Overview
 
Sitting at the bottom of Mercedes-Benz's SUV hierarchy, the diminutive GLA-class brings style and luxury in a compact package—and it's all-new for 2021. Under the hood is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic; all-wheel drive is optional, but isn't likely to make the GLA-class ready to tackle the Rubicon. A tuned-up AMG version (reviewed separately) will more readily satisfy speed freaks. Improved interior materials, new tech features, and contemporary exterior styling are all marked improvements versus the outgoing 2020 model and will bring the 2021 GLA-class in line with the rest of the modernized Mercedes lineup.
 
Technical Overview
 
As with the 2020 model, the new 2021 GLA-class is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front or all four wheels. This time around, the engine makes 221 horsepower—up from 208 in the current model—and is paired up with an eight-speed automatic rather than the current seven-speed. At our test track, an all-wheel drive GLA250 4Matic snapped off a zero-to-60-mph time of just 6.3 seconds. Despite its peppy performance, that result is actually slower than the last model, which managed a 5.7-second result in the same test. While the 2021 GLA250 hasn't lost all of its spunkiness in the redesign, the suspension is notably more compliant over rough stretches of road—a welcome improvement over the old model.