems with parking, and in which case you can turn on the rear-view camera so as not to hit the bumper on a high curb. Or you can even use the car park. I have a car with a two-liter engine, it consumes 10 liters in the urban cycle.

Video - owner review

Mercedes GLA- this is what motorists around the world have been waiting for a very long time. The company lagged behind its competitors - BMW, Audi, because these concerns have long released models that are called "compact crossovers". Oh well, better late than never. The crossover was introduced in early 2014 in Europe, and is now actively sold in our country. Mercedes GLA 2014-2015 is a crossover that prefers asphalt under its wheels, and of good quality. The car looks, as you can see in the photo, futuristic. For harsh conditions, the car is not provided - take a look at least at the clearance, which is also visible in the photo. For a clearer view - specifications and the main dimensions of one of the most popular versions of the GLA - 200 CDI:

Length - 4417 millimeters;
Width - 1804 mm;
Height - 1494 mm;
Ground clearance - 157 mm;
The curb weight of the crossover is 1535 kilograms;
The luggage compartment holds 421 liters;
Fuel tank - 50 liters.

Such technical indicators indicate that the crossover is really compact - both in size and in weight. The ground clearance was made so small for a reason - the shifted center of gravity allows you to remain in a stable state even at high speeds, but more on that later. Despite the presence of photos, we still go over the main points of the design and interior of the crossover.

Appearance

The crossover is based on the MFA platform, which has already been used in such concern models as A, B and CLA. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the MFA platform is front-wheel drive, but the GLA 2014-2015 can also be all-wheel drive. In this regard, the car is really interesting, because the 4MATIC electronic clutch is able to activate and rear drive. The novelty differs from the basic CLA base in that a weighty radiator grill is installed here, the rear bumper has been changed, linings have appeared around the wheel arches, which are made of unpainted plastic. The ground clearance has also been changed, and upwards. The updated diffuser, together with the "blinds" in the radiator grille, a special profile of the pillars, as well as overlays on the bottom of the crossover, provides the GLA with excellent dynamics, as reported by the reviews Russian owners GLA.

As for such a characteristic as aerodynamic resistance, the Mercedes CLA model is still in the lead here - 0.23. Although the GLA is not far behind - the coefficient of 0.29 was the best among SUVs. As you understand, CLA has a lower coefficient due to the fact that the clearance of the model is even lower than that of the GLA. If this is your first time encountering a similar model, then the photos will tell you more than the text. Now let's move on to the salon.

Inside the crossover

Salon GLA is practically no different from the interior of the latest generations of B- and A-class Mercedes. Motorists who understand Mercedes models will immediately notice from the photo that inside the GLA there is the same steering wheel and the same elements of the central panel. We also observe three round ventilation sectors, about which the feedback from the owners is extremely positive. The display of the multimedia system is also pleasing to the eye, inside which you will find all the most modern infotainment functions and programs.

It is difficult to find fault with any parameter of the cabin - there is ergonomics, convenience, and amazing quality finishes. But the reviews pointed out to us a drawback. This deficiency is "chronic" in all junior Mercedes models– to get a premium car, you must buy and premium package. For example, if you choose the basic assembly, then you need to prepare in advance for a small display, the lack of soft leather on the panel, the predominance of plastic in the cabin. What can we say - the basic package does not even include navigation. But it doesn't matter - an infinite number of paid options will fix the situation. In general, we are leading to the fact that it is worth buying at least the average version, then you will save money - it will be more expensive to “fill” the basic package with options that are already present in the average assembly. Something we started talking - go to the technical part.

Technical part

The line of power units consists of four engines, which differ from each other only in power. The very basis is the R4 engine, but there is also a diesel offer. Basic equipment will come with a 1.6-liter supercharged engine, its power is 156 horses, and max. torque - 250 N * m. The GLA 200 version is front-wheel drive. GLA 250 can be either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive - it depends on the financial capabilities of the buyer. The engine here has a volume of 2 liters, power - 211 horses.

As for the diesel version of the GLA 200 CDI, a diesel engine with a volume of 2.1 liters and a power of 136 Horse power. Like the petrol GLA 200, the diesel version comes in front-wheel drive only. We figured out the motors, now to the transmission. work Mercedes engines GLA with 6-speed manual, or with 7-speed 7G-DCT robot, which comes with all 4MATIC all-wheel drive versions. Feedback from the owners is positive in relation to both the mechanics and the machine.

