Mercedes has presented a brand-new GLA and it was about time if you ask me. The previous GLA was more of a raised A-Class,
and you got away with that in 2013 because crossovers were only an upcoming market. However, they're booming right now,
and you need a serious crossover to compete. Luckily, Mercedes now has one, and we're putting it up against a big player in the segment.
This is the BMW X1.
The current X1, which I'm driving right now, is of the second generation. However, there's a difference. The second generation X1 was introduced...
in 2015, which makes it kind of a veteran. It's five years old. It has been facelifted last year, I do have to say, so you can still show up in one.
It's still a really fresh and modern car to see. And it's the same with sitting in it, I really love this interior. Very lovely.
It all starts with the steering wheel. I've said it before and I'll say it again. No other company makes such good steering wheels as BMW.
They're nice and thick, they feel nice in the hand, they're compact, it's made of nice materials, and it's the most intimate part of the car.
You're always touching it, you know. I really like it. The interior also shows the car is getting on a bit.
The instrument cluster consists out of two analogue dials, so no electronic screens behind the steering wheel like in the Mercedes.
However, if you allow me to predict the future. I think that in about ten or fifteen years, analogue dials are going to be special.
Those are going to be premium. Mark my words, in the future all cars will have digital instrument clusters.
However, we're living today. And today, everything is a bit more conventional. It's all been well-designed, don't get me wrong.
Very true to BMW. Take the center console for example, which is aimed at the driver. Then there's the preset-buttons, which you can assign yourself.
Also, it still has the phenomenal iDrive-system. There's lots of ways to control an infotainment system, but iDrive is the only right one if you ask me.
It's just perfect with this turning knob. They should never change this.
The first generation X1 was a very cramped car on the inside. BMW only needed to hear that once because their second generation...
was big and still is. Even if you compare it with modern competitors. It's a very spacious car, especially in the back.
The boot can even hold 505 litres, which is a whole lot.
However, you mostly buy a BMW for the drive. This X1 is predominantly front-wheel drive, which you could've never imagined ten years ago.
Nowadays however, you can't get anything else in smaller BMW's. This particular X1 however has xDrive, so the rear wheels kick in sometimes.
But it's mostly front-wheel drive. And you've got to give BMW credit for their approach. They're able to give a front-wheel drive car a sharp...
edge. It's got a lot of feeling in the steering, which is very nice. It just drives very well, a very good driving experience really.
Of course, thanks to xDrive, understeer is cancelled out. Sure, it might heave a bit, but that's about it.
The steering will remain sharp and direct in any way. And that's very fitting with the engine in the front, which is the 20i. A 2.0-litre...
engine which feels very grown up. It produces 192 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. It's connected to an 8-speed automatic gearbox...
which is a very smooth combination. The drivetrain produces a lot of torque across the whole rev-range, which makes it a very nice car to drive.
But that comes at a price. I'm almost embarrassed to tell you what it costs, because I'm afraid you'll laugh at me.
Anyway, prices start at €54.000. However, this particular car comes with a few options. Which makes it cost €70.000.
That's just outrageous for an X1. Surely, it's all very-well built and all but what would you expect for that figure.
For this Mercedes-Benz GLA, you won't have to pay €70.000. Prices for this start at €49.000, which is still not cheap,
but it's only €55.000 with extra features. Quite the difference with BMW. However, it's an unfair comparison, because the Mercedes...
is front-wheel drive and it only produces 163 horsepower. It's the GLA 200-spec. But still, it's a big price gap.
But it's still a very good car. Very modern as well. There's a big screen in front of me, which takes up most of the dashboard.
Everything is on there. It once debuted in the S-Class and it was trickled down to smaller Mercedes-models, all the way down to the A-Class.
It's a great feature which lets you choose from different 'moods'. With that, you select a theme for your interior.
There's Lounge, there's Efficiency... Did you hear that? If you go near the lines on the road, it puts on the brakes. I think that's scary.
Weird system, but anyway. You have to operate everything on the inside through a touchpad, which I really hate. I'm left-handed, so that makes...
it difficult. Also, the voice controls don't work very well either. Operating the system is a bit of a hassle, but the system itself is very good.
Everything is on there and you can set all of the features yourself. What I like about this GLA is that it's quite a lot bigger than its predecessor.
That means it has a larger wheelbase which in turn means there's a lot more space in the back. Funny enough, the headroom is smaller,
but the back seat is further back. Also, you can change the angle. Add the enormous amount of legroom to that and the fact you...
can fit your fit beneath the seat, and you can conclude sitting in the back of the GLA is incredible.
If you compare that with the BMW, you can clearly distinguish the typical Mercedes-feeling. It's not weak or too soft or anything, but it's incredibly...
comfortable. Also, it only has 17-inch wheels. That used to be big, but nowadays that means you've got balloon-tires around them.
Besides that, the chassis is nice and soft. On straight roads like this, that's not a problem in any way. A very quiet and comfortable car.
If you encounter sharp corners however, it can prove to be a bit too soft. It could've been tighter.
It's powered by a 1.3-litre Renault-engine, producing 163 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. As long as you drive it normally,
it's a nice engine. If you start putting your foot down however, it gets a bit louder and edgier.
It's got a nice 7-speed automatic gearbox as well, which does its job perfectly fine. However, when you set off it sometimes is a tad too slow.
You have to put it in Drive and there's a delay before it does anything. It's the same for Reverse, and that can be annoying.
And then it's time to choose. That's always difficult, and I can hear myself complaining already. But it's really difficult, I swear.
If you ask me which car I'd rather take home tonight to keep, I would go for the BMW. It's sharper, it offers more experience,
it's very spacious... As a total picture, the BMW just takes it. However, if I have to pay myself... That's a whole other story.
We're talking about a price gap of €15.000. Sure, the BMW has four-wheel drive whilst the Mercedes only has front-wheel drive.
Sure, the BMW has a very luxurious trim whilst the Mercedes is a bit barebones. But still, the price is incredibly difficult to swallow.
So what's it gonna be? If you think driving experience is that important to you, the X1 is defendable, but the GLA has more pro's to it.
Costs are one of them, but I don't have the fuel numbers yet. I'm in the middle of the test, so I still have to calculate those.
Also, I have to put all of the points together. I think the BMW will take it, but the Mercedes still has a big chance. But there's a third car I'm...
comparing it to for the magazine. The Audi Q3 will join the party and it could put up quite the fight. Read all about it in AutoWeek.