Mercedes-Benz GLA review

Prices start at £37,625 for the petrol-powered GLA 200 and £38,295 for the 200d, while the 250e is £45,210 and the 220d is £45,615. The latter pair require you to step up a trim level, hence the otherwise unfathomable jump. The Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 all start from cheaper, FYI.

BETTER HOPE IT’S WELL EQUIPPED, THEN…

Thankfully, it is. Even the base Sport Executive model (which, as mentioned above, is only available with the less powerful 200 and 200d engines) gets 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 10.25in digital instrument display and 10.25in touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice control, heated front seats, a reversing camera and all the safety tech you could ever want.

AMG Line Executive models add sporty trim, wheels, seats, wireless charging, fancy ambient lighting and the “lowered comfort suspension” that isn’t actually massively comfortable.

AMG Line Premium gets dual-zone climate control, augmented reality satnav and a better stereo, while AMG Line Premium Plus adds clever multi-beam LED headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof and 360-degree camera.

There’s also an Exclusive Launch Edition, which gets black 20-inch alloys, Merc’s ‘night package’, and a Burmester 12-speaker hi-fi. All GLAs come with a load of active safety kit, but on top-spec models you can pay around £1,495 for the Driving Assistance Package, which gives you virtually all of Mercedes’ latest and very clever tech.

WHAT’S THE BEST SPEC?

While we’re yet to try it on paper we reckon the 200d could well be the best of the bunch, purely because it comes in entry-level Sport trim which means you swerve the lowered comfort suspension and get the smaller alloys which should improve the ride, all while offering more power/torque than the 200 petrol. Impressively equipped as standard, too. All in, you’re looking at a starting price of £38,295.