After the intensive launch of a number of new cars in 2016, Mercedes-Benz also successfully surpassed Audi in the Chinese market and became the sales champion of luxury brands.
 
As an all-new model, the Mercedes-Benz GLA was born in a similar way to BMW's second-generation X1, and they are also derived from the brand's front-wheel drive platform, which focuses on "low-to-mid-range cars". GLA comes from Mercedes-Benz's MFA platform, the full English name is Merecedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture, which literally translates to Mercedes-Benz front-wheel drive architecture, and MFA will replace the "sandwich-style" platform used in the old Mercedes-Benz A-Class/B-Class.
 
In China, there have been four models from the Mercedes-Benz MFA platform on the market, which are Mercedes-Benz B-class, A-class, CLA-class, and GLA-class in order of introduction. Although the MFA platform has good scalability, the body size of the four models is relatively similar, which is also reflected in the common wheelbase of 2699mm.
 
Mercedes-Benz provided two powertrains for the GLA, the GLA200 is equipped with a 1.6T turbocharged engine, which has exactly the same parameters as Mercedes-Benz's compact car A200, with a maximum power of 115 kW and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. The GLA260 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 155 kW and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. The engine is mated to a 7G-DCT 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
 
In terms of driving experience, the GLA 260 is also completely different from the general SUV, although its ground clearance is more than 200 mm, but the suspension travel is similar to that of a sedan. However, not every Mercedes-Benz is a drive-quality inspection-free product, in fact, although the GLA has strong power, the turbo lag is very obvious, and the driving is very bumpy, and the cabin is also very noisy, often exposing the cheapness of an entry-level hatchback.
 
European automakers seem to like to build hatchbacks disguised as SUVs, but the GLA is one such car, which in every way looks like a hatchback version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA with a raised chassis. The Chinese version of the GLA has a minimum ground clearance of 204 mm, which is 30 mm higher than the European version, and its original model in Europe is actually almost a hatchback, and the European GLA does not have a four-wheel drive model.
 
Entering the car, you will find that the interior of this car is basically no different from the A-class, in terms of material and workmanship, as a luxury car GLA is impeccable, but in terms of space, this car is seriously unsatisfactory, it is one of the few models that even the front row will feel depressed, as for the rear performance, its rear row is almost only symbolic, and it is undoubtedly the weakest in this class.
 
In terms of quality, the GLA doesn't have much quality statistics as a new car, but if you refer to its prototypes Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Mercedes-Benz CLA, the quality performance is still good.
 
The Mercedes-Benz GLA has received a five-star rating in the European E-NCAP crash test, and both adult and child occupants are well protected in the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class. In terms of pedestrian protection, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class is slightly inferior to the new generation of Mercedes-Benz C-class tested by E-NCAP, and the main disadvantage is the vehicle's protection of the pedestrian's pelvic area.
Mercedes-Benz GLA evaluation report