Fuel consumption in the 250 4MATIC versions is about 7 liters per hundred in mixed mode (highway-city), diesel equipment eats up only 4.3 liters. Always amazed by fuel consumption premium cars Mercedes - although the price of cars is quite high for the CIS countries, but fuel consumption saves a huge amount of money.

The company has included a huge number of security systems in the list of basic equipment: driver monitoring, collision avoidance, control dead zones, Lane Departure Tracking, Cruise Control, and a system that controls the exit from a hill or mountain.

Mercedes GLA is a stylish crossover that is endowed with powerful dynamic characteristics, but the fact that the car should only “dwell” in the city and on the highway can alienate Russian crossover lovers.

Prices and equipment

GLA-class	Price from	engine's type	Power, hp	Working volume, cm3	Fuel type	Drive unit
GLA 200 CDI	1 480 000 rub	R4	136	2.143	diesel	front
GLA 200	1 430 000 rub	R4	156	1.595	petrol	front
GLA 250 4MATIC	1 710 000 rub	R4	211	1.991	petrol	full
GLA 220 CDI 4MATIC	2 520 000 rub	R4	170	2.143	diesel	full

There is such a wonderful feature in the German language: the interlocutor can list something for a long time, for example, the capabilities of a car, but if he inserts “nicht”, “no” at the end of the phrase, it turns out that the car cannot do any of the above. And now, listening to the speeches of Mercedes top managers in Granada, Spain, about off-road qualities crossover GLA, I kept waiting for them to say the sacramental "nicht". After all, neither in appearance nor in the passport clearance of 134 mm GLA can not even be classified as SUVs. But the speakers didn't say no. And the Mercedes GLA still has off-road potential!

Mercedes A-class 15 years ago, the B-class compact MPV that overtook BMW Active Tourer nine years... And ten years ago, Mercedes CLS opened the niche of "four-door coupe" - Audi A7 and BMW Gran Coupe were six and eight years late, respectively.

It is even strange that a niche compact crossovers overslept in Stuttgart. Both the Audi Q3 and the Range have been in production for a long time. Rover Evoque, and BMW X1, and Mini Countryman ... But better late than never, because, according to the calculations of Mercedes, this segment will grow from the current 2 million cars to 2.55 million cars over the next seven years.

All-wheel drive versions have an indication of the angles of longitudinal and transverse roll, as well as the angle of rotation of the front wheels

Suspension with increased ground clearance must be ordered separately. And the Off-road package for all-wheel drive GLAs is a pair of buttons on the center console.

The one on the right activates the downhill assistant, and the one on the left activates the off-road mode of operation of the power unit: the engine responds softer to gas, and the “robot” switches less often

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By the way, the GLA is conceptually closer to the Volvo V40 Cross Country, because in fact it is an A-class Mercedes, only with a stern extended by 125 mm and a roof raised by a couple of centimeters. Unlike the A-class, it does not look like a crocodile with a severed tail - the proportions have become much more harmonious. At overall length at 4417mm, the GLA is right between the Audi Q3 (4385mm) and the BMW X1 (4454mm), and its height (1494mm) is only a couple of centimeters higher than the V40 Cross Country.

Landing - low, light. The interior is like in the A-class. The plastic “metal” of the comfortable climate control handles shines, the leatherette attracts with almost natural shagreen leather ... The main thing is not to accidentally press your finger on the pliable pseudo-ash board in the entire front panel so that the feeling of an expensive thing does not disappear.

Of the two gasoline turbo engines with a volume of 1.6 liters and 2.0 liters, only the “junior” has a Camtronic gas distribution system with double cams on the intake camshaft - like the Audi Valve Lift system, the actuator shifts the camshaft along the axis. But Mercedes, unlike Audi, does not use this to increase returns on high revs, and to reduce fuel consumption at low loads: "economical" cams provide a very small valve stroke

On the GLA 200 CDI, the OM651 diesel engine has a working volume of 2.1 liters, in contrast to its docked to 1.8 liter version on the B 200 CDI compact van, but at the same time develops the same 136 hp. and 300 Nm

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If in the front seats in the GLA you feel more at ease than in the A-class, then in the back the increase is felt only above your head. But the trunk with a volume of 421 liters is as much as 80 liters more than in a hatchback. And it is no worse than the trunk of the BMW X1!

