2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Pros

• There is a smooth ride and nice seats in the GLA 250.
• One of the best and most advanced infotainment devices on the market today.
• Mercedes badges for a fair price.

Cons

• The GLA has a lot of advanced driving assistance systems, but most of them are not required.
• For a high-end SUV, the road noise is way too loud.
• Compared to the Mercedes GLB, it can’t hold nearly as much goods.

What does a GLA-Class motor do? The GLA 250, the model we tried, should be good enough for most drivers. It has the right amount of power for its size, and it’s easy to speed up. When compared to other extra-small luxury SUVs, the amount of time it took our front-wheel-drive test vehicle to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour was about normal.

Even though the engine starts with a lot of vibration, the transmission and engine work easily, it might take a while for the transmission to engage after you press the gas pedal for a short time.

The GLA is safe and stands up straight on turns. However, in our panic-braking test, the GLA 250 took 138 feet to stop from 60 mph, which wasn’t as good. That’s farther than some of the full-size cars we looked at could stop. We don’t think the brakes are broken; we think the economy tires’ lack of grip is to blame. However, as we drove around every day, we noticed that the brakes were very smooth.

What does the GLA-Class feel like? When in base form, the GLA offers good support all around. Thanks to the supportive and comfy seats and the breathable MB-Tex synthetic leather, long journeys won’t be a problem. Because they can be adjusted in many ways and have thigh supports that can be stretched out, the front seats should be comfy for both tall and short drivers. Seats with various heating and cooling options are available.

The rough roads don’t make the ride too rough, and the quality of the ride is also pretty good. The suspension does a good job of balancing comfort and handling, though bumps and uneven surfaces may cause some jolting. The downside is that traffic noise can be heard and can be annoying when the roads are rough. The engine looks strained when you speed up quickly, but it’s actually well-muffled.

How is the inside? Even in tight spaces, the GLA is easy to get in and out of because the doors are the right size and the ride height is the right. The driver’s seat, which has a wide range of adjustments, allows you to easily switch between a more upright and a more relaxed position.

It’s simple to find and use the main settings. The navigation screen is easy to use and lets you manage a lot of the extra features. Even though the GLA looks sleek, the inside is pleasantly roomy and airy. There is also enough room in the back for an adult. It’s safer and easier to park when you can see out the front, sides, and back.

What’s wrong with the tech? The GLA’s entertainment system gets great reviews for being able to connect smartphones with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Mercedes’ MBUX system is one of the easiest to use because you can use your voice, a touchscreen, a trackpad, or your thumbs to handle things on the steering wheel. Even if they are hard to understand, voice commands are right.

The GLA comes with few high-tech safety features as standard, which is a shame. A blind-spot warning and frontal collision mitigation are the only features you can get unless you pay a lot for an option package. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these days, a Kia or Toyota has a full system of driver aid.

What’s going on with storage? Behind the back seats, you can only store 15.4 cubic feet of stuff, which is more like a medium sedan. The trunk is big, but not as big as the trunks of some major competitor SUVs. It’s easy to carry big things because the liftover height is low.

Inside, there are good-sized pockets and boxes for your belongings. The cupholders have clever spring-loaded tabs that can hold small drinks or personal things safely. The rubbery tray inside keeps your phone safe and also lets you charge it wirelessly. Do you have little kids? Putting in an infant seat that faces backward should be kept from taking up any room for front passengers. The pin and tether points for the car seat are also easy to find.

How much fuel does it use? The gasoline-powered GLA 250 with front-wheel drive gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Our real-world test route got 31.2 mpg, which showed that the EPA’s predictions were right. When looking at overall fuel economy, the GLA 250 is better than cars like the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.

Is the GLA-Class worth it? The starting price for the GLA is fair, but it is missing some functions that you will need. If you pick wisely, your GLA should be less than $40,000. There is more hard plastic inside the GLA, but it is built just as well as a Mercedes-Benz. It’s good that the parts are put somewhere away from where we would normally touch them. Also, they have small grains.

The powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranties are pretty normal; they each last for four years and 50,000 miles. Mercedes provides roadside assistance for four years or 50,000 miles, but unlike some other car companies, it does not give free maintenance.

It’s good that the GLA is a lot like Mercedes’ bigger GLC SUV in many ways, like how it looks and drives. In terms of style and technology, the GLA is a great deal if you don’t need the extra seats in the GLB or the extra space in the GLC. It’s not a very interesting car to drive, but it does a good job of meeting your comfort and refinement needs.

As of this writing, Mercedes-Benz has not officially said anything about the 2025 GLA. We’ll change our ranking if anything comes up, but based on last year’s GLA, the GLA 250 is the best deal in the series. With plenty of power and great features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a beautiful 10.25-inch touchscreen with the MBUX entertainment system, heated seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels, this car has everything you could want.

Different kinds of Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GLA is a small crossover SUV available in two trim levels: GLA 250 and AMG GLA 35. This Mercedes all-wheel-drive system is standard on the performance-tuned AMG version but can be added as an option on the GLA 250.