Car Reviews and Road Tests: Mercedes-Benz GLA Class

The GLA is a new Mercedes-Benz model based on the platform of the Class A (which is also that of Class B and Class CLA). Will be available in late November 2013 and deliveries began in 2014.

Mercedes-Benz refers to it as an SUV, a name that is often used for those cars with a body similar to that of an SUV (gallery) but do not have the same skills as those for driving off-road. But for its size, the total height is less than five feet (1.49 m, ​​8 cm more than the Class A), it looks more like a tourist than of an SUV. Mercedes-Benz does not give the data of ground clearance.

 GLA length is 4.42 meters, an intermediate step between the Audi Q3 (4.39 m) and the BMW X1 (4.47 m), models, price and general characteristics, will be its main competitors , along with the Range Rover Evoque. Regarding these is remarkable aerodynamics GLA, which has a coefficient Cx of 0.29 vs. 0.32 (Audi), 0.33 (BMW) and 0.35 (Land Rover). The resistance factor (the product of the front surface Cx) is also lower: 0.66 instead of 0.77 and 0.78 (Audi and BMW, Land Rover does not give the data). Among the measures taken to achieve this result is the dashboard of the low, the grouting of the front (the space between the headlights and grille, for example) and the plates that close off air to the radiator when it is necessary that stream.

Something that distinguishes the GLA the GLK, ML, GL and G-the Mercedes-Benz SUVs, is that in the GLA-wheel drive is an option and it is also available with front wheel drive. A multi-plate clutch coupling is responsible for the rear wheels to the front.