Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is yet another sophisticated product from the German automobile firm that reinvented the perception of an urban SUV. It is a pure SUV with design elements of a sedan that makes it a unique contender in its league. Initially, the firm introduced this SUV series in just one trim and in later stages, its AMG version was put on offer for the Indian customers. The automobile firm classifies this luxury vehicle as a compact SUV, but its overall length measures more than 4.4-meters earning its rightful position among mid size luxury vehicles. It is currently available in three variants with one petrol and diesel engine option for the buyers to choose from. Its petrol motor is a 2.0-litre turbocharged power plant and the oil-burner is a 2.2-litre motor that is paired to a 7-speed 7G-DCT automatic transmission gearbox. This vehicle looks stunning from the insides and it resembles the silhouette of the A-Class hatchback. On the other hand, buyers have a choice to personalize the interiors with either all-beige or all-black color scheme. As for its exterior styling, this vehicle has compact structure adorned with several trademark features like bi-xenon headlamps, along with LED DRLs and a sturdy set of 18-inch alloy wheels. However, the main attraction of its appearance is its chrome plated grille that is embodied with the iconic company's insignia. This SUV is fitted with an array of comfort features including electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for driver's seat. Also, there is an auto air conditioning unit and an advanced parking assistance. To add to the customer excitement, the manufacturer is offering panoramic sliding sunroof as a standard feature for all the variants. The manufacturer is offering this vehicle with innovative active safety features such as impact protection beams, tyre pressure monitoring system along with ATTENTION ASSIST and three point seat belts. It also happens to be the first vehicle in its class to feature seven airbags as standard. Also available for the customers to choose are the optional packages, which includes various equipments and facilities. Those includes rear seat entertainment package, all season floor mats and a stowage carte. Currently positioned in the entry level luxury SUV segment, it is rivaling against the likes of Audi Q3 and BMW X1 in India. It is currently available on offer with an unbeatable warranty of 3-years without any restrictions to its kilometers.
Exteriors
This SUV from Mercedes Benz has a typical body structure unlike an SUV, and it stands with a total height of just 1494mm. This adorns it a look that no other SUV has it in their respective segment. Its front facade does like classy, but the sporty cosmetics renders it an intimidating look. The radiator grille up front has horizontally positioned louvres and are embedded with the company's logo. The headlight cluster has a black tinted design and is housed with xenon headlamps along with signature LED DRLs and turn indicators. Below this, it has a dual tone bumper featuring a pair of large air ducts and an air dam, which offers better ventilation to the engine. When viewed from the side facade, this vehicle looks much alike a crossover owing to its low and masculine stance. The primary reason for its sophistication is because of the so called 'dropping-line' that extends from its headlamps to the rear fenders. The flared up wheel fenders are accompanied with a set of alloy wheels that further adds to its dynamic stance. There are several other stying features given to this vehicle including aluminum ski racks, body colored door handles and glossy window frames. As for the rear, this SUV has a perfect look with larger taillight cluster and rugged bumper. As we can see, its bumper has a dual tone scheme owing to the black colored protective cladding. The windscreen is also accompanied by a spoiler featuring an integrated LED third brake light along with a wiper as well. The overall look of this vehicle is emphasized by the prominent company's star, which is embedded on to the tailgate.
Exterior Measurements:
The manufacturer has built this four wheeler with an overall length measuring 4417mm along with a decent height of just 1494mm. Its minimum ground clearance is 183mm, which is somewhat equivalent to a conventional sedan. This vehicle has a decent width of 1804mm (excluding ORVMs) and a wheelbase of 2699mm, which is quite long.
![Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Interior]( "Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Interior")
Interiors
Ed's take: The GL-Class always had spacious interiors, however the styling was basic. Mercedes-Benz has taken care of this aspect in the new one and now the design is contemporary and we will like interiors of this SUV.
From the outside, it looks like a compact vehicle, but step inside, the cabin design will tell you a different tale with its huge space. With this SUV, customers will get an option to customized its interiors with three different color schemes. Furthermore, they can be highlighted by either metallic or wooden veneers. Its interiors are done up with extensive use of ARTICO leather upholstery and highlighted with chrome accents. Its dashboard has star-shaped AC vents garnished with silver accents. The dashboard in the cockpit looks quite sleeker than other company models and is equipped with an array of features. Some of those include a music system, an AC unit along with an instrument cluster and a multi-information display. Also, there is an attractive 3-spoke steering wheel with leather cover and is mounted with multi-functional switches. But the most important factor of the cabin is that it is furnished with comfortable seats, which redefines the ergonomics. The rear cabin seat has a split folding facility in 60:40 ratio, which is helpful for extending the boot volume. Its internal cabin is fitted with an array of utility features including storage boxes, drink holders, sun visors, accessory power sockets and digital clock.
Interior Comfort:
This model series is packed with a range of sophisticated features that eventually offers an unmatched driving experience. Currently, it is available in two trim levels like Style and Sport. Among these, 'Style' is the base trim, which has all the standard features including an automatic air conditioning system, rear adjustable AC vents, dust along with pollen filter. This trim also comprises of information based features like a speedometer, fuel gauge, tachometer, outside temperature, digital clock, and gearshift position notifier. Beside these, it also has ECO start/stop function, 4-way lumber support for front seats, large glove box unit, adjustable power steering column, memory function for driver's seat, power windows with one touch operation, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, multi-functional steering wheel and remote operation for boot opening center armrest for front and rear. On the other hand, its high end 'Sport' variant has features like panoramic sliding sunroof with automatic rain sensing function, adjustable armrest, trip computer in multi-functional display and illuminated glove compartment. The manufacturer has also blessed this variant with a sophisticated PARKTRONIC parking assist function featuring rear sensors and camera, which offers acoustic and visual parking aid on infotainment screen.
