Mercedes GLA: ground clearance, reviews, prices and technical specifications (photo)

In 2013, the Russian automotive market dipped somewhat, sales of new cars fell by 5.5%. The general tendency to decrease in sales rates can be divided by sectors: B + cars fell by 15.5%, segments C + and D + - by 12 and 19% respectively. The statistics are disappointing. And only crossovers with SUVs not only retained their previously won positions, but even distinguished themselves by the growth of sales by 16%. It is characteristic that the dominant models of premium-class manufacturers such as BMW and AUDI, X1 and Q3. They are not far behind Land Rover with the crossover Evoque. But the most notable representative in the SUV market is the Mercedes-Benz with a new Mercedes car. In some ways, the car repeats the parameters of the 5-door GLK, but on the whole it is an independent, larger and more representative crossover of the Mercedes dynasty.

Clearance

At first glance, the Mercedes GLA is an A-class hatchback with increased ground clearance. Indeed, Mercedes Benz GLA, whose clearance is 157 mm, looks exactly like that. The machine is raised and only. However, if you look closely, the expert's opinion may change. Mercedes GLA, whose clearance in the package offroad version is already 187 mm, produces a slightly different impression, much more impressive. The variety of proposals on the model makes you wonder what is, for example, meaningless for an SUV sports suspension, officially included in the list of options? In this version, the Mercedes Benz GLA has a clearance of 142 mm. Perhaps in the future the situation will become clearer, and it becomes clear what and why the sports suspension is mentioned.

Level of exclusivity

However, for the Mercedes GLA crossover, the ground clearance is not all. The model features an original hood, bumpers and optics. The contours of the doors are also exclusive. Dimensions significantly increased in comparison with the dimensions of the predecessor, the length is 4417 mm, which is 125 mm larger, the width added 24 mm and is 1804 mm, the height increased by 60 mm - up to 1494 mm. With all this, the wheelbase of the new Mercedes Benz GLA and Mercedes A-class are completely identical - 2699 mm. The height of the interior space in the Mercedes GLA (clearance does not matter at all) has increased significantly: in the driver's area and the front passenger seat by 38 mm, and at the rear of the passenger compartment by 19 mm. The luggage compartment increased to 421-1235 against the previous 341-1157 liters.

Old and new options

As for the interior of the new crossover, it is unified with the A-class, it's obvious. Therefore, it is worth talking about the technical parameters of GLA. In this respect, the differences are quite noticeable, the body has become much tougher than the hatchback, thanks to the use of transverse profiles on the bottom molded from high-strength steel. The share of stringer increased from 67 to 73%. The running gear of the new car has no cardinal differences from the A-class suspension, Pherson front suspension, rear - multi-link with a transverse stability stabilizer.

However, manufacturers were concerned about increasing the comfort level of the Mercedes Benz GLA, and the crossover received constructively new shock absorbers and springs, and the amplitude of the suspension arm levers was also increased. Thus, the chassis is updated in the most radical way. What can not be said about the steering mechanism, which passed to the new model unchanged, with an already proven electromechanical amplifier and a rudder variator changing the ratio of the gear ratios of the mechanism depending on the speed of motion.

Power point

The Mercedes Benz GLA car connects to the models created on the MFA platform, basically only the engine. In the Russian market, the car is offered in three versions: the GLA 200, equipped with a gasoline turbo engine, 1.6 liters capacity, 154 liters capacity. from.; Diesel GLA 200 CDI with a capacity of 135 liters. from. And GLA 250 4 Matic with a 210 liter engine. from. The latest modification is all-wheel drive, this Mercedes GLA has a clearance of 187 mm, which in principle does not happen on the front-wheel drive models of the Mercedes family.

The most quiet character is the GLA 200 CDI, its turbodiesel gives a modest 135 hp. With., And the machine can not jerk at the traffic lights, the mode of urban travel is very moderate. However, it is nice to drive by car on some distant route, in the engine range from 1400 to 3000 rpm. As a result, it turns out that the GLA 200 CDI is an average participant in the movement, both urban and suburban. A little more - and the car will stand in a row of family cars.

