Mercedes' smallest crossover鈥攊f you can call it that鈥攔eturns this year to challenge our ideas of compact SUVs, performance, and rear seat head room. Offered as a base front-drive GLA250, all-wheel drive GLA250, or top Mercedes-AMG GLA45, the GLA class may follow Mercedes' nomenclature as an SUV, but it's in a class all its own. It earns a 6.2 out of 10 on our overall scale thanks to decent fuel economy and features. If you thought 2016's version was nice, you'll love it twice: 2017's model changes very little. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class shares its running gear with the small CLA sedan, but with a taller road presence and shorter frame. Some of its features are exaggerated to give it a bolder presence on the road, such as its big 18-inch wheels and big three-pointed star stuffed in the grille. Inside, the GLA reads like a 4/5ths-scale Mercedes SUV with all the customary elements in place. For 2017, Mercedes opted for a larger 8.0-inch center display this year (last year was 7.0-inches across), but it still feels like an afterthought in the car.

Mercedes' smallest crossover鈥攊f you can call it that鈥攔eturns this year to challenge our ideas of compact SUVs, performance, and rear seat head room. Offered as a base front-drive GLA250, all-wheel drive GLA250, or top Mercedes-AMG GLA45, the GLA class may follow Mercedes' nomenclature as an SUV, but it's in a class all its own. It earns a 6.2 out of 10 on our overall scale thanks to decent fuel economy and features. If you thought 2016's version was nice, you'll love it twice: 2017's model changes very little. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class shares its running gear with the small CLA sedan, but with a taller road presence and shorter frame. Some of its features are exaggerated to give it a bolder presence on the road, such as its big 18-inch wheels and big three-pointed star stuffed in the grille. Inside, the GLA reads like a 4/5ths-scale Mercedes SUV with all the customary elements in place. For 2017, Mercedes opted for a larger 8.0-inch center display this year (last year was 7.0-inches across), but it still feels like an afterthought in the car.

Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbo-4 in two very different states of tune awaits buyers. The normal, GLA250 version makes 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. When it was first made available, the engine-transmission duo was relatively new鈥攏ow, it's par for the course. Mercedes says the little SUV can make the run up to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 145 mph. The GLA45 boosts the 2.0-liter turbo-4 all the way up to 375 hp and 350 lb-ft (which is the highest output per liter of any mass-produced engine) and 0-60 mph times drop to 4.3 seconds, officially. You might be expecting a riot, and you'd be right: the potent engine is hugely entertaining. The GLA250 is made standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is available. The GLA45 is all-wheel drive only. No sane owner will try to make a GLA do the same kinds of off-road duty as a Jeep, but it's surprisingly capable AWD system provides rugged ability in snow and on dirty and gravel tracks.

The GLA 4Matic isn't limited just to muddy sports fields and slick roads, though. AWD models are fitted with Downhill Speed Regulation, as well as an off-road transmission mode. The taller ride height makes body roll more apparent on fast corners, but its CLA sedan underpinnings let the GLA offer roadholding and handling that鈥檚 more like a passenger car than a utility vehicle. The front seats are well bolstered and all-day comfortable, but the rear seats in the GLA are still a tight fit for adults. There isn't much leg room in the back, and if tall drivers push front seats back far, leg room altogether disappears. The GLA only sports 17 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, 43.6 cubes with the seats folded down. It's not as practical as others in its class, but it should be OK for most weekend duty. A rigorous focus by designers on reducing aerodynamic drag and wind noise gives the GLA a commendably quiet interior and ride. A few examples include a tailgate spoiler to extend the roofline, underbody panels to reduce turbulence, and carefully shaped door-mirror housings. Frustratingly, neither the IIHS nor federal testers have crashed a GLA, despite being on sale now for two years. Standard safety features start with eight airbags: front, side, and knee bags for front-seat occupants, plus side-curtain bags across front- and rear-door windows. Also standard is a forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, which we appreciate. Standard features on every GLA250 include 18-inch alloy wheels, a power liftgate, power front seats with memory, and on the 4Matic version, hill descent control and other off-road assistance programs. The list of options is extensive, but highlights include the COMAND vehicle information and infotainment system, bi-xenon headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, and that suite of electronic active-safety systems.

Mercedes-Benz just revealed their updated GLA range of compact luxury crossovers in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. For 2018, this family is receiving a broad array of enhancements, though there are no truly groundbreaking changes. Get the Flash Player to see this player. The mainstream GLA250 is dressed up with restyled bumpers front and rear that should help improve overall aerodynamics, there are also fresh wheel designs and a standard rear-view camera. For extra cash, there鈥檚 an available hands-free liftgate and LED headlamps that use 60 percent less energy than the old bi-xenon units they replace. Canyon Beige is a fresh exterior color for the new model year. Moving inside, an eight-inch display is now standard and drivers are treated to a fresh instrument-cluster design. Further gussying things up, there鈥檚 new trim, plus Android Auto is now supported by the optional smartphone integration package. For the first time in the GLA, you can also get a new parking assist package, which features a surround-view camera. Further upping the ante, an exclusive AMG Performance Studio Package is available on the CLA45 an GLA45 models. These extra-exclusive vehicles are painted black and feature various matte gray and yellow accents. Their interiors get a similarly bright color scheme. That鈥檚 a quick look at the updated 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. These vehicles should go on sale in the U.S. Pricing has yet to be determined.

For the all-wheel-drive GLA250 4Matic, hill descent control and an off-road status monitor for the 7-inch display (including steering angle, tilt angle and grade percentage) add sport-activity credentials. The Premium package features a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with satellite radio. The Multimedia package adds a larger 8-inch screen, a navigation system, voice controls and smartphone integration via Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Sport package adds 19-inch wheels, upgraded brakes and more aggressive-looking exterior styling. Available only with the Sport package, the Night package adds black wheels and gloss-black exterior accents. The Interior package features leather seating, front sport seats, upgraded ambient interior lighting and MB-Tex dash trim. The Driver Assistance package includes adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. Lastly, the Convenience package adds auto-dimming mirrors and a garage door opener. Standalone options include a few of the packaged items above plus xenon headlights and LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, parking sensors combined with an automated parking system and a 14-way power passenger seat with memory.