"Initial" versions - GLA 200 with a 1.6 petrol turbo engine with a power of 156 hp. and GLA 200 CDI with a 136-horsepower diesel engine with a working volume of 2.1 liters - were "out of reach." In our market, they will be offered only with front-wheel drive and only with a seven-speed preselective “robot” 7G-DCT of our own design.

A roof raised by a couple of centimeters, a clearance increased by four centimeters and, as a natural result, an increase in the coefficient aerodynamic drag Cx from 0.27 in the A-class to 0.29. But the aerodynamics of the GLA is still better than the Audi Q3, where Cx is 0.32

A more powerful diesel GLA 220 CDI 4Matic - with a clutch in the drive rear wheels. Comfort is the credo of this car. The suspension, like soft cat paws, delicately and resiliently works out Spanish potholes, seams, joints, paving stones ... And the diesel purrs quietly - like a cat that is being scratched behind the ear. Lazy: “chasing mice”, that is, accelerating sharply, does not want even in the “robot” sport mode. But average consumption diesel fuel on the screen of the on-board computer - only 6.3 l / 100 km!

Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic with 211 hp two-liter petrol turbo engine. - is another matter. In the city and on winding paths, he laps for two diesels - 13.5 l / 100 km. But not as an example fervently rides! It is only necessary to take into account that the “robot” 7G-DCT is prone to long thoughts when switching down several gears, and therefore, when driving dynamically, it is advisable to cheer it up with the Sport mode or paddle shifters.

Standard seats are good because their headrest is adjustable both in height and in reach.

And optional sports seats delight with more distinct lateral support, but upset with an unadjustable headrest-slap

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The chassis is one-piece, solidly built. Even in the absence of a sports suspension (it is stiffer and also reduces ground clearance by 15 mm), the GLA draws arcs like a professional draftsman: in one movement, quickly, precisely, clearly. A little roll - and you're done.

But here's the electric power steering ... Instead of suggesting with a drop in effort on the steering wheel that the grip properties of the front tires are at the limit, this electronic well-wisher, on the contrary, increases the resistance of the steering wheel. As conceived by the Mercedes, in this way the electric booster tries to protect the driver from the dangerous turning of the steered wheels. And it's actually misinformation!

Despite the extensive use of high-strength steel (73% by weight; parts painted green are heat-strengthened steel), the body of the Mercedes GLA is a hundredweight heavier than that of the Audi Q3: 400 kg versus 301 kg. Engineers explain this by the desire to make the car safer: pay attention to the triple (!) Bars in the doors and a powerful roof crossbar

It's better to roll slowly, in the rhythm of the target benz audience - especially the female part of it. Then the slightly “viscous”, moderately “rubber” resistance of the steering wheel will be in the very suit.

And how quiet in the cabin, what a wonderful ride!

Even on the primer, where the short-stroke suspension only occasionally bothers with thuds on the rebound. But on the slopes you have to be delicate: a long Adam's apple front bumper limits the angle of entry at the level of an ordinary passenger car (15.8 degrees), and even with a modest 15-centimeter clearance, you can’t really roam.

Interior - like the A-class

Devices - like CLA sedan and hatchbacks A- and B-classes

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Wait, where did 15 cm come from? According to factory data, the ground clearance of the GLA has been increased from 93 mm for the A-Class hatchback to only 134 mm. But this data is for a car with partial load. And diving with a tape measure under an unloaded GLA, I measured 154 mm: this is a centimeter more than a Volvo V40 Cross Country.

If you order the Off-road package on the GLA and off-road suspension, then the clearance will increase to 186 mm - this is only a centimeter less than that of the Ewok without load, and is quite comparable with the clearance of the BMW X1 (178 mm) and Audi Q3 (168 mm). And on dry rocky ground, you can safely storm steep hills - GLA will stubbornly crawl up, deftly juggling torque on the wheels.

What if you stop? With the wheels locked, the Mercedes slid back a little. In response to pressing the gas, he collected his thoughts for a second, then sat down on rear axle, like a weightlifter during a jerk, - and, slipping, moved forward. I repeated this trick seven or eight times, and the preselective box with wet clutches did not give a smell!

