Road Test - Mercedes-Benz GLA 220d 4M

A GLA can let its hair down

A sexy little gravel-eater namely the Mercedes-Benz GLA 220d 4M  (R 592 500) recently rocked up in my garage, and was given a prompt baptism of fire.

No faking, please

I am not a lady who appreciates a glammed-up SUV that can only handle Sandton gravel. If I want to ride on dirt, it has got to be proper dirt: Almost as slippery as ice, dust clouds billowing behind you, a few cattle possibly crossing the road, and surfaces that have seen a few rainstorms in their lives. One look at those large, styling rims with their low-profiles tyres told me ‘starter-gravel only, please’. Yet the 4M nomenclature (this GLA is permanently four-wheel driven) and the fact that it has what Mercedes-Benz calls AIRMATIC air suspension, tells you otherwise. Or does it?

Lunch date

As luck would have it, I was late for a lunch appointment in Franschhoek, about 100 km away - all perfectly smooth tar via Botrivier and Villiersdorp. Needless to say, it was a swift journey. The 220d’s acceleration is not going to melt your face, but it reaches the speed limit swiftly enough. To keep myself out of trouble, I engaged the cruise control and proceeded to the bottom of the Franschhoek pass.

Up and over

With every conceivable setting on Sport, I urgently made my way up. The GLA felt steadfast with good body control, yet slightly clumsy, with the steering becoming more weighted (as you apply more lock) when turning a fast corner. The GLA doesn’t have that much ground clearance, so I was expecting a slightly sharper driving experience overall.

The 2.1-litre diesel engine is also more gruff and clattery than you’d expect from a car at this price point. However, once you hit highway speeds, the engine and cabin are quiet and the ride is smooth. The 7G-DCT auto-box is quite happy when left to its own devices, and gear shifts happen quickly and easily.

Gravel is more fun

After a leisurely work lunch at Reuben’s, it was time to return home. This time I had some time to kill, and opted for the scenic route. From the Theewaterskloof Dam I took the gravel Hawston View turnoff that eventually merges with the superbly twisty and picturesque Van der Stel Pass. With the suspension setting on Comfort, the GLA could let its hair down and there was a clear difference between the lofty tar-pass handling and the even, controlled drive on the real-deal gravel of the Van der Stel Pass, proving you don’t need a hardcore 4x4 if you want to have a spot of fun off-road. Thanks to all the safety systems, the all-wheel drive and the comfort of air-suspension, I felt extremely secure and was tempted to drive like Toyota Gazoo racing driver Nasser Al-Attiyah. But with my track record of gravel driving (a little incident on a bad farm road at age 17), I drove responsibly, but with zeal. The ride was without a doubt more supple than I expected.

GLA-Hottie

On the practical side of things, the GLA 220d is remarkably easy to live with, and with all its sculpted lines, outdoorsy skid plates and new blingy bits (such as the elaborate grille), it looks rather dapper, like it’s going to a party at the other end of the jungle. But the GLA has never been very spacious, just like its A-Class sibling on which it’s based. Space in the rear is quite cramped, with the sporty front seats impinging greatly on legroom for adults. Stick a couple of small to medium-sized kids in there though, and they’ll be happy as Larry.

Decisions…

Then there’s the matter of price, and size. In this price range, there’s a lot you can do with R592 500 (without options). The brilliant VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 4Motion Highline is chock-full of specifications for R558 300. The Audi Q2 2.0TDI Sport is priced at R565 000. And don’t forget about the suave Swedes: the 2.0-litre Volvo V40 Cross Country D3 Momentum starts from R480 400. If you opt for the V40 Cross Country T5 AWD Momentum you’ll be paying R538 606, which is not bad for a two-litre turbo-petrol engine with a hefty 180kW and 350 Nm of torque. If you haven’t quite decided that the GLA is exactly what you want, I recommend driving all of the above and making an informed decision.

I suggest visiting the Mercedes-Benz website to check out what you get as standard, and what all the extras cost. Click here

I do love how the GLA looks, but my practical-mom-side leans more towards the Tiguan, which offers more features and space overall, as well as first-class build quality...and sufficient schoolyard status.

The numbers

Name: Mercedes-Benz GLA 220d 4MATIC

Engine: 2143 cc, four-cylinder

Transmission: 7G-DCT auto

Drive: All-wheel

Output: 130kW & 350 Nm

0-100 km/h: 7.7 sec

Top Speed: 218 km/h

Fuel tank: 56 litres

Realistic fuel consumption (combined): 7.5 l/100 km

Boot size: 421 - 1235 litres

Also consider: VW Tiguan, Volvo V40 Cross Country