Mercedes-Benz may not be known for building small, front-wheel-drive-based hatchbacks, but in Europe it sells several of them. Across the pond, the luxury brand鈥檚 compact range includes the A-class hatchback, the B-class mini-MPV (available in the States as an EV), the CLA-class shooting-brake wagon, and the GLA-class crossover. The four look so similar that it鈥檚 hard to tell them apart. Perhaps the GLA doesn鈥檛 say SUV loudly enough for consumers to hear. Bucking the industry trend, the GLA crossover was outsold by its CLA sedan sibling in 2016, albeit by only a few hundred units. So it makes sense that when Mercedes updated the GLA for 2018, it put a priority on making it look more SUV rugged. A new front end sports a reshaped bumper and a restyled grille that looks more like those found on Benz鈥 檚 larger SUVs, the GLE and the GLS. Dimpled black plastic body cladding, added along the side sills, suggests off-road ability, while the tail features a mildly reshaped bumper and restyled taillights.

Mercedes-Benz may not be known for building small, front-wheel-drive-based hatchbacks, but in Europe it sells several of them. Across the pond, the luxury brand鈥檚 compact range includes the A-class hatchback, the B-class mini-MPV (available in the States as an EV), the CLA-class shooting-brake wagon, and the GLA-class crossover. The four look so similar that it鈥檚 hard to tell them apart. Perhaps the GLA doesn鈥檛 say SUV loudly enough for consumers to hear. Bucking the industry trend, the GLA crossover was outsold by its CLA sedan sibling in 2016, albeit by only a few hundred units. So it makes sense that when Mercedes updated the GLA for 2018, it put a priority on making it look more SUV rugged. A new front end sports a reshaped bumper and a restyled grille that looks more like those found on Benz鈥檚 larger SUVs, the GLE and the GLS. Dimpled black plastic body cladding, added along the side sills, suggests off-road ability, while the tail features a mildly reshaped bumper and restyled taillights.

In our test vehicle鈥檚 attractive combination of the new Canyon Beige paint with 19-inch black wheels, the freshened GLA does at least have more road presence, although the jury is still out on whether it looks like a real crossover. The GLA250鈥檚 performance, though, remains firmly in the compact-hatchback camp鈥攁 good thing for drivers. Mercedes-Benz doesn鈥檛 note any engine or transmission tweaks, yet this 2018 example outaccelerated its 2016 counterpart, recording a 5.8-second sprint to 60 mph (versus 6.1 seconds previously). That鈥檚 significantly quicker than any of its direct competitors鈥攁nd hot on the heels of a Volkswagen Golf GTI with an automatic. The wild, 375-hp AMG GLA45 also is available for more ardent speed freaks. The GLA250 is not particularly sprightly in everyday driving, however, and the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is to blame. In its default Comfort mode, sluggish shifts accentuate the engine鈥檚 turbo lag; Sport mode helps keep the 2.0-liter on boil and sharpens throttle response considerably.

We wish Mercedes-Benz had implemented more changes to the interior, which mostly carries over save for a 1.0-inch-larger infotainment screen and some additional chrome trim. It feels well built, but the dour black plastics and overall design simply don鈥檛 measure up to the standard set by Benz鈥檚 superb cabins found in everything from the C-class on up. Since the GLA鈥檚 dimensions haven鈥檛 changed, this refresh can鈥檛 help the cramped rear seat and cargo area, which limit the practical appeal of this so-called utility vehicle. It doesn鈥檛 come cheap, either. 30,000 range is enticingly low for anything wearing a three-pointed star, sparse standard equipment means that you need to pay up to get expected features such as heated seats, leather upholstery, navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. 1500) packages, as well as a couple of stand-alone options. There鈥檚 not one among those that we鈥檇 easily jettison, beyond perhaps sacrificing the aesthetic charms of the Sport and Night packages. 50,100, a GLA equipped like this one has completely eclipsed any sort of hot-hatch comparison and treads deep into the territory of the much more nicely appointed and elegant GLC-class crossover. Even if the updated GLA looks more rugged than before, it has not been elevated to that level.

SUMMARY: The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4MATIC is one good-looking machine. It is sleek and sexy with its aerodynamic presence and stance. In fact, it may well be the best looking vehicle to come out of the Mercedes SUV stable. Okay, the AMG version is a little racier. The four-cylinder turbocharged four-banger delivers more than adequate acceleration, while maintaining an impressive fuel economy of 24-mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The electromechanical power steering delivers a positive feel and enhances the overall handling characteristics. I missed not having a navigation program installed, and also not having a rearview camera. Entering the GLA250 necessitated using caution due to my height and the sharp 鈥淎鈥?pillar angle and low roofline, but the sleekly designed and emotionally stirring exterior made it worth it. While you wouldn鈥檛 want to go 鈥渞ock-crawling鈥? the GLA250 4MATIC is a capable performer off-pavement or in less than desirable weather conditions.