Passengers in the GLA are not much more spacious than in the A-class: with a height of 176 cm “by myself”, I sat down with a ten-centimeter gap in front of my knees. The increase is felt only above the head: from the top of my head to the ceiling of the GLA was about eight centimeters

Neatly upholstered in velvet, with two handy fold-down bag hooks and elasticated mesh side pockets, this 421-litre closet less trunk BMW X1. And for a surcharge, you can order the electric drive of the fifth door, which is not available for BMW.

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No wonder the Mercedes paid Special attention endurance "robot" and the clutch that connects rear wheels. In the accelerated program resource tests(80,000 km in total) 5,000 km are races on the Nürburgring, 3,000 km are high mountain passes in the Alps, and another 1,000 km are off-road tank training grounds in southern Germany. For comparison: in the “resource” of Autoreview, 600 km out of a total of 28,100 km for off-road vehicles are allocated for “heavy” soil. Moreover, the off-road part of the GLA run was no easier than other all-wheel drive Mercedes: GLK, ML and GL. And not a single remark on the transmission of all 24 GLA pre-production crossovers that were tortured.

The electric booster is located on the "rail", but is connected to it not by a toothed belt (as, for example, in Volkswagens) or a ball nut, but by a worm gear

By the way, engineers from Stuttgart proudly declare that the 7G-DCT “robot” they have turned out to be more reliable than the 7G-Tronic “hydromechanics”. According to European in-house statistics, warranty repairs for more than two years that have passed since the debut of the "preselective" are less likely to fail.

McPherson type front suspension and rear multi-link - like the A-class

only the characteristics of springs, shock absorbers and silent blocks differ

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But in Russia? There are no reliable statistics yet, since sales of Mercedes CLA, A- and B-classes with these boxes started a year later than European ones. With GLA, fortunately, this will not happen: the delay will be only a couple of months and the first cars will arrive at Russian dealers already in April.

To prevent the “robot” 7G-DCT from overheating on the road, a heat exchanger is installed on top (shown by an arrow), and for greater endurance, wet clutches have carbon-ceramic linings

Unlike the fifth generation Haldex, in a Mercedes clutch operating without preload (under normal conditions, the GLA is strictly front-wheel drive), the pressure of the working fluid is created not by an electric pump, but by a mechanical one. This made it possible, with the same restrictions on the transmitted torque, to make the assembly more compact and a quarter lighter.

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The prices for front-wheel drive versions, alas, are a little high - a Mercedes GLA 200 (156 hp) in a fixed configuration of a "special series" with "xenon", a car park, but only with a simple air conditioner will cost 1 million 380 thousand rubles, which is 70 thousand more expensive than a similarly equipped 150-horsepower Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI. But the all-wheel drive GLA 250 4Matic (211 hp) for 1 million 540 thousand rubles looks attractive against the background of competitors. After all, the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro with an engine of the same power, but without xenon, is 30 thousand rubles more expensive. And less powerful BMW X1 xDrive 20i (184 hp) in the Business version, although it is richer equipped (navigation, climate control and steering wheel heating), is more expensive by as much as 150 thousand rubles.

So the all-wheel drive Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic, especially with increased ground clearance, is our resolute yes. Or in German - Ja!

Passport data
Automobile		Mercedes-Benz GLA
Modification		GLA 200	GLA 200 CDI	GLA 250 4Matic	GLA 45 AMG 4Matic
body type		5-door station wagon	5-door station wagon	5-door station wagon	5-door station wagon
Number of places		5	5	5	5
Trunk volume, l		421-1235	421-1235	421-1235	421-1235
Curb weight, kg		1320	1430	1430	1510
Gross weight, kg		1920	2020	1949	2105
Engine			diesel, turbocharged	gasoline, with direct fuel injection and turbocharging	gasoline, with direct fuel injection and turbocharging
Location		front, transverse	front, transverse	front, transverse	front, transverse
Number and arrangement of cylinders		4, in a row	4, in a row	4, in a row	4, in a row
Working volume, cm3		1595	2143	1991	1991
Number of valves		16	16	16	16
Max. power, hp/kW/r/min		156/115/5300	136/100/3400-4000	211/211/5500	360/265/6000
Max. torque, Nm/r/min		250/1250-4000	300/1400-3000	350/1200-4000	450/2250-5000
Transmission			robotic, 7-speed	robotic, 7-speed	robotic, 7-speed
Drive unit		front	front	pluggable full	pluggable full
Front suspension			independent, spring, McPherson	independent, spring, McPherson	independent, spring, McPherson
Rear suspension			independent, spring, multi-link	independent, spring, multi-link	independent, spring, multi-link
Front brakes		disc, ventilated	disc, ventilated	disc, ventilated	disc, ventilated
Rear brakes		disk	disk	disk	disc, ventilated
Tires		215/60 R17	215/60 R17	215/60 R17	235/45 R19
Maximum speed, km/h		215	205	230	250*
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s		8,9	10,0	7,1	4,8
Fuel consumption, l/100 km	urban cycle	7,4	5,3	8,3	n.a.**
	suburban cycle	5,1	4,1	5,6	n.a.
	mixed cycle	5,9	4,5	6,6	7,5
CO 2 emissions, g/km	mixed cycle	137-139	114-119	151-154	175
Environmental class		Euro 6	Euro 6	Euro 6	Euro 6
Capacity fuel tank, l		50	50	56	56
Fuel		AI-95-98	diesel fuel	AI-95-98	AI-95-98
* Limited by electronics ** N.d. - no data