Interior Measurements:
As for the dimensions of insides, its front cabin has a total headroom of 1015mm along with a decent leg room of 532mm. Its rear cabin has a total head space of 971mm, 1410mm of shoulder space and leg space of 494mm. This vehicle also has a total 421 litres of boot volume, whose capacity can be extended further with the help of 60:40 split folding second row seat.
![Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Gear]( "Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Gear")
Acceleration & Pick-Up
Ed's take : The acceleration of the GL-Class is good, and the seven gears help to spread the torque more evenly. The GL 63 AMG does a naught to 100km/hr in under 5 seconds.
Being mated with 7-speed DSG automatic transmission gearbox, both the power plants scores high with regards to acceleration and pickup. They can achieve a top speed in the range of 205 Kmph. As far as pickup is concerned, its oil-burners can break the 100 Kmph speed mark from a standstill in 9.9 seconds, while the petrol trims can do it in just 7.6 seconds.
Engine and Performance
Ed's take: The GL-Class now has better power to weight ratio, despite the same engine and the drivability has always been good. The only thing that we dislike is the responsiveness of the transmission.
The petrol version is powered by a 2.0-litre, in-line drive-train that is integrated with variable valve control technology and direct fuel injection system. This power plant comprises of 4-cylinders and 16-valves altogether making a displacement capacity of 1991cc. This DOHC based mill is also integrated with a turbocharger that helps it to deliver a maximum power of 181bhp at 5500rpm in combination with 300Nm of pounding torque between just 1200 to 4000rpm. While its diesel variants draw power from a 2.2-litre oil-burner that has the latest generation common rail fuel injection system. This motor is also based on DOHC valve configuration featuring 4-cylinders along with 16-valves, which displaces 2143cc. This motor is integrated with high pressure Piezo injectors that enables it to produce a maximum power of 134bhp in the range of 3600 to 4400rpm and yields a superior torque output of 300Nm between 1600 to 3000rpm. The car maker has paired both these motors with an efficient 7-speed DSG automatic transmission gearbox that releases the torque output to its front wheels.
![Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Mileage]( "Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Mileage")
Mileage
Ed's take : Buyers of GL-Class do not worry about efficiency, still the GL-Class is generous with its fuel consumption. Especially, the GL 63 AMG owners which is the most powerful SUV in India at the moment.
Its oil-burner is integrated with a critically acclaimed CRDI fuel injection system featuring Piezo injectors. These are high pressure injectors, which enables the power plant to unleash immense power and at the same time, they also helps to deliver a maximum mileage of 17.7 Kmpl. While its petrol engine is incorporated with a conventional direct fuel injection system. This empowers the SUV to give away a maximum mileage in the range of 12 to 14 Kmpl.
Power of Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Ed's take : The power produced by the GL-Class is good on paper and we have liked this 3.0-litre V6 diesel mill. The GL 63 AMG is the most powerful SUV in India with about 550bhp of power available on tap.
Its 4-cylindered diesel drive-train is based on DOHC configuration and displaces 2143cc. This turbocharged motor has the ability to churn out a maximum power of 134.1bhp in combination with 300Nm of hammering torque. Its petrol motor is also based on a 4-cylinder configuration and is integrated with variable valve control technology for optimum power generation. It can belt out 181.03bhp of maximum power along with 300Nm of hammering torque.
Braking & Handling
Ed's take : The GL-Class drives just like a car. This is the biggest advantage that it possesses. The handling of the AMG is definitely much better than the conventional E-Class.
This SUV is bestowed with 'comfort' suspension system comprising multilink system for its rear axle and an independent strut suspension for the front one. In terms of braking, its front wheels are fitted with a sturdy set of ventilated disc brakes, whereas its rear ones are coupled to solid disc brakes. Aiding this mechanism is the anti lock braking system that works in combination with brake assist function to reduce the possibility of skidding. In addition to these, this SUV gets a latest generation electronic stability program that works in collaboration with curve dynamic and hill hold assist.
Safety & Security
Ed's take: The safety features list is long on the GL-Class as it gets airbags, ABS, ESP, hill-assist, PRE-SAFE etc.
This SUV is built with high strength aluminum material, which is quite rigid and capable of dealing with collisions. It comprises of side impact protection beams and crumple zones at critical areas for added safety. As for the features front. both the trims in this series are equipped with identical safety functions. Some of those include seven airbags, three point ELR seat belts, head restraints, driver's seat belt warning, door open indicator, rear parking sensors, seat occupancy recognition system for front passenger, collapsible steering wheel and anti-glare inside rear view mirrors. Besides these, they also have an advanced engine immobilizer system with rolling code, remote central locking system including unlocking of doors, anti-theft alarm, and protective under-body guard. The manufacturer has also incorporated it with sophisticated programs like electronic stability control, dynamic curve assist, hill hold assist, anti lock braking system, anti slip regulation, and brake assist function.
Wheels
Both the trims level in this model series have been bestowed with a set of 18-inch, 5-twin spoke design alloy wheels. The only difference is that the 'Style' trim gets these rims with high-sheen black finish, whereas in top end variant, they have vandanium silver finish. These rims are wrapped with 235/50 R18 sized tubeless radial tyres for better grip on any road condition.
Pros
1. Its internal cabin has better space than expected.
2. Compact size helps it to glide through traffic easily.
3. Comfort aspects are far better than other competitors.
4. Engine performance along with acceleration is quite good.
5. This is the first vehicle in its segment to have seven airbags.
Cons
1. More options can be given to customize its interior design and color scheme.
2. Fuel economy of petrol motor is rather poor.
3. Price range can be more competitive.
4. Head room is not as good as other SUVs.
5. There is still scope to improve its minimum ground clearance.
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class price
-088.jpg "Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Interior")
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