The GLA250 4MATIC starts at a reasonable $35,425, but approaching the options sheet with a heavy hand can quickly burn through another $10,000. Our test car came equipped with the $2300 Sport package (19-inch wheels, cross-drilled front brakes with painted calipers, AMG body-styling bits), a $460 backup camera, a much-needed $550 blind-spot monitor, the $1480 panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay for $350, Mountain Grey Metallic paint for $720, and a neat, if slightly gimmicky, illuminated star logo for the grille ($550). The grand total of $41,975 is a bit steep for something this size, but it’s not really bad by class standards. Comparably equipped, the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 can cost more, and an Infiniti QX30 we tested recently, which shares the GLA250’s platform and engine, rang up a $43,700 tab.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 208 horsepower. It’s eager to play, as long as you use the paddle shifters for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to keep the boost up. When the vehicle is driven hard, the transmission is a willing partner, snapping off quick and smooth shifts. Mercedes-Benz claims that the GLA250 with 4MATIC all-wheel drive (a front-drive version is available) can run to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, but we easily bested that figure using the car’s launch-control function to get to 60 mph in 6.1.
The GLA250 shares its platform with the CLA-class, which means steering that’s light and precise, if withholding of feedback. This Mercedes-Benz is a competent handler, despite some understeer at the limit, with body motions that are well controlled. But the same suspension that keeps cornering attitudes relatively flat might simply feel too stiff for many. That the GLA250 is so eager to abandon its SUV aspirations (and marketing) and try its hand at being a sporty hatch makes it endearing.
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