hot cross

The “charged” GLA is 95 kg heavier than the Mercedes A 45 AMG hot hatch (AR No. 13, 2013). Therefore, he gains a hundred from a place in the Race Start mode (launch control in Mercedes style) in 4.8 s against 4.6 s for the hot “ashki”. But who will notice these two "tens"? And the monster-like DTM version of the Edition1 with a huge rear wing over the fifth door and “flaps” on the sides of the front bumper will be appreciated by everyone. An exemplary start to the whistle of turbines and deaf shots into the silencer will discourage them from any desire to assert themselves at your expense.

Good GLA 45 AMG not only on the drag strip. Turns he devours with no less appetite than my favorite sports sedan C 63 AMG. The cutter cuts into an arc and, under the juicy roar of the engine, throws it out from under the rear wheels.

Front four-piston calipers and ventilated discs with a diameter of 350 mm with notches and perforations, rear - single-piston mechanisms and discs with a diameter of 330 mm. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to overheat

Racers may complain that the sensitivity is low, the steering is light, and the “preselective” even in “manual” mode independently ups and downshifts. But this will only interfere on the race track - just like the tendency to overheat the brakes, revealed by Oleg Rastegaev on the lighter A-class.

But for those who like to break out once a week on an empty winding path of possibilities, the GLA 45 AMG will be enough. They were more than enough for me on a mountainous 30-kilometer route. And I didn't overheat the brakes.

At the same time, the suspension shakes no more than, say, in Korean Hyundai crossover x35. And if you don’t wake up the gas pedal famously under the hood, then there is not much more engine noise than in a regular GLA. Everyday pleasure without strain. This, perhaps, is the main value of the AMG philosophy. And the GLA 45 AMG is perhaps one of its best incarnations.

Russian prices, alas, are still unknown. But if we focus on the German 55,870 euros for the "basic" version, then we can assume that the initial price of the GLA 45 AMG 4Matic is unlikely to exceed the mark of two and a half million. If I have such a sum and means for the annual payment of a rather large transport tax(for 360 hp in Moscow they would have asked me for 54 thousand rubles a year), I would prefer it, and not the Audi RS Q3 for 2 million 275 thousand rubles.

The main decoration of the AMG interior is the transmission selector from the SLS AMG coupe and the optional seats of the Performance package

The path to the assembly line turned out to be for crossover Mercedes GLA is very challenging. In total, the prototypes covered about 1 million 800 thousand kilometers, of which up to 80 thousand kilometers were in off-road modes. In turn, the car spent 2 thousand kilometers in the most severe road conditions. To add to this, there are many thousands of kilometers on race tracks, long-term tests in salt chambers for the corrosion resistance of the body and other elements. They tortured the car for a long time, and to be honest, the work was not in vain.

Compared to the A-Class hatchback, the length of the crossover has increased by 125mm to 4417mm, with a slight increase in width and height. The wheelbase for both cars is the same, and equals 2700mm. It is characteristic that the increase in body length was completely due to the rear overhang of the model.

