Used 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 straddles that vague ground between crossover SUV and hatchback. This subcompact vehicle has the much-loved raised driving position and offers all-wheel drive. But whereas most crossover SUVs tend to be a bit more (or a lot more) imposing, the GLA 250 makes a little less of a splash.

Overall, the GLA 250 is charming, credibly representing affordable luxury as it competes against rivals like the Audi Q3, BMW X2, Infiniti QX30, Lexus UX and Volvo XC40. However, a redesigned 2021 Mercedes GLA is just months away, and if you can wait, we recommend doing so.

Given the modest width and length of the 2020 GLA 250, it feels about as stable and planted as it’s possible to be. These dimensions make it easy to park, helped by the light steering, and the GLA feels perfectly at home in towns and suburbs.

On the freeway, it’s about as quiet as a good mainstream car, but a little more sound insulation wouldn’t go amiss in a premium vehicle like this. Similarly, the ride quality is comfortable and connected, but not quite convincing as a luxury car. Our thoughts on the dual-clutch automatic transmission’s shift action run along the same lines.

The turbocharged engine, however, is eager and punchy, a pleasant complement to the GLA’s nimble handling. Some drivers might not like the noticeable way the engine’s fuel-saving stop/start feature kicks back in, but they can easily turn it off if they can’t get used to it.

The usual elegance Mercedes-Benz displays in its cabins is certainly evident in the GLA 250, but look a little closer and some of the plastics used are more mainstream than premium in terms of quality. For the GLA to be the company’s least expensive crossover SUV, some cost-cutting has to happen somewhere. Besides, everything seems to be built well enough.

Being a subcompact, the 2020 GLA 250 is far from roomy, but space for rear passengers is acceptable for average-sized adults providing those in front aren’t above average in height. With the rear seats flipped down, total cargo space is 43.6 cubic feet. For some context, the Volkswagen Golf compact hatchback has 52.7.

Whether or not you think the 2020 GLA 250 is a real SUV, it certainly has some of the same attitude with a chunky grille and fake skidplates on the lower front and rear fascias of the all-wheel-drive version. Clearly, the GLA is sleeker than a typical SUV, too, especially in comparison to the new boxy Mercedes-Benz GLB.

Crossover SUV? High-riding hatchback? Whatever it is, it’s arguably easy on the eye. The GLA is also unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz, with the prestige that accompanies the name.

ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST
Even with the best of intentions, there are times when your concentration wavers. Or you just might not notice something. Annoyingly, those occasions often occur at the worst possible time, and that’s why it’s great to have another unblinking eye on the road ahead, and with the ability to apply the brakes if necessary.

ELECTRONIC BRAKE HOLD
This technology is perfect for traffic jams on your daily commute. Pressing a button keeps the brake applied, such as when stopped at a red light. So the driver can relax that foot a little before stepping on the accelerator pedal.

Despite the 2020 GLA’s status as an “entry-level crossover SUV,” it still comes with plenty of premium equipment as standard. The long list includes a power liftgate, automatic dual-zone climate control, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, selectable driving modes, 14-way power-adjustable front seats with memory settings, a high-resolution 8-inch infotainment display, and keyless entry/ignition. Standard safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and driver-attention monitoring.

All-wheel drive (known as “4Matic” in Mercedes jargon) costs an extra $2,000, bringing an Off-road driving mode, a dedicated display and downhill-speed regulation.

Additional options include leather seats, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Wi-Fi, ambient LED cabin lighting, a hands-free tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, heated front seats, a Harman Kardon audio system upgrade, remote start/lock/unlock, and a semi-autonomous parking feature. In other words, many of the items offered for larger, truly luxurious vehicles are available for the GLA 250.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine provides a healthy 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque when burning premium unleaded gasoline. This is sent to the front wheels in standard form (FWD), or all four with the 4Matic system (AWD), through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles give the driver manual control over the transmission.

In performance terms, the sprint from standstill to 60 mph takes 7.2 seconds, or 7.1 seconds with all-wheel drive. These numbers provide no reason to make new entries in the record books, but represent satisfactory performance for most people on most roads.

For greater enjoyment, the Sport driving mode sharpens throttle response and delays transmission upshifts to give the GLA 250 a little extra verve.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
208 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/34 mpg (FWD), 23/31 mpg (AWD)