TEST DRIVE: Mercedes GLA200 - ride comfort is back for the Mercedes A-class platform

Mercedes Benz is on a roll with their smallest model, the current A-class. This car, in its premium hatchback form has actually made a whole new group of people Mercedes Benz owners. Sales are up and everything is all fine and dandy. But the best thing about the A-class is that it has given birth to the fancy looking CLA four door coupe-with-the-practicality-of-a sedan-thingy and the GLA Class. The SUV variant of the A-class.

I was quite disappointed with the A-class when I first drove it sometime in 2013. This was because whilst it was properly screwed together and looked pretty awesome for a hatchback, it rode like it had bricks for springs. Of course that didn't stop thousands of people around the world from buying it. As I said above, it actually brought in a whole group of people who thought that Mercedes Benz was a car for fuddy-duddies, uncles and boring people. I suppose this would also mean old people like Jeremy Clarkson (AMG CLK Black), James Bond (S-class as a rental in Skyfall) and even yours truly (who goes to meetings and holidays in a W204 C-class). Anyway, this is more self praise (putting myself in the same sentence as James Bond falls under that category). If you cannot stand such a statement. Move along folks.

And then we have the CLA class. It is basically an A-class with a boot and frameless glass windows. A proper coupe if not for its practical rear doors. This being a sedan, a traditional market of Mercedes Benz meant long waiting lists here in Malaysia. Order one today and if you're lucky, you'd get yours in about eight months or so. Of course, Mercedes Benz did not stop there. They made a SUV version too.

The SUV version of the Mercedes Benz A-class shares the same wheelbase (2699mm) but is wider at 1804mm (1780mm), longer at 4417mm (4292mm) and taller at 1494mm (1433mm). But whilst it is slightly larger in size, it actually looks quite a lot like a normal A-class that looks only a bit taller and with some extra plastic cladding on the lower parts of the car. You do get a little more boot space (by a few centimeters I reckon) and you now slide into the cabin instead of slightly fall into the seats in the A-class (or the CLA).

The GLA models sold here is a repeat of the A-class and CLA-class sold in Malaysia. You get the A200, CLA200 and GLA200 models with a turbocharged 1.6liter four cylinder engine making 154hp/250Nm, a A250 and a GLA250 with a 2.0liter turbocharged engine (but no CLA250 unless its a grey import) and the range topping A45, CLA45 and GLA45 models. I drove the GLA200 version around Kuala Lumpur recently and this article is basically what I think of it.

The GLA200 sold here is front wheel drive only and has a 1.6liter turbocharged four cylinder engine. It runs Mercedes' seven speed dual clutch transmission (DCT). It runs on 18inch wheels like the A-class but with more balloon-like tyres. It's an SUV in some aspects. The more powerful GLA250 has a larger 2.0liter engine and has all-wheel-drive running through a  seven speed DCT. This runs on 19inch wheels

You slide into the GLA200 and note that it has the same dashboard as the A-class and B-class. Everything is the same except you are perched higher up. The seats are actually set higher up and if you note, there is at least 50mm extra height over the A-class. Whilst it does not look like it from the outside, you do feel you are sitting in a small SUV. Every other equipment feels like it came from the A-class and you get the same ambiance and premium feel in here too.

No start button but a traditional turn of the key here. The park brake is now a tiny switch above your right knee and the gear stalk isn't placed on the center console but on the right side of the steering wheel with everything within reach of your right hand.

The interior of the Malaysian specified GLA200 isn't an all black interior like the first batch of A200s. You now have a rich looking two tone dashboard. I like this as it brighten things up.  Even the roof lining is black. Legroom is decent at the rear and because it is slight taller, getting in and out is easier as I only had to pivot into the car. Visibility whilst reversing is average but aided with a reverse camera to compliment the usual park sensors that come with a Mercedes Benz nowadays.

