After the Japanese first pioneered SUVs with their Nissan Qashqai and Nissan Juke (abbreviation for Sport Utility Vehicle, which means sports and utility vehicle, i.e. off-road sedan), BMW came with its X1 and MINI Countryman, as well as Audi, with a little delay, with his Q3. Mercedes can be happy that they are not the last, but they also needed a little longer. The news about this is all the more pleasingMercedes GLA 2014.
The Mercedes GLA 2014 – The off-road sedan with a delay
GLA is the name of the off-road sedan from Mercedes, whose chassis and engine are based on those of the A-Class. Its premiere took place at the IAA in Frankfurt. The model is 13 centimeters longer than the more compact sedan and, at 1.49 meters high, is quite lower than its competitors. Its characteristics of an off-road vehicle are particularly emphasized by the fenders in a darker color and by the up to 19-inch rims. On the whole it isMercedes GLA 2014but primarily intended for city and highway traffic, where it impresses in the latter thanks to its great air resistance. In this way, low fuel consumption is certainly maintained.
Oneimportant feature for compact SUVsis that they have a larger trunk compared to their compact brothers. The trunk of theMercedes GLA 2014has 421 liters, which can be expanded to 1235 liters by folding down the rear seats. As an additional option, a mechanism is offered that allows the seats to be folded to a greater angle. In this way, the trunk is increased by a further 60 liters, which can be a whole suitcase.
Mercedes GLA 2014 with gasoline or diesel engine
At the beginning will be for theMercedes GLA 2014Four different engines are offered: two petrol and two diesel engines. The basic gasoline engine GLA200 has 156 hp, while the GLA250 has a whopping 211 hp, with which the small SUV can reach 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. Its top speed is 235 km/h. The smaller 200 CDI with 136 hp has an average fuel consumption of just 4.3 liters per 100 km/h. The more powerful variant, the 220 CDI, has 170 hp. The two larger petrol and diesel engines are powered by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the smaller ones by a six-speed manual transmission. If the latter is ordered with all-wheel drive, it also receives an automatic transmission.
BothMercedes GLA 2014Models with all-wheel drive have a special differential drive with an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch on the rear axle. This distributes the torque continuously between the front and rear axles depending on the road conditions. This enables good traction and dynamics even on poor road conditions, provided they are no more complicated than snow on a winter vacation or a little sand on the beach. For greater driver comfort and satisfaction, there is also an off-road driving program, as well as a compass, uphill and downhill assist and the ability to display the angle of a curve.
Mercedes GLA 2014 costs from 30,000 euros
Regarding the optionally selectable electronic accessories of theMercedes GLA 2014The manufacturer offers all previously known options. There is, among other things, cruise control to regulate the distance to the vehicle in front, a system to monitor the driver's fatigue and an automatic parking assistant. It is also possible to synchronize with an iPhone so that the smartphone's Internet can be used to surf the car's browser. TheMercedes GLA 2014are already available to buy for prices starting at around 30,000 euros.
