The Mercedes GLA: A Blend of Style and Practicality

The Mercedes GLA is an SUV that combines the style of a premium hatchback with the compact body of a small SUV. But does this blend of styles make it less practical than its closest rivals? In this article, we'll explore the features, pros, and cons of the Mercedes GLA.

One of the key questions is whether the GLA's smaller size makes it less practical than larger SUVs. The answer is that while small touches may offer bigger boots, the GLA still offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo. The boot, which measures 481 liters, grows to 1,235 liters with the rear seats folded down. This means that a stroller can easily fit in the back of the GLA, as well as golf clubs, one large and one small suitcase. Even with a parcel shelf in place, it's possible to get a bike in with both wheels attached.

The GLA's boot is also notable for its square shape, which makes stacking items easy. There are plenty of useful features in the back, including two tethering hooks on either side for securing smaller items, as well as Curry Hooks and a 12-volt socket. These features make the GLA a practical choice for road trips or daily use.

However, while the GLA's boot is spacious, its rear seat space isn't quite a match for some of its rivals. With three passengers sharing the rear bench, shoulder room can be tight, and the middle seat can feel firm. There also isn't much space under the front seats for feet, which may make the seating position uncomfortable on long trips.

Despite these limitations, the GLA still offers good head and leg room, particularly for taller drivers or those who need to accommodate children in child seats. However, kids may not like the small windows and bulky front seats, which can make the rear of the cab feel dark and claustrophobic by SUV standards.

The GLA's rear doors are also a bit tricky to navigate, although they're larger than those on some rivals like the Audi Q3. Once you've negotiated the seat through the opening, it's dead easy to secure the exposed brackets for ISPIX fittings, but locating them can be a bit of a challenge.

One of the GLA's biggest advantages is its clever use of cubbies and storage spaces. The front door bins can hold 1.5 liters and 5-liter bottles of water, and the glove box is huge, although it's occupied by the manual once you remove it. There's also a foldout cubby under the front passenger seat that can take a small smartphone and a pair of cup holders between the front seats. Additionally, there are two more cup holders in the rear seat armrest that will each take a 75C bottle.

While the GLA may lack the passenger space of some SUVs like the BMW X1, it makes up for this with its practicality and clever design. The use of cubbies and storage spaces means that it's still much more practical than your typical premium hatchback. Whether you're looking for a daily driver or a family car, the Mercedes GLA is definitely worth considering.

At Mercedes, research and development are taking place every day to create innovative cars like the GLA. In fact, did you know that Mercedes spends 10 million euros a day on research and development? This commitment to innovation means that the GLA is not just a stylish car but also one that is built for long-term performance and reliability.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Mercedes GL Blends SUV Style with the compact body of a premium hatchback but does that make it less practical than its closest Rivals well although small taces offer bigger boots it's not as Pokey inside as some more traditional hatchbacks the opening is fairly wide but there's a high loading lip to heave larger items over the square shape of the storage space itself makes stacking items easy though there's plenty of useful features in the back with a pair of tethering hooks Nets on either side for securing smaller items two Curry Hooks and a 12volt socket the GLA has a 481 l a boot that grows to 1,235 L with the rear seats folded down but what do these numbers mean well they mean a stroller fits in the back of the GLA with ease and the same goes for golf clubs one large and one small suitcase will easily fit even with a parcel shelf in place fold down the rear seat and it's possible to get a bike in with both Wheels attached leave the bench folded down and a TV box two large boxes two medium boxes and two small boxes will all fit with enough room left over for a small suitcase while the boot is okay rear seat space isn't quite a match for the most roomy Rivals with three passengers sharing the rear bench shoulder room is quite tight and the middle seat is very firm there isn't much space under the front seats for feet either especially if the even for tour passengers head and leg room are pretty good though but it's worth bearing in mind that this is due to a low hit point which might make the seating position a little uncomfortable on a long trip meanwhile the small windows and bulky front seats make the rear of the cab feel rather dark and claustrophobic by SUV standards something kids won't like if you need to fit a child seat the rear doors make things a little tricky although they're larger than those on an Audi Q3 three once you've negotiated the seat through the opening it's dead easy to secure the exposed brackets for the isopix fittings they locating them a dole there's loads of room for storage inside the GLA the front door bins are able to hold a 1.5 L and5 L bottle of water and the glove box is huge too as long as you've removed the manual which Hogs almost all the space there's also a foldout cubby under the front passenger seat which can take a small smartphone and a pair of cup holders between the front seats there's another two cup holders in the rear seat armrest which will each take a 75 C bottle and while the back door pockets are smaller than those in the front they can still carry A5 L bottle overall then the GLA lacks the passenger space of SUV light Rivals such as the BMW X1 but the clever use of cubers and a well-shaped boot means that it's still much more practical than your typical premium hatchback if you enjoyed this video please like it and share it and click on the car wire logo to subscribe to our Channel if you click on the video Windows you can watch our detailed infotainment 360° passenger ride and full in-depth video review of the Mercedes GLA now did you know that Mercedes spends 10 million a day on research and developmentthe Mercedes GL Blends SUV Style with the compact body of a premium hatchback but does that make it less practical than its closest Rivals well although small taces offer bigger boots it's not as Pokey inside as some more traditional hatchbacks the opening is fairly wide but there's a high loading lip to heave larger items over the square shape of the storage space itself makes stacking items easy though there's plenty of useful features in the back with a pair of tethering hooks Nets on either side for securing smaller items two Curry Hooks and a 12volt socket the GLA has a 481 l a boot that grows to 1,235 L with the rear seats folded down but what do these numbers mean well they mean a stroller fits in the back of the GLA with ease and the same goes for golf clubs one large and one small suitcase will easily fit even with a parcel shelf in place fold down the rear seat and it's possible to get a bike in with both Wheels attached leave the bench folded down and a TV box two large boxes two medium boxes and two small boxes will all fit with enough room left over for a small suitcase while the boot is okay rear seat space isn't quite a match for the most roomy Rivals with three passengers sharing the rear bench shoulder room is quite tight and the middle seat is very firm there isn't much space under the front seats for feet either especially if the even for tour passengers head and leg room are pretty good though but it's worth bearing in mind that this is due to a low hit point which might make the seating position a little uncomfortable on a long trip meanwhile the small windows and bulky front seats make the rear of the cab feel rather dark and claustrophobic by SUV standards something kids won't like if you need to fit a child seat the rear doors make things a little tricky although they're larger than those on an Audi Q3 three once you've negotiated the seat through the opening it's dead easy to secure the exposed brackets for the isopix fittings they locating them a dole there's loads of room for storage inside the GLA the front door bins are able to hold a 1.5 L and5 L bottle of water and the glove box is huge too as long as you've removed the manual which Hogs almost all the space there's also a foldout cubby under the front passenger seat which can take a small smartphone and a pair of cup holders between the front seats there's another two cup holders in the rear seat armrest which will each take a 75 C bottle and while the back door pockets are smaller than those in the front they can still carry A5 L bottle overall then the GLA lacks the passenger space of SUV light Rivals such as the BMW X1 but the clever use of cubers and a well-shaped boot means that it's still much more practical than your typical premium hatchback if you enjoyed this video please like it and share it and click on the car wire logo to subscribe to our Channel if you click on the video Windows you can watch our detailed infotainment 360° passenger ride and full in-depth video review of the Mercedes GLA now did you know that Mercedes spends 10 million a day on research and development\n"