When shopping for a compact SUV, you’re likely considering the Mercedes GLA 250. But what about its competitors? You’ll want to examine alternatives that offer similar features, performance, and value.
The Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40 are strong contenders, each with their unique strengths. The Audi Q2, for instance, boasts ample boot space at a lower starting price. Which of these cars will best fit your needs?
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Key Takeaways
- The Audi Q3 offers 405-liter boot space and a starting price of around $33,700, making it a competitor to the Mercedes GLA 250.
- The BMW X1 has a 505-liter boot and a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds, similar to the GLA 250’s performance and space.
- The Volvo XC40 has a generous 454-liter boot space and a wide range of safety systems included as standard, making it a similar compact SUV option.
- The Porsche Macan combines sports car-like handling and performance with practicality, starting at $54,900, for those seeking a more premium compact SUV.
- The Jaguar E-Pace is a smaller SUV with a P250 2.0 petrol engine offering 246 hp, starting at $40,995, for those seeking a more affordable luxury option.
Cost and Value
When considering a luxury SUV, cost and value are essential elements to weigh.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers a competitive price point, with the starting price of the GLA 250 at around $43,000.
However, this base price doesn’t include some desirable features, making the higher trim levels, like the GLA 250 4MATIC starting at $45,000, and the AMG GLA 35 starting at $58,050, more appealing.
As the most affordable option in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the GLA-Class provides a good balance of cost and value, making it an accessible luxury SUV for buyers who crave a crucial combination of affordability and luxury.
Features and Performance
You’ll find that cars similar to Mercedes, like the GLA-Class, offer impressive engine options, including a 2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid engine that produces 221 horsepower.
This turbocharged power enables you to get up to speed easily, with a 0-60-mph time of 6.3 seconds for the all-wheel-drive GLA250 4Matic.
In terms of handling dynamics, these vehicles provide stable and secure turns, with smooth brakes during everyday driving.
Engine Options
The engine lineup of cars similar to Mercedes offers a range of options, but the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250‘s powertrain stands out with its 2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid engine, which produces a respectable 221 horsepower.
You’ll appreciate the smooth and responsive driving experience, thanks to the eight-speed automatic transmission.
Some key details to ponder:
- The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine provides a 0-60-mph time of 6.3 seconds for the all-wheel-drive 4MATIC model.
- The transmission can be slow to engage when accelerating quickly, affecting overall performance.
- The engine’s hybrid technology helps to improve fuel economy, with an estimated 28 mpg combined fuel economy rating from the EPA.
- All-wheel drive capability boosts traction and stability in various driving conditions.
- The engine’s mild hybrid system provides an added surge of power when needed.
Turbocharged Power
With its turbocharged 2.0L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid engine, the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 packs a punch, producing 221 horsepower that’s readily available to tackle various driving scenarios.
https://carscounsel.com/glossary/awd-all-wheel-drive/You’ll appreciate the eight-speed automatic transmission’s smooth and quick shifting, making it easy to navigate city streets and highways. The turbocharged engine provides sufficient power for the vehicle size, getting up to speed easily and making merging onto highways a breeze.
| Performance Feature | GLA 250 |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 6.3 seconds |
| Horsepower | 221 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | Available |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged 2.0L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid |
Handling Dynamics
Beyond its turbocharged power, the GLA 250’s handling dynamics play a significant role in its overall driving experience.
You’ll find that the GLA-Class provides a stable and comfortable ride, thanks to its secure handling around turns.
When you’re behind the wheel, you’ll appreciate the smooth transmission, although it can be slow to engage when accelerating quickly.
- The GLA-Class boasts stable handling around turns, making it a comfortable drive.
- The ride is smooth, even on rough roads, ensuring a pleasant driving experience.
- The brakes are smooth during everyday driving, but have a longer stopping distance from 60 mph.
- The GLA 250’s handling dynamics are well-suited for city driving and highway cruising.
- The vehicle’s capable acceleration, with a 0-60-mph time of 6.3 seconds, adds to its overall handling dynamics.
Reviews and Ratings
Objective assessments and real-world driving experiences shape the Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team’s Expert Ratings, providing a comprehensive review of the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class’s performance, comfort, and features. As you research, you’ll find the GLA-Class has an overall rating of 7.9 out of 10. Reviewers praise its spacious interior, solid build, and peppy engine.
| Category | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 7.9/10 | Comprehensive review of performance, comfort, and features |
| Owner Reviews | 4/5 | Praise for interior space, build quality, and engine performance |
| Infotainment | 8/10 | User-friendly system with intuitive controls and features |
| Safety Features | 9/10 | Advanced safety features, including forward collision warning |
| Ride Quality | 8.5/10 | Comfortable and refined ride, ideal for daily driving |
Competitors and Overview
You’re likely considering compact luxury options, luxury SUV alternatives, and rivals in size to Mercedes-Benz models.
The GLA-Class, for instance, competes with the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40, while the GLB offers more space than its smaller counterpart.
