Mercedes-Benz is about to expand its product portfolio in India. The carmaker will launch the GLA-class on September 30th 2014. The Mercedes-Benz GLA will be available with a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. Both engines will get a seven-speed gearbox and front-wheel drive only.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA will be a late entrant to the entry luxury compact crossover segment where the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and the Volvo V40 Cross Country are already present. So, how does the new GLA look against its rivals? To find out, we have compared the specifications of all four entry luxury compact crossovers on paper.
The heart of the matter
The Mercedes-Benz GLA will be available in both petrol and diesel guise. The petrol-powered GLA 200 gets a 1991cc, four-cylinder turbocharged engine which is good for 181bhp and 30.59kg of torque. The diesel-powered GLA will get the same 2143cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that also does duty on the C-class and the E-class. But on the GLA 200 CDI, the engine will make 134bhp and 30.5kgm of torque.
The Audi Q3 is available only with a diesel motor. The diesel Q3 is driven by a 1968cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged motor that is available in two states of tune. There’s a base trim which gets the 138bhp and 32.6kgm version that comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The middle and top trims get the 174bhp and 38.7kgm version which comes coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Also, the 138bhp version gets front-wheel drive while the 174bhp version gets Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive Quattro system as standard.
Just like the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 too is available only with a diesel engine. It is powered by a 1995cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged motor which produces 181.03bhp and 38.7kgm. It is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel drive system as standard.
Even the Volvo V40 Cross Country is available only with a diesel engine. It gets a 1984cc, five-cylinder, turbocharged diesel mill which generates 150bhp and 35.7kgm of torque. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive system as standard.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
