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New Mercedes SUV - Fit For Off-Road Excursions

Topics:  Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

New Mercedes SUV - Fit For Off-Road Excursions

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
August 15, 2013

The Mercedes Benz GLA is due to be formally announced at the Frankfurt Show in September. Progressive in design, versatile and with impressive off-road capability: the new SUV has been unveiled, aiming to set new benchmarks in efficiency as it mixes practicality with surefooted 4MATIC capability. The first Mercedes-Benz in the fast-growing compact SUV segment is highly manoeuvrable around town, lively on country roads and dynamic and efficient on the motorway. The high-quality fittings, developed with much love for detail apparently, and the flexible interior clearly position the GLA as a compact premium vehicle in this competitive sector.

The GLA is the first Mercedes-Benz SUV to be optionally available with the new-generation permanent all-wheel drive system 4MATIC, with fully variable torque distribution which will be available to UK buyers.

The GLA rounds off the extensive SUV portfolio of Mercedes-Benz in this country. With four model series (GLA, ML, GL and G) the company offers the widest range of any European premium manufacturer, and meets all the individual mobility wishes of its customers. At the same time the GLA-Class is the fourth of a total of five new compact models from Mercedes-Benz. The sales figures amply demonstrate how well the new compact models are received by customers: In the first half of 2013, for example, 173,362 units of the A and B Class and the new CLA Coupé were delivered worldwide. Especially gratifying is the high conquest rate of the new A-Class: around 50 per cent of the buyers in Europe come over from other brands.

As a serene day-to-day companion the GLA has a flexible and variable interior. The rear seat backrests can not only be folded down completely, but are also adjustable for angle if required. The generous luggage compartment (421 – 836 litres) is well-presented and can be loaded without difficulty thanks to the low sill and the wide tailgate, which opens automatically as an option.

The particularly rigid body structure provides a reliable basis for a wide range of applications. Initially the power range of the 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines will extend from 156hp in the GLA 200 to 211 hp in the GLA 250.

The two diesel engines excel with dynamic torque and outstanding efficiency: The GLA 200 CDI develops 136hp and maximum torque of 300Nm and has a displacement of 2.2 litres. It emits only 114 g CO2 per kilometre (M-B’s provisional figure). The GLA 220 CDI likewise has a displacement of 2.2 litres and develops 170hp and 350 Nm. Orders will be taken from the end of November in the UK, and the GLA will be in dealer showrooms in 2014.