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Car of the week - May 28th - Mercedes GLA 250 4matic

It started with the brilliant A250 and the even better A45 AMG. Then came the classy CLA and now Mercedes are continuing to target a younger audience with the trend-setting GLA 250 Crossover.

- Car of the Week: May 21st - BMW M4 Convertible
- Car of the week: May 14th - Toyota 86 TRD
- Car of the week: May 7th - Peugeot 308 Active Turbo

The one thing about Mercedes is that if they do something a little unexpected they don’t muck around with any half measures and this vehicle is no exception as their bid to lure a new generation of drivers to the brand moves up a gear.

It looks a bit like an oversized A250 because essentially that is exactly what it is, and it is certainly striking to look at with is sporty aerodynamic appearance, relatively long bonnet, aggressive front and compact, well designed rear...in other words a thoroughbred Merc.

Its athletic appearance is enhanced by the 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and twin-pipe exhaust system with chrome-plated tailpipes which are integrated into the bumper.

This might be an entry-level Merc but be in no doubt it is a classy looking machine which offers the ultimate in style and, in this particular case, impressive versatility or dexterity, as Mercedes like to describe it.

It is primarily designed for urban cruising where it really feels at home but it does offer limited off-road capability with its four-wheel-drive system, although heavy duty dune bashing would be over ambitious.

The interior is also impressive with extremely comfortable leather seats, signature Mercedes air vents which look like little jet engines, and an excellent infotainment system operated via a dial controller on the centre console and a good size screen on the dash.

I don’t like to moan, but I still don’t know why these i-pad type screens can’t be integrated better into the dash rather than looking like they have been stuck on at the last minute.

There is an array of high-tech driver aids which come as standard, including attention assist, which detects driver drowsiness and radar-based collision prevention with adaptive braking assist.

Optional packages include such things as lane tracking, blind spot alerts, adaptive highbeam assist and active parking assist.

Because this vehicle is aimed at youngsters and has to be priced appropriately the standard materials used on the dash and trim are not as high-grade as some Mercs.

However, it is fair to say that it has all been very nicely done so it doesn’t spoil the high-end feel and offers more practicality than a cabin packed with significantly more expensive leathers, woods and carbon-fibre.

So it looks good, feels prestigious, is reasonably spacious and comfortable, but what is it like to drive?

Well, it is powered by a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo with 211bhp and torque of 350nm.

It puts relatively impressive power down to the AWD system via an excellent seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.

There are three drive modes, eco, sport and manual with paddle-shifts on the steering wheel to give you more direct control.

It has a 0-100kmh time of around seven seconds which is potent enough but if you are looking for more impressive power you could always opt for the AMG version of this car, the GLA45.

Around town the car is plenty fast enough and impressively agile thanks to its chassis and suspension design and high traction provided by the all-wheel-drive system.

The GLA is equipped with DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation), and an off-road transmission mode as standard.

As previously mentioned, it is not designed for heavy duty terrain but for more lightweight enjoyment on loose ground and unsurfaced gradients.

I had no desire to take this off the beaten track because it was so enjoyable to drive on tarmac but I can imagine youngsters would fancy showing this off to their mates at a beach party or terrain a little more challenging than the Sheikh Zayed Road.

The GLA was officially launched by Emirates Motor Company at the Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi when EMC General Manager Kamal Rafih predicted it would help them achieve record sales in the current financial year.

Having driven it, I think he might be proved right.


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