Mercedes-Benz GLA 200

You are probably aware of the grinding noise that metal makes against speed bumps? Yes, the one that makes you grimace, even as you gingerly try and contain the damage and go over Mount Speed Bump. Welcome to India, where everyone is equal, at least on the road.

It doesn’t matter if you have a tiny hatchback, or a shiny import, the municipal corporation does not discriminate. We’ve all been there, battling potholes and speed bumps. So, the popularity of SUVs in India comes as no surprise. But, there’s a catch. While people might love the higher seating position, SUVs also take up a huge amount of parking space, and that can be quite a problem in urban areas.
And, that is why you have the new hero of the car world, the crossover.

The crossover segment has seen a fair bit of action in the last three to four years, and now, Mercedes has joined the party with the GLA. With rivals BMW and Audi doing good numbers with the X1 and Q3, respectively and these cars have been around for some time Mercedes, of course, is late to the party.

But what works in the GLA’s favour is its looks. Yes, it bears a faint resemblance to the A-Class, which it is based on, but its body panels are different from the A, and, like the hatchback, it’s dressed to kill, with those brushed-metal roof rails and plastic cladding around the bumpers. Life inside the baby SUV is good, too. The fit and finish of the GLA’s cabin is impressive, even though it is quite similar to the A-Class, B-Class and the CLA, which are based on the Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture (MFA), too.

As this is a Mercedes, there are quite a few trim options to choose from. We also like the fact that the headrest is adjustable, unlike the A, in which it is integrated into the backrest. There is a slight increase in width as well, and that means you have more shoulder room, especially in the back seat. The wheelbase, though, remains the same as the A-Class, and taller passengers will have an issue with legroom, especially at the back. Rear visibility is a bit of a problem with the GLA. While the larger wing mirrors and reverse camera do their bit, the thick C-pillar and tiny screen impact rear visibility. The lack of parking sensors yes, we know! doesn’t make things any easier.

Even the boot has generous space: 421 litres to be precise. Sadly, there is a space-saver that has also been stuffed into the same area, and that eats into boot space. If you are carrying more luggage than people, you can fold the back seats to make some more room for larger cargo.

Propelling this little beast is a 1,991cc petrol motor that makes 181bhp and 300Nm of torque. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission transfers all that power to the front wheels. Yes, that’s right, the front wheels, so be prepared to experience torque steer when you floor the accelerator. There might be a 4MATIC variant sometime in the future, but for now, all that power is handled by the front wheels only.

Friendly advice - select Sport mode by pressing the tiny button on the dash, as that’s the best way to let those 181 horses loose. Though the GLA does not have four-wheel drive, what we still like about the baby SUV is the way it behaves on the move. It feels like a thoroughbred Mercedes, and rides like a tank, unlike its other MFA siblings. The suspension gobbles up most surface undulations, and the increased suspension travel almost makes it a soft-roader. We had a fairly easy time with it on an uneven stretch of road, but, while it won’t be able to scale hills, it will sure be able to handle the dirt track leading to your farmhouse. Or more importantly, those monsoon-battered roads. 

But, if you truly want to have fun with this car, just show it a winding road. No, it’s no F1 car, but it does enjoy been thrown around like a rally car. Enter a corner, and the traction control holds back power till the wheels have enough traction, and boom! The steering weighs up nicely at high speeds, but there is a lot of torque steer at lower RPMs. Not to forget, the understeer that you feel when you push it into tight corners. Nonetheless, it doesn’t stop you from having fun.

The tyres grip the road well, and the brakes have enough bite, in case you get carried away with all that power and pile into a corner too hot.  Mercedes might have taken its own sweet time to get into the mini-crossover segment, but it’s come up with a desirable product. There is enough space to carry four passengers with ease, and there’s also a large boot, if you leave the space-saver at home. The lack of a four-wheel drive option would not bother Indian buyers much, as the  GLA has enough ground clearance to take on the worst of Indian roads.  Now, we have to wait and see if Mercedes can get the pricing right. We expect a starting price of around `38 lakh on-road, Mumbai.