Mercedes-Benz GLA review: a taller A-Class, not a smaller GLC
motorssouq Editorial Team
The GLA earns its keep as an A-Class with more headroom and a slightly higher driving position for buyers who want an SUV silhouette without SUV money — nothing more. Anyone expecting real ground clearance, all-wheel drive or family-scale space should look straight past it to the GLC.
Pros
- Higher seating position improves visibility in Manama traffic
- Slightly more headroom and boot space than the A-Class hatchback
- Shares the A-Class's smooth 7G-DCT gearbox and easy running costs
- Compact footprint is easy to park compared with the GLC
Cons
- No genuine off-road hardware or all-wheel drive despite the SUV styling
- Rear space and boot volume still trail true compact SUVs
- Resale value trails the GLC by a wide margin
- 163 hp feels stretched once the car is fully loaded with passengers and luggage
Park a GLA next to an A-Class hatchback and the family resemblance is obvious the moment you notice the identical door handles and dashboard. Mercedes raised the roofline and the ride height, added faux-SUV cladding, and called it a crossover — which is a fair description as long as buyers understand there is no low-range gearing or meaningful off-road hardware underneath.
What the extra height actually buys
The higher seating position genuinely helps visibility in Manama traffic, and headroom for taller occupants is better than the A-Class hatch despite the near-identical wheelbase. Boot space grows modestly to 435 litres, useful for a young family's weekly shop but not for much more. The GLA200's front-wheel-drive layout means winter-rain traction is no better than the hatchback it is based on.
Living with it day to day
The 163 hp engine and 7G-DCT gearbox carry over unchanged from the A-Class, so performance and fuel use are near-identical — adequate around town, unremarkable on the causeway climb. Resale value trails the GLC by a wide margin because used buyers in Bahrain correctly perceive it as the smaller, less capable car it is, badge notwithstanding.