The compact sport utility vehicle is slightly shorter than its predecessor, but is significantly taller and marginally wider. Mercedes says it has much more room inside as a result, along with a bigger boot.The compact sport utility vehicle is slightly shorter than its predecessor, but is significantly taller and marginally wider. Mercedes says it has much more room inside as a result, along with a bigger boot.ONE of Mercedes' babies has just had a growth spurt.
The new GLA also comes with practical new features aimed at family-minded buyers. The rear seats slide back and forth by 14cm, for example, and recline at seven different angles. Both have a smaller but slightly more powerful engine than before, with a 1.3-litre turbo replacing the previous GLA 200's 1.6-litre engine. They'll eventually be joined by a cheaper, less powerful GLA 180 model, as well as steroid-fuelled GLA 35 4Matic and GLA 45 S 4Matic+ versions.
"Our priority is to design and deliver vehicles that customers want. Each model caters specifically to different demands or needs that car buyers have," says Gilbert Kwek, vice-president, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Singapore."There are still nuances between them that enable them to appeal to different market segments. The GLB with more seats would be more attractive to families with more members, while a smaller family may prefer the GLA.