Recent years suggest that the demand for luxury cars have increased considerably. All three Germans- Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are aiming to tap this growing luxury car market of the country. Keeping this in mind, the car manufacturers are set to introduce several new products in India. The Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover is also one of the most awaited cars this year. Scheduled to be launched by the end of this year, the GLA will compete against the likes of BMW X1 and the Audi Q3. However, we believe that Mercedes-Benz’s entry into this segment has been late.
Based on the A-Class platform, the Mercedes-Benz GLA will be offered in both petrol and diesel guise. The petrol version, GLA200, will be powered by the 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection engine that churns out a maximum power output of 156PS and 250Nm of torque. This engine accelerates the GLA200 to 100kmph from rest in just 8.9 seconds and the car catches a top speed of 205kmph. The oil burner will get the new 2.1-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 136PS of top power and 300Nm of peak torque. This engine propelled this crossover to 0-100kmph in 10 seconds. Both the engines will be paired to 7G-DCT automatic transmission with dual clutch setup. The petrol version of the crossover is also likely to feature paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
As standard features, the GLA Crossover is likely to feature 18-inch alloys, reverse parking camera, bi-xenon headlamps with integrated DRLs and others. The other equipment levels include nine airbags, dual zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof with electric sunroof and Mercedes-Benz’s multi-media system with Bluetooth, USB, AUX and iPod controls.
Both variants of the Mercedes-Benz GLA are going through homologations and product testing phase in India. The GLA Crossover is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 30-40 lakh. The 4Matic model and the AMG version of the Mercedes compact SUV will also make its Indian debut.
