2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA Is A Curvy And Youthful Little Crossover

Mercedes has unveiled its all-new, second-generation GLA, looking to put pressure on small crossovers like the Audi Q2 and Ford Focus Active, while also joining the new GLB to target more traditional SUV-shaped vehicles such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

Ultimately, all these compact-sized models will be cross-shopped by buyers who are either unaware or don’t care about niche-segments invented by automakers.

According to Mercedes, the new GLA is taller than its predecessor by over 10 cm (3.9 inches), which is a little weird given the fact that it’s also shorter and wider, hence the slightly more bulbous appearance. Overall though, it still looks like a raised compact hatchback.

Read: 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 Is Your 302 HP Entry Ticket Into AMG SUVs

Back to its dimensions, the new GLA is 173.6 inches (4,410 mm) long, 72.2 inches (1,834 mm) wide, stands 63.4 inches (1,611 mm) tall and has a 107.4 inch (2,729 mm) long wheelbase. It is 0.6 inches (14 mm) shorter, 1.2 inches (30 mm) wider and 4.1 inches (104 mm) taller than its predecessor, while the wheelbase has grown by 1.1 inches (30 mm).

Aside from having ever so slightly less rear headroom and front legroom, the new 2021 Mercedes GLA is a more spacious car than before. Rear legroom even grew by 4.5 inches (116 mm), which is nothing to laugh at.

Mercedes say that this is the “lifestyle-oriented sibling of the GLB”, and according to the German carmaker’s calculations, the GLA will become one of its most popular compact models, across its full life cycle, trailing only the A-Class.

“The launch of the new GLA marks the culmination of a complete renewal of our family of compact cars,” said Daimler marketing & sales exec, Britta Seeger. “The high demand for our SUVs shows that we can offer the right model for all of our customers here. Reflecting customer demand, these include two off-road models, the GLB and GLA, which complement each other perfectly: the GLB is the most functional and most spacious representative of our compact class family, while the new GLA is positioned as its sporty brother and as a lifestyle-oriented SUV.”

Inside, customers can opt for two variants of Mercedes’ popular free-standing display unit: either two 7-inch displays, or two 10.25-inch ones, powered by the automaker’s MBUX system, which also offers a full-color head-up display, sat-nav with augmented reality, voice control and plenty more. Meanwhile, the available Driver Assistance Package includes: Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Route-based speed adjustment, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function and the PRE-SAFE Plus system, among a few other tricks up its sleeve.

One novelty, especially for this segment, is the Car Wash function, similar to the one in the GLS. It can fold the exterior mirrors and make sure the windows and sliding roof are closed, while suppressing the windshield wipers and switching to air re-circulation mode.

On the road, the new GLA can make use of Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive system should the buyer decide so. Getting a 4MATIC GLA also means getting the Off-Road Engineering Package as standard, giving you an additional drive mode.

As for its engine range, U.S. buyers can opt for either the GLA 250 or the GLA 250 4MATIC, both powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder gasoline engine with 221 HP (224 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. With the aid of an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the GLA 250 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in about 8.6 seconds, before maxing out at 130 mph (209 km/h). Then there’s the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 version, which produces 302 HP (306 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, getting you to 60 mph in about 5 seconds flat.

In places such as Europe, aside from the AMG variant, buyers can also opt for a less powerful GLA 200 model, which utilizes a 1.33-liter gasoline unit with 163 PS (160 HP) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, needing 8.7 seconds to get to 62 mph (100 km/h). Diesel specs however have yet to be released.

The all-new 2021 Mercedes GLA will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the summer of 2020.