Armed with the spiffy styling and high-class quality Mercedes-Benz is known for, the GLA entered the crowded premium compact crossover market last year.
Since then, it's been offered in its sole GLA 200 AMG Line variant. And no, there's no V8 under the hood. The three letters mean this GLA wears exterior and interior trimmings inspired by the cars from the German marque's tuning division.
What is under the hood is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 163hp and 250Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
The GLA 200 AMG Line is priced at P3,390,000. Read on to know what else the GLA gives you in return for the money (and what it doesn't).
1. AMG-inspired details
While we don't get the full-blown 300hp GLA AMG, this AMG-Line GLA will get you close enough to the real deal at least in terms of design details.
The AMG-Line brings with it a front bumper with deeper and wider air dams, a Mercedes-Benz-signature "Diamond" grille with chrome pins, side skirts, 19-inch AMG twin-spoke wheels, lowered suspension, and aluminum-look roof rails.
Inside, the sporty details continue with "Artico" man-made leather seats with a seemingly grippy material called "Dinamica," carbon fiber-look trim on the door panels and dashboard, a black roof liner, and AMG-branded floor mats.
2. Safety
The GLA 200 AMG Line may look sporty, but it also a packs a bevy of safety equipment.
The key safety kit includes Active Brake Assist, which stops the car when it senses impending collision with other cars and pedestrians. Attention Assist informs the driver if he or she is too tired to drive. There are airbags in all sides of the cabin, and a driver's knee bag will provide cushion upon impact.
3. Kitted out
The GLA comes with the expected premium equipment such as rain-sensing wipers, LED head- and tail lights, and Active Parking Assist, a feature that does steering duties during parallel parking.
The GLA's engine is shut off at stoplights with a start/stop function, then is started once again when the driver takes the foot off the brake, This feature saves on fuel.
With Dynamic Select, the driver can choose the performance characteristics the GLA can give: Eco, Comfort, and Sport. The fourth mode, Individual, allows the driver to tailor how the car will drive, depending on his mood or how late he is for a meeting.
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) can mirror one's phone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a seven-inch touchscreen, and can take voice commands with Linguatronic. The screen can also display the image from the reversing camera.
1. No third row
At this price point, many consumers may expect two extra seats in the five-seater GLA. They might go for bigger offerings from Mercedes-Benz, or choose more affordable seven-seat SUVs from mainstream brands.
Although this isn't the GLA's fault, as consumers seem to pass up compact crossovers in favor of seven-seaters, even though they'll almost never use the extra row. The same problem can be seen in the mainstream SUV market.
The GLA's looks and technology make it worth considering. And as is the case for many years, the three-pointed star will be a symbol of your success.
Photos from Mercedes-Benz
Also read:
More than riding the tide: Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 AMG Line variant
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