If literally all you care about is a luxury badge and a slightly-tall driving position, and don’t care about anything else, then this is the car for you. If you care about interior build quality, good steering, a cohesive drivetrain (I.e., the engine and transmission feel well suited to each other), then look elsewhere.
Compared to other Mercedes models I’ve driven (namely: the CLA and C class), the steering on this model is downright woeful. Also better than the GLA is its main competitor, the BMW X1. Even in sport mode the steering is loose and ponderous, very disappointing for a German car.
The engine moves the car well enough but it sounds like it’s struggling. It needs to be held at unsettlingly high RPMs to go up hills, for example, although passing on the highway is better than average. The transmission is terrible. It’s a dual clutch but it feels like an old school automatic slush box from over 10 years ago. In sport mode, in any kind of traffic, the whole thing jerks and shakes. Quite frankly it feels like it shouldn’t have been approved for production.
The interior is OK, but again, compared to its competitors and other MB models, it feels outclassed. My middle air vent already detached after less than a year of ownership. For a luxury German car this is completely unacceptable. The base stereo is also very sub-par... I’ve owned cars that cost half the price of this one that have better stereos.
Speaking of cars that cost half the price: my Mom’s Toyota RAV4 is nicer to drive, has way more standard features (CarPlay, radar cruise control, etc) for tens of thousands less.
If you want a luxury car experience for this kind of money, look elsewhere. BMW does a better job with the X1. If you want a good SUV experience, you can save thousands if you forego the luxury badge, and your ownership experience will be more enjoyable.
Wish I could have better news - this car is a dud, and the only reason you’d buy one is because you haven’t tried anything else and are infatuated with the badge. Either go Sedan if you want to stick with Mercedes, or pick another brand if you want an SUV.
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Exterior Color: Polar White
City MPG: 23
Interior Color: Black
Highway MPG: 31
Stock: KJ616603
Drivetrain: AWD
Transmission: 7-Speed Auto-Shift Manual w/OD
Engine: Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 2.0 L/121
VIN: WDCTG4GB9KJ616603
Mileage: 792
Call: (866) 786-6080
