Mercedes-Benz GLA

SUVs are supposed to be the Swiss Army Knife of cars; they can ferry people, haul large items, go off/on road and everything in between. It’s small wonder they have been catching on, and the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 is certainly capitalizing on that.

As talented as SUVs can be, there’s a rather vocal group who are quick to dismiss SUVs. They would criticize the tall ride height and additional weight as unnecessary penalization of handling and fuel economy.

Ironically, I consider myself to be part of that group (or perhaps, used to) so I won’t disagree. But I am also well aware of the allure of SUVs and why they are trending. To the majority of car buyers, the added sense of security (even if it’s completely psychological), increased visibility, and extra space trump handling any time.

The tall ride height may be unnecessary on tarmac, but it raises the seats to an ideal height that’s close to most adults’ hip points, so it’s minimizes the effort of getting in and out. Plus, it’s reassuring to know it can tackle mild flash floods, just like how no one needs 400 horsepower but it’s nice to know you have them under your right foot.

All abovementioned advantages of an SUV are present in the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 when compared to its sedan/hatchback sibling – the Mercedes-Benz A250. But more on that later in the interior aspect.