Hi,
I'm torn b/w the GLB or GLA as my 1st Mercedes coming out of a Lexus IS 250.. does the GLB feel like an suv vs driving a car? Is it heavy &/or hard to maneuver? Appreciate all pros/cons...
Thx!

 

Can you test drive them? The GLA is not well loved on this site. I would call it a Nissan commuter vehicle with a Mercedes badge. The GLA is a shared platform with Nissan, not a widely publicized fact by MB.

The GLB looks OK but it has a noticeably smaller and less expensive feeling (cheaper) interior than the GLC.

Is a preowned GLC in your price range? I suggest a GLC rather than a GLB. The GLC is larger, more luxurious and has a proper north-south drivetrain layout. The GLB has a passenger car east-west drivetrain layout. The east-west layout will be louder and buzzier and have more ponderous handling compared with the north-south layout.

 

thx! what do u mean but a north - south vs east-west layout? TBH, I don't love driving big cars so I don't think I'd be happier with the bigger GLC & don't really need that much space b/c I only have one kid (13 year old)...

 

The GLA/B are both cheaply built front wheel drive cars. They ride cheap, they feel cheap, have a lot of road noise, and traction issues while accelerating into a turn. Neither has the solid feel of a true Mercedes. I agree that you should look at a GLC, which is rear wheel drive, rides nice, and has been a relatively trouble free platform, and it's not a big car.

 

Since you asked about GLA & GLB, I’ll give you an opinion on those. I’ve driven both and own a GLB.

First, neither one will drive like an IS250. I have a C250 which I consider a heads up competitor to the IS250.

The GLA is the smallest SUV in the Mercedes line up. It is small and easy to maneuver and park. It was originally built in a joint venture facility with the Infiniti Q30 from 2016-2019. Nissan left the joint venture because they “could not get the price Mercedes gets” for their cars. I was quite happy with a GLA as a loaner while my C250 was being serviced. it handled well in city and suburban traffic, had more than adequate power for interstate highway driving, and was fairly quiet.

The GLB is a new (2020) entry into the MB SUV line up. It fills the gap between the GLA & GLC. It is almost exactly the same size as the GLK which was replaced by the slightly larger the GLC. The GLB has a 7 passenger option that you will not need. It has a lot more cargo space than the GLA. I find the GLB easy to drive and maneuver in city, suburban, and rural settings. It’s quieter inside than my C250. It is longer than the GLA, but only 15’2” so it’s smaller than many sedans. The seating position is higher than the GLA so the forward road view is more SUV-like. It is very comfortable on the highway.

I suppose that from a pure performance viewpoint, RWD is preferable to FWD. How the vehicle reacts in corners depends a lot on how hard you like to hit those corners. FWD is very un-Mercedes to the purists. But by the time you get to 4-Matic (MB’s AWD), that distinction is gone anyway. Also, the interiors of the GLA & GLB have lost the “feel” of the older mainstream MB vehicles. The cruise control is on the steering wheel rather than on a stalk behind it. There is less wood on the interior and more aluminum. Ambient lighting is spread throughout the cabin rather than on the overhead consoles. The climate controls that have been the same since time immemorial are now on the touch screen and can be set by voice command.

But some of the things that old MB owners have grown to love, are exactly the things that drivers of other cars find strange. Coming from Lexus, you may have a different perspective. What I did not find when I drove either the GLA or GLB was that they were cheap, noisy, or ride poorly. What I did find are vehicles that are responsive and easy to drive. My suggestion is that you spend a few hours in each one and make your decision. There’s plenty of overlap in the GLB/GLC pricing, so a new GLC may not be out of the question.

BTW - I think North/South refers to a longitudinal engine placement and East/West to transverse.

 

GLA is more of a hatch than CUV and has very limited cargo space. GLB is much more practical car compared to GLA. Interior design is almost identical and I would imagine, so is the quality. GLB is a true CUV, has a look and feel of SUV but drives like a sedan. I do not find that it is cheaply built, however to fairness it is far less luxurious than old class MB or current E, S class. Coming from Toyota products, I would call GLB as Rav4 of MB world, very practical, good quality but not very luxurious (Although I love dual 10" screens that come with Premium package). GLB is definitely rides much nicer and more fun than any Toyota I drove.

GLB and GLC practically the same size. GLC is slightly bigger on outside, however GLB is bigger on inside. Due to GLB boxy design it feels much more spacious on inside. If you love the rear wheel drive feel you most likely be happier with GLC.

The best thing you can do is test drive and see which one you like the most, however GLC would be on the pricier side compared to GLA and GLB, if you do not take AMG versions into consideration.

