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Mercedes-Benz GLA review - not just a ramped up A-class - Design

Merc's GLA is a mildly SUV-like take on the A-class.

Evo rating
RRP
from £25,260
  • Comfortable, spacious, well-made, looks interesting
  • Limited manual options, none-too generous specification

Design

The Mercedes GLA barely looks like an SUV at all such is its wide and low design, though when the car is finished in a darker hue, the contrasting silver-painted sections front and rear, plus the roof rails, do distance it from the Mercedes A-class it clearly shares so much with. Not all will like the stylistic swage lines along the sides or the bulges in the bonnet, but it's certainly a smart looking premium SUV and its large tri-pointed star grille badge will appeal to the image and status conscious.

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It looks even better in AMG Line specification and with the optional panoramic sliding roof. Remarkably, the GLA 45 AMG can be personalised to look no more attention grabbing than a mildly specified regular model, though the options list has plenty to tempt the extrovert too.

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