The driving position is pretty spot on. Everything is within easy reach and pretty well thought out. On the move the GLA200 is actually a nicer car to drive than the A200. The first thing I noticed was that this car actually rode like what a Mercedes Benz should ride like. It was plush and comfy. There is little road noise and there is slightly more wind noise around the A-pillars compared to the lower riding A200. SUVs have more frontal area and are usually a tad bit ruffly at speed than their lower counterparts. But It's the ride comfort that impresses the most. The unyielding hard springy effect that dominated the A200'S ride had vanished. What was left is something Mercedes traditionalists would love. It does have that slow body control movements that traditional SUVs have. Some of those who are into sporty feeling SUVs may feel that body control is lacking, but in my opinion, this is what 154hp/250nm should ride like. It does not need the extra stiffness to handle so little horses and torque. Something that soothes you after a hard day's work and something to waft to and fro in relative comfort.  It rides like what something RM238,448 should ride like. You would arrive unflustered and you need not wear that sports bra anymore. Braless is okay in this GLA200. Really.

As for its handling, there is a slight trade-off for all that comfort. It rolls more and has way less grip than the A200 hatchback. It falls into understeer quite early on and the front end feels like it could use abit more grip as it lets go early into a corner. I suppose softer springs, a taller body and taller tyres have that effect on a vehicle. Some would want a flatter cornering chassis, or one that reacts quicker. But I can live with all of this. Again, GLA200. Entry level premium SUV. Not entry level Porsche Macan chaser like the GLA45 AMG. Maybe a tad more front camber would do when its time to set the alignment for it.

I even enjoyed the Seven speed DCT this time around. It was pretty irritating in the A200. Especially in 'Sports' mode. This time I decided to just drive it as it is in the normal mode most of the time. The thing about the Mercedes DCT or DSG like what most of you are familiar with is that it does not shift as fast or as smart as the ones I have experienced in an Audi, Volkswagen or Ford. It is slower overall but it actually is smooth in low speed traffic. I think the one in the GLA200 is even smoother than when used in the A200. The take up of the clutch is smooth and quiet without any judder or jerks even on a slope. Yes, it is a little dim witted compared to the ones used by the brands above but it is refined. Why the heck would you need a super quick gearbox in an entry level premium crossover SUV hatchback vehicle in the first place? I also know for a fact that the Mercedes DCT was designed in that way so that it actually lasts for a while. Longer than some of the brands mentioned earlier.

Performance is average for something with slightly over 150bhp and 250nm torque especially as it is a 1500kg+ SUV. An acceleration of under 10 seconds for 0-100kmh is achievable. Not great, but do remember it is only a 1.6liter in there. And yes. The gear ratios are a little too tuned for cruising and economy when not is Sport mode.

I am not at all disappointed with the Mercedes Benz GLA200. It may not look like a full blown SUV and only looks slightly different than the A200 of which it was based upon but it brings back comfort to the picture. RM238,448 before insurance is the price to pay for such comfort in a car from the Mercedes A-class family. The question that begs to be asked is whether the GLA200's asking price for the extra few cm in length, height and width as well as comfort (and extra ride height to cross flash floods in Malaysia) is worth spending over the RM198,888+ A200.

So, is it worth it? Hard to say. For a guy like me I'd opt for the cheaper car and save the rest for a nice holiday or an alternative – the CLA200, which rides slightly better than the A200 but not as good as a GLA200, it is as expensive as the GLA200 but looks helluva good in my books. But then again, I always have a preference for cars over SUVs.

So buy the A200 if you are young, couldn't care less about ride comfort and want to save close to RM40,000. Buy the CLA200 if you like frameless doors and swoopy coupe looks. Or buy the GLA200 for its better ride, slightly commanding ride and SUV looks.

Mercedes Benz GLA200

Pros: It's a Mercedes, comfy, well equipped, adequate performance, refined. No other premium small SUV in this price range looks this good.

Cons: It's expensive but whaddya expect, it's a Mercedes. not a big difference over the A200, could have handled better.

Conclusion. Good. Like it. But I'd buy the CLA200 for the same amount of money.

.