Engine power and fuel consumption

More dynamic is the GLA 250 Matic with four-cylinder power unit and 2 liters capacity. Under the hood - real 210 horses, which playfully pull a half tons of car mass. The speed of 100 km / h car gets in 7 seconds. The movement of the model at high speed is also impressive, the turbo engine leaves no doubt about its "charge". The transmission only strengthens owners in a positive opinion about the outstanding qualities of the GLA. The only saddening factor is the consumption of gasoline. At 100 kilometers it takes exactly 15 liters, which is not so little.

Mercedes Benz GLA has an excellent balanced suspension, which is somewhat unexpected, given the trend of design offices in Stuttgart to cancel the smooth running of the car. On the example of GLA, you can see that they did not work out - the car goes smoothly, noiselessly, and sends only echoes of road irregularities to the salon. And they come in a very muffled state due to good noise insulation of the lower part of the body.

Penetration

The car was tested on a super-extreme section of the road, where a conventional front-wheel-drive car appears to be ordered. But the off-road off-shore felt like a fish in the water, making fantastic cabbits on bumps and rocks. Decent for a model such as the Mercedes Benz GLA class, ground clearance, allows you to pass everywhere.

Successful off-road mode of operation is assisted by an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the front-axle drive. The default torque fully applies to the front wheels, and when connecting the rear axle, the thrust is distributed between the front and rear axle in a ratio of 50/50.

Also in the all-wheel drive mode, the stabilization system operates, linking the differentials to the braking mechanisms of each wheel. In the event that any one wheel hovers in the air, it is automatically blocked by the brake, and the rotation stops. This is necessary to maintain the main thrust.

Surprises

Mercedes GLA class, whose ground clearance - 142 mm - already surprised the general public, prepared another similar surprise. It was a modification of the GLA 45 AMG, which clearly claims to be one of the most stupid models of the German automotive industry. If the sports version of the Mercedes GLA 200 suspension was 142 mm, the GLA 45 AMG had a ground clearance of 140 mm. However, if you do not pay attention to a narrow gap between the roadbed and the bottom of the car, then the power of the GLA 45 AMG engine in 360 liters. from. And 100 km / h for 4 seconds about something they say. This is the GLA model in different guises and reincarnations, which could be envied by the Indian multi-handed god Shiva.

The goal-oriented GLA follows the path selflessly, in anticipation of control by the driver, but hardly wants to be obedient so here at once. Although in a split second obey. In this - the high class of the car, its constructive essence. And no longer matters fuel consumption (20 liters per 100 km) - any criteria recede before the splendor of Mercedes Benz GLA.

Advantages and prices

So, Mercedes Benz GLA class2014, whose ground clearance (140 mm) the language does not turn to call the clearance, dressed in the model suit "GLA 45 AMG", for 4 seconds scored 100 km / h and continues to rip open the air. And if you drown the accelerator pedal for a minute on the floor, then the car will easily bypass "Lotus-Elite" going in the right row at a speed of 250 km / h. Here is such a difficult line, which includes cars Mercedes GLA 2014, the clearance of which, as it turned out, does not always matter.

The prices of Mercedes Benz GLA on the Russian market are quite adequate to the class of cars offered. The price scale for the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG is still unknown, and the sales of the most popular models have gained momentum for a long time. The most affordable GLA 200 will cost about 1 million 380 thousand rubles. The GLA 200 CDI with turbodiesel will require money in the amount of 1 430 000 rubles. And the all-wheel drive GLA 250 4Matic will cost 1 million 540 thousand Russian rubles. Prices clearly "bite", but the equipment of cars of all brands listed can deprive any skeptic of arguments.

Equipment

The kit includes 7 airbags, three of them are front, located in the steering column, at the driver's feet and in the dashboard in front of the front passenger seat. The seats themselves are of a trauma-safe design, they are not collapsible, they do not break at the impact, but only deform. The chassis is equipped with an effective stabilization system, bi-xenon headlights, all heated seats, 17-inch wheels and many other useful things, without which the car is just a vehicle. Uneasy, often controversial, SUV Mercedes Benz GLA feels confident in the Russian market, the modifications are varied, the equipment leaves much to be desired. Reviews about Mercedes Benz GLA only positive.