Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLA a good car?
No.
2 of 7checks
- Family car: 1 of 4. Rear legroom 38.0 in. Class median 38.5 in.
- Seniors: 1 of 3. Clearance 5.2 in. Class middle half 6.9 to 8.4 in.
- Off-road: 5.2 in clearance. Top 100% of 173.
- Price: 14% above cars like it.
- Good buy: 12 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | No | 1 of 4 parts |
| First car | Yes | 5 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | Yes | $96 vs $111 a month |
| Seniors | No | 1 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | No | 5.2 in, top 100% |
| Worth the money | No | 14% above predicted |
| Good buy | No | 12 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the GLA a good family car?
No. Passes 1 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 38.0 in | Median 38.5 in | 167 | No |
| Rear headroom | 38.1 in | Median 38.7 in | 168 | No |
| Cargo behind the last row | 15.4 cu ft | Median 25.2 cu ft | 176 | No |
Is the GLA a good first car?
Yes. Passes 5 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,500 | Median $47,693 | 176 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 221 hp | 175 hp to 373 hp | 182 | Yes |
| Length | 173.6 in | Median 191.6 in | 178 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 37.4 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 11.0 cents | Median 12.8 cents | 179 | Yes |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the GLA a good commuter car?
Yes. $96 a month to commute. Class median $111.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $96
- Median of 179 SUVs
- $111
- Highway mpg
- 34 mpg, top 7% of 139
Is the GLA a good car for seniors?
No. Passes 1 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 5.2 in clearance, 63.5 in tall | 6.9 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.7 to 70.8 in tall | 156 | No |
| Front headroom | 39.0 in | Median 39.9 in | 169 | No |
| Turning circle | 37.4 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the GLA a good off-road vehicle?
No. 5.2 in clearance. Top 100% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- GLA 250 4MATIC AWD, 5.2 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the GLA worth the money?
No. Priced 14% above cars like it.
- Price, 250 FWD
- $41,500
- Predicted price
- $36,507
- Gap
- +$4,993 (+14%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the GLA a good buy?
No. 12 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
Cheapest 8 shown.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLA 250 FWD | $41,500 | 11.0 cents | 50.5 cu ft | 221 hp |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid LX FWD | $30,490 | 7.6 cents | 73.7 cu ft | 227 hp |
| Hyundai Tucson Hybrid SE FWD | $31,300 | 8.4 cents | 80.0 cu ft | 231 hp |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid LE | $32,210 | 9.8 cents | 64.3 cu ft | 248 hp |
| Toyota RAV4 XLE FWD | $36,100 | 7.4 cents | 70.4 cu ft | 226 hp |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SE FWD | $36,400 | 8.9 cents | 79.6 cu ft | 231 hp |
| Subaru Solterra Premium AWD | $38,495 | 4.8 cents | 63.5 cu ft | 233 hp |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid EX FWD | $38,890 | 8.6 cents | 75.5 cu ft | 227 hp |
| Toyota C-HR XSE AWD | $39,000 | 5.1 cents | 55.0 cu ft | 338 hp |
Compared with 1,106 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
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- Model-level, rule or estimate
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