In-depth reviews

Mercedes GLA review - Reliability and safety

Mercedes GLA customers should feel reassured by good levels of safety and decent reliability

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Reliability and safety Rating

3.8 out of 5

Find your Mercedes GLA
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The GLA finished in 58th place on a 75-car list in our 2022 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, down from 54th position in the previous year. Mercedes itself has showed signs of improvement in recent manufacturer polls, moving up from 2020's 28th place (out of 30 brands), to a more encouraging 13th spot in 2021. However, the upward movement was shortlived as the premium German automaker was back down to 23rd position in 2022.

Safety is an area where Mercedes customers can feel reassured. While the latest GLA hasn’t yet been safety tested by Euro NCAP, the A-Class hatchback scored five stars in 2018, with adult and child occupant protection receiving scores of 96 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively. 

With lots of standard safety equipment, we would expect the new GLA to perform just as well. It includes kit such as a lane-keeping assist system, Active Brake Assist, cruise control, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers. The Premium Plus versions also feature Traffic Sign Assist which is able to recognise speed limits and road sign information and display them to the driver. 

Warranty

Mercedes’ warranty is a three-year/unlimited-mileage package. This is identical to the package supplied with Land Rover and BMW models, but goes one better than the Audi warranty, which limits cover to three years and 60,000 miles.

Servicing

Mercedes offers its ServiceCare plans to help with scheduled servicing costs. Prices start from around £30 a month, and you can pay either in monthly payments, or as a one-off upfront fee. 

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    GLA 180 Sport 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £31,950

Most Economical

  • Name
    GLA 250e AMG Line Executive 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £42,525

Fastest

  • Name
    GLA 250 AMG Line 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £36,500
Executive editor

Paul was employed across automotive agency and manufacturer-side sectors before joining Auto Express in 2020 as our online reviews editor. After a brief sojourn at a national UK newspaper, Paul returned as executive editor where he now works closely with our commercial partners.

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is an ideal family SUV for £210 per month
Vauxhall Grandland front cornering
News

Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is an ideal family SUV for £210 per month

Vauxhall’s largest SUV can be had for the same price as most superminis, making it our Deal of the Day for 1 December
1 Dec 2023