 

thx for all the helpful info! so I basically only drive around town for errands etc & to drive my son places... my husband just got an Audi Q5 SUV (he came out of a BMW 5 series sedan) so we've always taken his car on weekends/trips since his car has always been bigger than my lexus IS250. I'm more comfortable driving smaller cars since I'm used to my lexus (have had it for 15 years) so that's why I'm torn b/w GLA vs GLB... the trunk on my IS has been sufficient b/c I don't really use it lol; in hindsight, I should've invested in an SUV when my son was small & I had strollers etc... I'm just debating if it will still be easy to drive the GLB since bigger than the GLA & will it be nice to have the extra space.. I would get the parking assistance package on the GLB if I go for that to help me with parallel parking LOL
I thought about the C class too which I love but I think I like the idea of the GLA or GLB better as something different from my lexus

 

also I would get 4 matic in both so all wheel drive

 

If you coming off IS250, why not look into C300 4matic? It is direct competitor to IS and in the same price range as GLB. 2022 C class will be completely redesigned model. There is also smaller CLA and A class.

 

thx good to know... yes I thought about the C class too but wasn't sure it would give me more space than my lexus in back seat? When I bought my lexus, I was initially torn b/c that & the c class. I know the 2021 c class doesn't have the touch screen but I guess the 2022 may..?

 

The new C class will have touch screen and similar configuration to more expensive S class.

 

wow that's a pretty interior! thx so much for showing me that photo! hmm; I'm torn b/c I'm just not sure if I'm gaining any more space in back seat than my Lexus... & I also feel like maybe the GLA or GLB is a little more youthful looking even tho the C class is such a pretty sedan! I'm 50 with a 13 year old son; I almost see myself in the C class more once he's in college?

 

I am close to your age with 2 kids and we have plenty of room in the back of GLB. I would imagine that GLA would have less leg room since the wheel base is 6" shorter than GLB.

 

The interior layout of the GLB depends on the trim options selected. Here is another:

 

thx there's a GLA available with black leather; do you think the leather is worth the extra cost? What about getting navigation on either the GLB or GLA? thx

 

thx yes I think It's a little less leg room tho still more than my IS 250

 

Since you keep your cars a long time leather may be worth the cost. Well maintained leather will last a very ling time. The MBTex in my C250 is holding up very well but it’s less than 9 years old.

Navigation is a choice because there is always Google Maps on your smart phone. Navigation comes in a package that has added benefits combined with the onboard telematics. It now updates over the air which eliminates the problem of upgrading in car systems. Navigation does increase the resale value of the car.

 

great to know; thx so much!

 

sorry one more question..do u think it's worth ordering one to get everything I want/don't want with the current chip situation.. or is it better to grab one that's available now even if it has extra features/missing some features that I wanted..? thx

 

If it were me I would buy off the lot. Too much drama involved to order one. My time is better spent on things other than interacting with a car dealer.

 

Good point thx

 

I would order, but that's because I have very particluar tastes and would not be happy with a car missing some rare features, such as adaptive cruise and cooled seats. But if you're not so particular, buying off the lot is certainly easier. As for nav, probably unnecissary. Also, I disagree with what old piggy said, I think the MB-Tex is actually much nicer, better wearing, and longer lasting then real leather.

Also, in terms of GLA/GLB not a real Mercedes, blah blah blah, I wholeheartedly disagree. I drive an E Class, I've had CLA/GLA loaners a few times, and they drive differently, but I actually like the feel of the front drive cars. I feel they have better turn in and feel more nimble. Less like a boat, more like a go kart. Just a very different feel. And while the last gen had a disapoiting interior, the current one stepped it up a lot. I really like the rubarized section. The base GLC honestly isn't much nicer.

Also, yes Infiniti borrowed the GLA for their QX30, but it's not like Nissan made a lifted Sentra and let Mercedes use it, Mercedes developed it and let Infiniti make a version. Chassis really undersold the GLA. It's not as bad as he makes it out to be. I wonder how it hurt him. Did the GLA kill his family? The world may never know.

 

I don’t dislike the MBTex. I just don’t have long term experience with it. I have it in both my current Benzes. All my older Benzes had leather and I have seen 30 year old ones with leather that look very good.

 

What year is your E-class? The GLA/B is equivalent to a Hyundai with a star. Not that Hyundai's are bad cars, but they aren't benzes. These cars were built cheap to compete with other cheap cars. The original CLA/GLA are credited with MB's fall from grace as a luxury product in the U.S. They sold out their name and heritage for higher sales figures. Quite frankly, I wouldn't want to get hit in a GLA/B either. They are built like Asian cars, lightweight and thin sheetmetal. No thanks.

 

I do not think it is fair to say that current A/GLA and GLB class MB are cheaply made. It is true that they do not have truly luxury interior like higher class MB's, or have as much sound insulation, etc. However even on GLB you can get options that are offered on higher class models. My sister's BMW X5 had worse looking interior than current GLA/GLB. And the tech that is offered with GLA/GLB is similar to GLE's and GLS's. Yes you will not find massage chairs and leather wrapped lower panels and hand grips, but it is still drives like German car and have interior and tech superior to Japanese and Korean brands. It is not a necessary a bad thing to have an entry level BM for a larger consumer group. Eventually some of these people will get into more expensive MB models.