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EXPERT RATING
7.0

Likes

Quite a lot of car for $55k
Exterior design
Beautiful interior

Dislikes

Engine a bit small
Boot even smaller
Front-wheel-drive only
Photo of Stephen Corby
Stephen Corby

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

The entry-level to the truly lovely looking new entry-point to Mercedes-Benz SUV range is the GLA 200. While it is deeply attractive inside and hugely pleasant to look at outside, from any and every angle, truly improving on what was already a pretty good looker in its first generation, the 200 does sound like it might be tiny bit underpowered.

The GLA 200 is powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine - as opposed to the 2.0-litre in the next step up, the GLA 250 - and is front-drive only. Which is a bit embarrassing when you're trying to tell your neighbour you've just bought a Mercedes "SUV".

That engine makes just 120kW and 250Nm and uses a 7G-DCT seven-speed automatic, which is also one cog less than you get in the 250.

The very tempting-sounding base price of $55,100 also gets you Comfort Seats in  ARTICO upholstery, Keyless Go, a powered tailgate, the very modern MBUX multimedia system with sat nav, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay  and Google Android plus wireless device charging, 64-colour ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers, DAB+ digital radio, Active Parking Assist with Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, Adaptive High Beam Assist, LED fixed headlights and 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Read the full 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class review

Mercedes-Benz GLA 2021: 200

Engine Type Turbo 4, 1.3L
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency 6.2L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $51,260 - $58,960
Photo of Stephen Corby
Stephen Corby

Contributing Journalist

Stephen Corby stumbled into writing about cars after being knocked off the motorcycle he’d been writing about by a mob of angry and malicious kangaroos. Or that’s what he says, anyway. Back in the early 1990s, Stephen was working at The Canberra Times, writing about everything from politics to exciting Canberra night life, but for fun he wrote about motorcycles. After crashing a bike he’d borrowed, he made up a colourful series of excuses, which got the attention of the motoring editor, who went on to encourage him to write about cars instead. The rest, as they say, is his story. Reviewing and occasionally poo-pooing cars has taken him around the world and into such unexpected jobs as editing TopGear Australia magazine and then the very venerable Wheels magazine, albeit briefly. When that mag moved to Melbourne and Stephen refused to leave Sydney he became a freelancer, and has stayed that way ever since, which allows him to contribute, happily, to CarsGuide. Note: The author, Stephen Corby, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

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