Mercedes-Benz GLA I - a compact crossover from the world's most famous brand

Mercedes-Benz has been hesitant to produce compact crossovers for a long time. And even their mid-size M-class, despite its rather cute appearance, turned out to be a real frame SUV in the first generation. Apparently, in order not to disgrace the glory of Gelendvagen.


And competitors did not yawn at that time. BMW and Audi already had compact crossovers. Seeing that sales in this segment were growing, Mercedes finally took the plunge and created the first-generation GLA model based on the A-class.

Mercedes-Benz GLA I was produced from 2014 to 2020. That is, the very first cars are already 10 years old.


Despite its age, prices for a compact Mercedes are still high. For copies at the bottom of the market from early years of production they ask from 1,5 million rubles. Why not take a German crossover for the price of a brand new Lada Vesta?

Body

Many people know that Mercedes cars produced since the late 90s are not corrosion resistant. But the Germans have long since made the right conclusions, so the Mercedes-Benz GLA belongs to a completely different era.

The corrosion resistance of this model is due to a number of reasons:

✅ Aluminum hood and front fenders
✅ High-quality paintwork
✅ The age of cars, even from early years of production, is still not critical

In general, if there is rust on the outer body panels, this clearly indicates a car that was poorly restored after an accident.


But the bottom, unfortunately, cannot boast of such good condition as the external body panels. Fortunately, it is covered with plastic over a larger area. Exposed areas may have some surface corrosion, but this is not a big deal. Aesthetes can recommend treating the bottom - then rust will not bother you for a long time.


If the chrome is peeling, it means the car was stored outside and rarely washed. In general, even one and a half million rubles is a serious amount for most Russian drivers. So it’s worth inspecting the car externally meticulously. All imperfections in the body are a reason to bargain.

Salon and electrical

When buying a Mercedes, many people dream of royal comfort inside. And there should be space in the cabin - this is premium. But the Mercedes-Benz GLA by definition cannot please you with this. It was created on an A-class chassis.


Even in the front, where there seems to be enough space for the driver and passenger, they sit back to back, especially if they are broad-shouldered men. And if there are five of us riding, then you won’t envy the three behind.

They will have little space in all directions:

✅ By width
✅ For knees
✅ From above

But the interior materials are pleasant. The quality of fit of parts is also excellent - here Mercedes keeps its mark. The interior begins to tear and become greasy when driven far beyond 200 thousand kilometers.


As for the electrics, they are reliable. And the cars are still “fresh” enough for serious problems to arise in this regard. The main thing is that the previous owners do not climb there. More precisely, they did not turn to non-professionals to install additional equipment.

When purchasing electrical equipment, the first things you should inspect are:

✅ Rear view camera
✅ Parking sensors
✅ Communication blocks

It is better to conduct computer diagnostics. It’s not a fact that it will show all the “glitches,” but this procedure certainly won’t be superfluous.

Motors

The engines under the hoods of the first generation Mercedes-Benz GLA are primarily gasoline. For the most part, these are power units of the M270 series. Much less common are engines from AMG - M133.

All engines with volumes from 1,6 to 2,0 liters. The power of power units for every taste is from 102 to 211 hp. With.


All M270 engines belong to the modern generation, so they are structurally complex for their volume. This does not mean unreliable, just very sensitive and requiring regular maintenance.


The engine is demanding on consumables - it doesn’t even like NGK spark plugs made in France, not Japanese, not to mention fakes. For such savings, the engine can “revenge” by failure of the ignition coils. And if you are “lucky”, the electrodes of the spark plugs will completely burn out and end up in the piston group.

Gasoline engines, especially turbocharged ones, are extremely sensitive to the quality of oils and fuel. And this means that even the best gasoline must be periodically “diluted” with detergent additives. If this is not done, the injectors will fail, carbon deposits will appear in the piston system, detonation will begin and power will be lost.


The funny thing is that the Check Engine won't come on until the pistons crack. So it turns out that owners of the first generation petrol Mercedes-Benz GLA are divided into two categories. Some rejoice at the reliability and trouble-free power units. Others complain that the motors are very expensive to repair.

M133 engines are also reliable, but despite their similar design, they have few similar parts. Accordingly, repairs will be many times more expensive.


There are not enough diesel Mercedes-Benz GLAs of the first generation in Russia. These engines come in two series - OM607 with a volume of 1,5 liters. at 109 l. With. and OM651.

The one and a half liter engines are analogues of the K9K from Renault. Their power is definitely not enough even for such a compact crossover.

But the OM651 with a volume of 2,1 liters is an excellent power unit. Designed primarily for use on commercial vehicles, such as the Mercedes Sprinter, it has a huge resource on a light crossover.

Other Features

Mercedes-Benz GLA gearboxes are mechanical or robotic. The latter prevail.


As for the “mechanics”, it will be difficult to find such a car. But if the prospect of changing gears doesn’t bother you, then this option is recommended. A manual transmission for a modern car is incredibly reliable and easy to maintain.

Seven-speed robotic gearbox, 724 series in different versions. After a run of 200 thousand kilometers, synchronizers and bearings may fail. It is recommended to change the oil regularly, along with filters, of which there are two. Gaskets and plastic tubes become tanned over time.


The suspensions are almost similar to the A-class W176, only with different travel and different rigidity. They have less resource - after all, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is a crossover with a corresponding style of movement for its owners.

The suspension requires repairs after a mileage of 150 thousand kilometers. If you drive carefully, the resource can almost double. It is recommended to service the suspensions with original parts.


The Mercedes-Benz GLA has both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The latter needs periodic maintenance, otherwise problems will quickly make themselves felt.

To summarize, it is worth noting that the first generation Mercedes-Benz GLA turned out to be a fairly reliable car. But before purchasing this model, you need a thorough diagnosis. In this case, for several years, most likely, the car will not require serious investments.

But this does not mean that the car can not be serviced. This is a Mercedes, not something budget. In any case, you will have to pay extra for the three-pointed star on the hood.