Few brands do DNA recombination better than Mercedes. The luxury automaker has dozens of variants of its basic product lines, including coupes and convertibles as well as sedans, station wagons and SUVs. Even the SLS with gullwing doors shares some of its parts with other MB models. And now it's time for the basic front-wheel drive CLA sedan to adapt its genetics to Mercedes' newest product, namely the compact oneMercedes Benz GLA 2015Crossover, delivers.
At theMercedes Benz GLA 2015As you would expect, there are a lot of distinctive features. The lines of the sedan, typical of a coupé, are particularly striking in the crossover. Here, however, they're not quite as boxy in terms of segments, which is usually a common practice even in cars like the Mazda CX-5.
The center distance of theMercedes Benz GLA 2015At 2.7 m, it is the same as the CLA. However, at 4.4 meters long, the GLA is 22 cm shorter. Added to this is its relatively low roof of 1.5 meters high. The five-door model also has a great stance with its 18-inch wheels. Mercedes wanted to avoid the appearance of a raised station wagon. The GLA's roofline is 5 cm lower than that of the BMW X1. However, the version with 4MATIC all-wheel drive is 3 cm higher in order to pass as a truck with the environmental authorities.
It won't help the aerodynamics, but it willMercedes Benz GLA 2015adopts some of the CLA's measures that made the dragster coefficient of 0.23 possible. These include an underbody panel, a rear diffuser, the same side mirrors as the sedan and other design accessories. The GLA won't have the CLA's diamond grille, nor the frameless windows from the Shanghai show's GLA concept. This is due to the concession that the cost is unnecessary for this feature, which will not be in demand in the market anyway.
The interior of the Mercedes Benz GLA 2015
The interior of theMercedes Benz GLA 2015was taken directly from the CLA. It's luxurious enough to maintain Mercedes' image among new customers. The sedan's wide range of faux aluminum for the dashboard is available. The buyer also has the choice between walnut or poplar wood or the Designo finish.
At theMercedes Benz GLA 2015One of the biggest deficiencies in the CLA was addressed. What this means is the limited headroom in the back. Thanks to the higher roofline, taller passengers will no longer have to slouch. However, you shouldn't expect more legroom. In order to make the rear area a little more spacious, the front sports seats with integrated headrests of the GLA base models are avoided in favor of conventional seats that block the view forward less.
The options compare to the CLA as well, meaning you'll have to pay extra for a lot of things. For example, the leather seats, the seat heating, the navigation system, the larger 7-inch multimedia display and the driving assistant technologies are optional. As soon as theMercedes Benz GLA 2015When it launches next year, probably in the spring, the 4MATIC will be available immediately, while the front-wheel drive version will follow a little later in the model year.
The performance
Under the hood of theMercedes Benz GLA 2015there is nothing surprising so far. There's the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine as the CLA. It also has an output of 208 hp and a torque of 349 Nm. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and start-stop system are the same as the CLA, as is the electronic limited-slip rear differential on the all-wheel drive versions. According to Mercedes, the GLA should be powerful enough to go from zero to 100 km/h in under 7 seconds.
The Diesel variants desMercedes Benz GLA 2015, which is offered in Europe, will not be available in the US. This is primarily due to the additional cost of the compression ignition engine and its expensive emissions control system, which would increase the set starting price of $31,000.
Despite the similarities with the new Mini-Benz, the electronically controlled rack and pinion steering will not represent the same direct steering with variable steering ratio as that of the CLA. You can rely on firmer front suspension struts and a multi-link rear axle. A sports package will also be offered. In doing so, he receivesMercedes Benz GLA 201519-inch rims, while the suspension remains unchanged.
A sporty special model of theMercedes Benz GLA 2015represents the GLA45 AMG, which features the same hardware as the CLA45, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 355 hp and 450 Nm of torque, the AMG-tuned suspension and 20-inch wheels. That's called genetic engineering.
The off-road vehicle of the future
Highly impactful design
Good presentation on city streets
$31,000 or more? Judge for yourself
Ergonomic shape
Good performance in all path types
The coupe ensures comfort
