Skip advert
Advertisement

Used Mercedes GLA (Mk1, 2013-2020) review - What do owners think?

Owners are fairly pleased Mercedes GLA's reliability and build quality

After a dip in quality in the nineties and early noughties, Mercedes once again produces some of the more reliable cars you can buy.

That being said, in our 2021 Driver Power satisfaction survey, Mercedes ranked 13th out of 29 brands in our manufacturer poll, which isn't particularly indicative of a highly reliable marque. Indeed, Mercedes finished lower than premium rivals such as Jaguar, Lexus, Porsche and Volvo. However, owners reported more issues with cars built by Audi and BMW.

Reliability

Although the GLA didn’t get into the 2017 or 2018 Driver Power satisfaction surveys, the third-generation A-Class did. It finished 69th in 2017, beaten by the Audi Q3 (13th), Kia Sportage (12th) and Volvo XC60 (ninth). Owners rated the A-Class’s running costs and reliability, but not its engine, gearbox and safety kit. A year later it finished 56th out of 75 cars, with 11 per cent of owners finding a fault within the first year of owning their A-Class.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,435Avg. savings £5,965 off RRP*Used from £9,990
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £25,250Avg. savings £2,502 off RRP*Used from £8,995
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,310Avg. savings £2,713 off RRP*Used from £9,970
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,870Avg. savings £4,749 off RRP*Used from £9,222
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Jaecoo 8 review
Auto Express senior content editor Shane Wilkinson standing next to the Jaecoo 8

Jaecoo 8 review

Jaecoo’s biggest car boasts a competitive price, surprising performance and seven seats, but its appeal for large families is limited
In-depth reviews
29 Apr 2026
Crucial new Volkswagen ID. Polo EV arrives with 283-mile range and £25k price tag
Volkswagen ID Polo - front static

Crucial new Volkswagen ID. Polo EV arrives with 283-mile range and £25k price tag

The new Volkswagen ID. Polo is the latest entrant in the rapidly-growing electric supermini sector that includes the Renault 5 Cupra Raval and Hyundai…
News
29 Apr 2026
New Geely EX5 Ultra offers new battery and an extra 13 miles more range to enjoy
Geely EX5 Ultra - side

New Geely EX5 Ultra offers new battery and an extra 13 miles more range to enjoy

The new EX5 Ultra is “well suited to active lifestyles and light towing” according to Geely
News
27 Apr 2026