Test drive Mercedes GLA: out of protocol

The Mercedes GLA is difficult to fit into the classic definition of a compact SUV. He seeks a role other than that of his main competitors, and in this sense he forms a class by himself.

In a rush to present, Rüdiger Rutz, who is in charge of the entire GLA testing process, smiles devilishly when he discovers that the GLA is far from everything I've seen in this segment, and replies: “We are the last ones to join the GLA. him, so we had to do something different.”

Well, the effect is definitely achieved. The GLA may have the iconic G in its name, but it's a stylistic antithesis to its big brother, the GLK, and definitely an atypical character in the compact SUV class. And, for example, a direct competitor from Ingolstadt. With its functional and clean lines, the Audi Q3 maintains typical proportions for this category, the GLA is generally difficult to fit into your idea of an SUV model. Strict forms are not at all in demand by Mercedes designers - the GLA style is dominated by many surfaces that intersect at different angles. At the same time, the forms in question are not only more impressive, but also much faster than those of the founder of the A-Class. The low headroom, coupled with the fairly wide C-pillar, gives it the feel of a slightly elevated coupe, more like a hatchback than a sedan. This subjective impression also has purely objective physical dimensions. The GLA is wider (3mm) than the Q3, much lower (100mm), longer (32mm) and has a significantly longer wheelbase (96mm) than the Bavarian competitor. Even the tall but wide tires don't add any desire to work on rough terrain. For those who want such emotions in the middle of the year, there will be an opportunity to order the so-called. Offroad package with increased ground clearance from 170 to 204 mm. However, we will talk about this later.

In general, the GLA will find it difficult to move away from the general stylistic concept of the A-Class - with a huge grille (which has a different design in different lines) and specific headlight shapes and their LED graphics (except for the basic version). It is quite logical, because the new model follows the rather bright and original stylistic tone of Gordon Wagener, which characterizes the new line of the company. If you look closely, of course, you will find differences in detail and proportions, in the depth of relief and the direction of the side lines, in the size and design of the lamps, as well as in the plastic of the tailgate and lower front and rear bumpers. However, this does not change the facts in any way.

Perfect aerodynamics

Although until recently Mercedes did not have its own wind tunnel and had to use the premises of the Stuttgart University of Technology, the company's engineers once again demonstrated how to create aerodynamically efficient cars. The new styling looks in every way, but not with the solid and smooth surfaces that have been associated with good aerodynamics for decades. Experts in this field have long recognized that “the devil is in the details,” and in recent years, Mercedes engineers have demonstrated unrivaled expertise in solving problems in this area. Let me remind you - CLA Blue Efficiency, for example, has an incredible flow rate of 0,22! With the shorter and of course more difficult to optimize shape of the A-Class, the figure is 0,27, and despite the higher ground clearance and wider GLA tires, it has a flow factor of 0,29. The same parameter for the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 is 0,32 and 0,33, respectively, while the VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage boast values of 0,37. Combined with a small front area and a correspondingly low air resistance index, the GLA definitely guarantees less voltage for the drive unit at high speeds. However, this seemingly dry data can also be interpreted more broadly because it clearly shows the tremendous work that the Mercedes people have done in this area. Each detail is meticulously individualized and is an integral part of the interior, much of the floor structure is covered with panels, a rear roof spoiler optimizes flow, the mirrors are specially shaped and even the taillights have clear side edges that direct the air outward. out of the car. The pursuit of aerodynamic precision in every part is directly related to the quality of the car's workmanship, which is expressed, for example, in narrow and even joints. Of course, this equation has many more components that we cannot list here. An example is the fact that the GLA focuses on the installation and sealing of doors, which plays an important role not only in providing a brand-specific click when closing, but also in their stability at high speeds while reducing the amount of air. the pressure along them tends to "pull" them out and increase the noise level. The same goes for the overall optimization of the flow around the C-pillars and their border with the doors, and the end of it all can be found in the form of a functional diffuser in the rear of the car. A factor in the overall quality of the model can be considered a complex body structure with precisely calculated deformation zones - about 73 percent of the body structure consists of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. Something traditional for the brand: Before the production model was approved, the 24 pre-production vehicles covered a total of over 1,8 million kilometers on various routes such as race tracks, mountain roads and gravel roads, including towing a trailer with a maximum total train weight of 3500 kg.

Of course, the GLA inherited from them not only the experience gained during the tests, but also a wide range of active safety systems, driver assistance, information and entertainment, as well as up to nine airbags.

In the context of the GLA's overall dynamic radiance, its interior is also shaped. For an SUV model, the seats are quite sporty, the driver sits deeper, there is plenty of front and rear legroom thanks to the long wheelbase, and the only complaint is the slightly shorter horizontal part of the rear seats. The slanted rear side windows reduce rear-seat visibility somewhat, there's less headroom than the Q3, and the same goes for luggage. In general, the interior of the GLA does not suffer from a lack of space, and the quality is fully consistent with the declared brand. It is still unclear why the top surface of the dashboard is raised so high - the latter not only reduces visibility, but also the overall feeling of a wide view ahead.

Opportunity to improve education

Ground clearance of 170 mm is acceptable for a model not wanting to leave the tarmac, but Mercedes will offer the Offroad chassis as an option for the GLA from mid-year, providing an additional 34 mm in ground clearance. It not only improves bumping ability, but also provides a more comfortable setting. If you have more sporting tastes, there is also a 15mm lowered sport suspension, which, of course, gives the car a more rigid behavior. The latter is neither a recommended nor a sensible solution, because the standard GLA chassis with multi-link rear suspension is definitely very well balanced in terms of performance and comfort, and is complemented by relatively direct steering with excellent feedback.

The latter also applies to four engines that will be available for the GLA at launch – two petrols from the M270 four-cylinder range (which we have detailed) in 1,6 and 2,0-liter versions and 156 hp. C. Accordingly. .s. (GLA 200) and 211 liters. (GLA 250) and two diesel engines with a working volume of 2,2 liters and a power of 136 hp. (GLA 200 CDI) and 170 hp (GLA 220 CDI).

Unlike all its other lineups in this front-wheel-drive platform, Mercedes' compact segment uses a high-speed plate clutch with a pump driven directly by an electric motor as its centerpiece, transferring up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. Mercedes engineers have managed to reduce the weight of the dual transmission to 70 kg and make it extremely responsive. The compact system is only available for dual clutch versions and is available for all versions except the basic one. The 7G-DCT transmission itself is standard equipment on the GLA 250 and GLA 220 CDI, as well as the smaller GLA 200 and GLA 200 CDI.

Text: Georgy Kolev