I would like to see the entire A-class family like this. Certainly, new Mercedes The GLA has an attractive design, increased interior space and a roomy trunk, but that's not the point. Prior to the advent of the GLA, all models based on a modular front-wheel drive platform had significant imbalances in driving performance. Wanting to get a more sporty car, the engineers made the chassis too rigid, as a result, the car did not become a full-fledged sports car, but it lost very significantly in comfort. As for the new crossover, it turned out to be completely different.

The interior styling of the GLA matches the A-Class and the CLA, offering the same front fascia, quality materials and workmanship. The same level technical equipment. Zoned climate control, an oversized infotainment control display and leather upholstery will have to be paid separately.

Diesel versions of cars are always tougher than petrol versions, but tests of the Mercedes GLA 200 CDi with a 136 horsepower power unit left only pleasant impressions. During the tests, the car absorbed all the roughness of the Spanish road without any problems, not paying attention to the microprofile of the road surface under the wheels. All movements are energy-intensive, preventing the buildup of the body or the "ragged" behavior of the chassis. To achieve a similar result, engineers German company had to work hard undercarriage, increase suspension travel, make new adjustments to the springs and shock absorbers, and also increase the strength of the struts.

The amount of free space in the legs against the background of the A-class remained unchanged, but the increased body height made it possible to achieve greater comfort in the head area. 38mm was added above the front seats, and half as much above the rear sofa. But in general, the increase in height did not make any serious changes in comfort. The front passengers were comfortable in the A-class, but the rear ones both suffered from a lack of space and continue to experience some inconvenience.

The company's engineers claim that due to the use of high-strength steels and additional transverse beams in the structure, it was possible to increase the rigidity of the body. Steering differs not only in instant responsiveness, but also in the accuracy of the reaction. At the same time, the steering wheel is completely protected from shocks that occur when driving over bumps, and this despite the fact that the information content of the control is more than high quality. The only small flaw is the jumps that occasionally occur in smooth high-speed turns.

As the speed increases, the ability of the undercarriage to overcome bumps increases. At the same time, the steering wheel becomes heavier, improving the quality of control. Does not affect the smoothness of the ride and the size of the rims.

The chassis settings are just fine, but it is not possible to implement them on a crossover with a 136-horsepower diesel engine. The weight of the car is almost 1600 kilograms, which does not allow you to count on acceptable dynamics. For normal driving, this is quite enough, but dynamic driving is very difficult for the car, and does not cause a desire to repeat the maneuver. The model is equipped with a seven-speed robotic transmission, which, when using a calm driving style, confidently copes with its duties, quickly and timely shifting gears, but as soon as you drown the gas pedal to the floor, the “robot” begins to “blunt” when switching to a lower gear. For comparison S-tronic box, installed on the Audi Q3, with identical indicators of smoothness, provides faster gear shifting.

The noise isolation of the car is very high level, and even when driving at a speed of 140 km / h in the cabin there is no feeling of discomfort and inconvenience.

After that, we tested the diesel GLA in off-road conditions. The high arrangement of levers, exhaust pipes and the absence of parts protruding from the bottom allows you to feel quite confident on the road. And given the highly efficient all-wheel drive and very short overhangs, you should not worry about patency. But do not fall into euphoria, the ground clearance of the Mercedes GLA is only 157mm, which is the most modest figure among all competitors. compact Mercedes. For comparison, the Audi Q3 has a clearance of 170mm, while the BMW X1 boasts a ground clearance of 200mm.

The suspension travel of the GLA is very modest, but decent all-wheel drive settings and the presence of stabilization provide decent cross-country ability on moderate off-road. At the same time, the presence of an additional off-road package will not be superfluous at all. Without it, there is every chance of inflicting damage. own car. The approach and departure angle for the model is 15.8 and 21.5 percent, respectively.

The use of the off-road package allows you to increase the ground clearance up to 187mm, which allows you to compare in terms of cross-country ability with competitors. The car presented for a test drive was the carrier of a similar package, so there were no problems with cross-country ability. For all the time, the car has never hooked the ground with the bottom or bumpers. Good off-road geometry is complemented by high-quality stabilization, which quickly includes an imitation of a differential lock, and allows you to avoid hanging. There are no complaints about the efficiency of all-wheel drive, capable of transmitting up to 100% of the moment to any of the axles. No problem and steep climbs, where the characteristics diesel engine enough to "pull out" the car even from a place.