Meanwhile, the Audi Q2 and Porsche Macan offer unique blends of performance and practicality in the compact luxury SUV segment.
Compact Luxury Options
Compact luxury options in the Mercedes segment boast impressive features and performance capabilities, making them strong competitors in the market.
When considering alternatives to the GLA 250, you’ll find a range of subcompact luxury options that offer unique strengths.
- Audi Q2: 405-liter boot space, expanding to 1050 liters, with a starting price of £24,870 (approximately $33,700) in the UK.
- BMW X1: 505-liter boot with rear seats up, increasing to 1550 liters when folded, and a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds for the 4×4 version.
- Porsche Macan: combines sports car-like handling and performance with practicality, with a base model starting at $54,900.
- Jaguar E-Pace: starts at $40,995, sharing the same engines as the Range Rover Evoque, with a P250 2.0 petrol engine offering 246 hp.
- Volvo XC40: generous boot space of 454 liters, and a wide range of safety systems included as standard.
Luxury SUV Alternatives
Luxury SUV Alternatives offer a range of high-performance vehicles that rival the Mercedes GLA 250 in terms of features, performance, and luxury.
You’ll find compact SUVs like the Audi Q2, offering 405 liters of boot space, and the BMW X1, with a strong twin-turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine.
The Porsche Macan combines sports car-like handling with practicality, while the Jaguar E-Pace shares engines with the Range Rover Evoque.
The Volvo XC40 boasts a generous 454-liter boot and advanced safety systems.
These luxury SUV alternatives provide impressive infotainment systems, premium materials, and advanced technology.
Rivals in Size
The Mercedes GLA 250 faces stiff competition from rivals that match its size and features.
These competitors offer similar cargo capacity, ride height, and modern infotainment systems.
- Audi Q2: 405 liters of boot space, expanding to 1050 liters, with a starting price of £24,870 (approximately $33,700) in the UK.
- BMW X1: 505 liters of boot space, increasing to 1550 liters, with a twin-turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 228 hp.
- Porsche Macan: combines sports car-like handling and performance with practicality, starting at $54,900, and offering a 0-60 mph time of 6.0s in its base model.
- Jaguar E-Pace: shares the same engines as the Range Rover Evoque, with a P250 2.0 petrol engine offering 246 hp, and starts at $40,995.
- Volvo XC40: has a generous boot space of 454 liters, with extra storage beneath the floor, and comes with a wide range of safety systems as standard.
Fuel Economy and Safety
You’ll be pleased to know that the GLA-Class delivers respectable fuel economy, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize efficiency. According to EPA estimates, the front-wheel-drive GLA 250 achieves 28 mpg combined, with real-world fuel economy around 31.2 mpg. This puts it ahead of some rivals, like the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.
| Model | Fuel Economy (mpg) |
|---|---|
| Mercedes GLA 250 | 28 (combined), 31.2 (real-world) |
| Audi Q3 | 27 (combined) |
| Volvo XC40 | 26 (combined) |
| NHTSA/IIHS Safety Ratings | |
| Mercedes GLA 250 | 4-star overall, Top Safety Pick+ |
The GLA-Class also boasts impressive safety credentials, with a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard and optional safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.
8 Compact SUVs We’d Buy Over The New Mercedes-Benz GLA
Several compelling alternatives to the new Mercedes-Benz GLA exist in the compact SUV market.
If you’re in the market for a premium ride, you’d be wise to weigh these options. They offer a mix of performance, practicality, and innovative features that might just sway you away from the GLA.
- Porsche Macan: A sports car-like compact SUV with a 0-60 mph time of 6.0s, starting at $54,900.
- BMW X1: A strong performer with a twin-turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine and 505-liter boot space, from another premium German marque.
- Jaguar E-Pace: A smaller SUV with a P250 2.0 petrol engine offering 246 hp, starting at $40,995.
- Volvo XC40: A compact SUV with a generous 454-liter boot space, estimated 260-mile range, and a starting price of $39,995.
- Mazda CX-30: A great value offering with two engines, 430-liter stowage space, and various safety features as standard, from $22,050.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
Rankings matter, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class lands at #10 in the Best Subcompact Luxury SUVs category, with a starting price of $42,400.
You’ll find it below the Volvo XC40, BMW X1, and BMW X2, but above the Mini Countryman and Mini Countryman JCW.
The GLA-Class’s overall rating of 7.9 out of 10 is based on 30-plus scores covering every aspect of the automotive experience.
Its ranking is influenced by its features, performance, and value, making the mid-range Exclusive trim a recommended choice for its balance of features and price.
Conclusion
Considering the compact SUV market, you’ve got plenty of options beyond the Mercedes GLA 250. Did you know that nearly 40% of compact SUV buyers prioritize fuel efficiency over performance? With that in mind, you may want to examine alternatives that better meet your needs. From the Audi Q2’s spacious boot to the Porsche Macan’s sporty handling, there’s a compact SUV out there that’s right for you – and it might not be the Mercedes GLA 250.
