‘Wait, hold up; didn’t Mercedes-Benz already update the GLA some time back?’ is what I ask Aryan, who happily reminds me that ‘that some time back’ was in 2021. Way to go, man! Jokes aside, the Mercedes-Benz GLA has received a mid-cycle facelift with subtle tweaks inside out, along with some interesting feature additions. But should you be taking out your cheque books yet? We say wait till you see Kurt’s review.
Retaining its overall silhouette, the 2024 GLA will certainly not be mistaken for anything else out on the road. It continues to be available in two different trims; the entry-spec Progressive Line, and the AMG Line. Up front, it receives revised headlights with a new DRL signature, along with an automatic high-beam function. The faux air vent surrounds on the AMG Line models now receive body-colour treatment, as opposed to black treatment on the previous model. At the rear, changes are limited to an updated tail-lamp signature. There’s also the addition of a new Spectral Blue paint scheme; what do you think of it?
The changes continue to be subtle on the inside, but they are there. Aligning with most other models in the lineup, the GLA too now receives the AMG-specific flat-bottom steering wheel with touch-controls. Mercedes-Benz has ditched the trackpad from the previous model, but the blended screen setup has been retained. The 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen now features wireless smartphone connectivity, and runs on the latest generation of the MBUX software. The set of features includes hands-free parking which works in tandem with the 360-degree camera, and you also get other stuff such as 64-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry, customizable themes for the digital cluster, a minigame mode in the infotainment screen, powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and powered front seats with memory function among other things.
Do you remember why we said the GLA offers more flexibility than its rivals? Because the Q3 makes do with just a petrol, while the X1 is down on power figures and also does not offer all-wheel drive. The GLA retains its set of powertrains; a 1.3-litre turbo petrol with 163 bhp and 25 kgm of torque, while the diesel is a 2.0-litre unit packing 188 bhp and 40.7 kgm of torque. The diesel maxes out at 219 kmph and reaches triple digits in just 7.5 seconds.
With prices ranging between Rs 50.50 lakh to Rs 56.90 lakh (ex-showroom), the Mercedes-Benz GLA is on the pricier side of things, but we say what if you looked at the overall package you’re getting?