On unpaved Mercedes roads The GLA feels great, delivering confident handling without rattling or vibration even at high speeds, but as soon as large rocks begin to appear under the wheels, there are occasional thuds, so slowing down would be desirable.

Offered for a test drive Mercedes versions GLA 250 with petrol engines did not have an off-road package, so their tests were limited to roads with good coverage, where there is no danger of sitting "belly" due to insufficient ground clearance. On the track with such engines, the car feels great, absorbing bumps in the road. Reduced by 95kg weight improves handling, and under the hood is 211 horsepower turbocharged engine with a volume of 2.0 liters, but even these indicators are not enough for a crossover. The GLA accelerates instantly, overtaking without problems, but subconsciously it seems that the engine produces no more than 180 horsepower. It takes only 7.1 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h, but it is hard to believe it while driving. Another "German" BMW X1 boasts a 245-horsepower power unit capable of accelerating the car to hundreds in 6.5 seconds, and this is provided that the Bavarian car has a weight increased by 150 kilograms.

Steering sharpness Mercedes control The GLA 45AMG is slightly inferior to the hatchback version of the A 45AMG, but this is quite enough for a clear, confident driving in any conditions. The stabilization system does not allow the driver any liberties, and any attempt to start the car into a skid extinguishes "on the vine".

To feel the fullness of drive and adrenaline, we used the Mercedes GLA 45AMG. Appearance The car combines enlarged air intakes, thin plastic trim and a rear diffuser with four twin tailpipes of the exhaust system. That's just to call a similar version of the car a crossover, the language does not turn. The ground clearance is only 140mm, so it is not advisable to leave asphalt roads on such a machine. It can be said that the GLA 45AMG version is designed for those who love to drive like a breeze, while the standard versions with an optional off-road package are designed for those who prefer practicality. Suffice it to say that the Mercedes experts themselves do not hide the only reason for the appearance of the AMG version, the desire to expand the existing model range.

For those who want to be in the spotlight, the best option would be to purchase the Mercedes GLA 45AMG in Edition 1, which is distinguished by stickers on the body, bright red brake calipers and an additional roof spoiler. With such a machine, all attention will be riveted only to you.

But there is a certain sense in creating such a model. You begin to understand this only after you go through high speed cool serpentine. The car rushes in a series of continuous turns, and confidently holds the road, responding in a timely manner to any changes in the position of the steering wheel. Side loads are off scale, but the crossover is confidently following the route. The suspension provides even less roll, and exhaust pipes provide a real roar, but at the same time there is no such rigid feeling that you get when driving a sports car. But there is drive and adrenaline, and no less than on sports cars.

The car in the 45AMG version is distinguished by the use of sports seats and a very comfortable steering wheel trimmed with suede leather. In addition, the interior uses carbon fiber inserts, as well as numerous metal inserts and linings.

The output of the engine is fully consistent with the expectations of the driver. power unit has 360 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, and its traction is fantastic. Corresponds to the motor and robotic transmission, quickly and timely shifting gears. Using sport mode the gearbox leaves the tachometer needle in front of the red line for a long time, and the next shift is carried out with the speed of lightning, only at the exits from the corners the “robot” unexpectedly switched to more high gear, instantly dispersing all traction. We overcame 20 kilometers of winding serpentine at high speed, but immediately after leaving the straight we found that the brakes with 350 mm discs and four pistons simply overheated, and their effectiveness was almost zero.

The Mercedes GLA 45AMG version has stiffer chassis settings, lower clearance and more sensitive and precise steering, but the all-wheel drive settings with regular versions are absolutely identical.

In general, the version of the GLA crossover is distinguished by a variety of characters. It is enough to choose the desired variation. If you need a crossover, then petrol version GLA 250 with all-wheel drive will become the best option. In our country, this version is initially equipped with an off-road package, and its cost is dealer centers starts from 1 million 540 thousand rubles.

If there is no special need for an all-wheel drive system for you, then you can choose the less expensive options 200 and 200CDi, the price of which is 1 million 380 thousand and 1 million 430 thousand rubles, respectively. Against the background of an ordinary A-class hatchback, the cost increases by 160 and 210 thousand rubles. It can be said quite acceptable for increased comfort and practicality.

As for the 45AMG version, its appearance in our country should take place this spring. The car with its character corresponds to a “charged” hatchback, but much more calmly endures the bumps of Russian roads.