The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is the smallest vehicle offered as a GL-branded sport-utility vehicle by the German luxury maker. Small crossovers may be the hottest part of the car market globally, and luxury offerings are flooding into the market fast. You can think of the 2015 GLA as a more compact version of utility vehicles such as the compact GLK and the mid-size ML, with an added dash of urban flair. Inside, the GLA makes good use of the retro-style horizontal shelf layout combined with five circular vents and smoothly rounded details鈥 攁 look that fits just as well in this small car as it does in vehicles like the new S-Class. We especially like the display screen that hovers above the dash top, as a standalone plane, rather than taking up space in an instrument panel made larger and thicker to accommodate it. Materials and textures look different in the upper dash than down below, and materials like matte-satin wood stand apart from what鈥檚 currently offered in this class.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is the smallest vehicle offered as a GL-branded sport-utility vehicle by the German luxury maker. Small crossovers may be the hottest part of the car market globally, and luxury offerings are flooding into the market fast. You can think of the 2015 GLA as a more compact version of utility vehicles such as the compact GLK and the mid-size ML, with an added dash of urban flair. Inside, the GLA makes good use of the retro-style horizontal shelf layout combined with five circular vents and smoothly rounded details鈥攁 look that fits just as well in this small car as it does in vehicles like the new S-Class. We especially like the display screen that hovers above the dash top, as a standalone plane, rather than taking up space in an instrument panel made larger and thicker to accommodate it. Materials and textures look different in the upper dash than down below, and materials like matte-satin wood stand apart from what鈥檚 currently offered in this class.

The GLA 250 is powered by a 208-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 258 lb-ft of torque. A standard seven-speed dual-clutch transmission propels it to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds, and to a top speed of 145 mph. Stop-start is standard, though it can be switched off. The GLA is hardly a rock-climbing off-roader in the Jeep vein, but it provides rugged ability and a surprisingly capable AWD system to take you through snow or to the outdoor activity of your choice. As with the systems in most recent M-B vehicles, includes the power take-off in the transmission to help save weight and aid efficiency. These models get Downhill Speed Regulation, as well as an off-road transmission mode, and with 4Matic, the rear axle carrier gets special rubber bushings for ride comfort. That is, the GLA 4 Matic isn't limited just to muddy sports fields and slick roads.

Its CLA sedan underpinnings give the GLA passenger-car handling and roadholding, though its greater height and higher seating position make body roll more apparent on fast corners. Steering is provided by a new electromechanical system that鈥檚 designed to pair with stability-control intervention, to aid control. The interior is commendably quiet as Mercedes-Benz has focused on cutting aerodynamic drag, optimizing mirror housings, fine-tuning airflow in back with a spoiler, and adding underbody paneling. Up front, the power-adjustable seats are comfortable and well-bolstered. The small footprint of the GLA makes the rear seat a tight fit for adults, though. There's plenty of headroom, but like the CLA, legroom is limited--and taller drivers in front can push back their seats to make rear-seat legroom disappear almost entirely. Cargo volume is limited by the steeply raked liftgate, though with the rear seat folded flat, 46 cubic feet is available. The GLA is best used not by small families, but by couples. Safety features in the GLA include eight standard airbags, Attention Assist drowsy-driver detection, and a radar-based Collision Prevention Assist with Adaptive Brake Assist, which can curb collisions from 4 mph on up. Standard features on every GLA 250 include 18-inch alloy wheels, a power liftgate, power front seats with memory, and on the 4Matic version, Downhill Speed Regulation, Offroad Drive Program, and Offroad Display. 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. 10,000 or more of options to either model.

Like most Mercedes-Benz products, the GLA is endowed with an attractively simple interior that features large, clear instrumentation. 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 auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats and a Harman Kardon audio system with satellite radio. The Multimedia package adds a larger 8-inch screen, a hard-drive-based navigation system, voice controls, a rearview camera, an in-dash SD card reader and five years of real-time traffic and weather. 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, multi-color ambient lighting and MB-Tex dash trim. Lastly, the Driver Assistance package includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and a blind-spot monitor. Standalone options include a few of the packaged items above plus bi-xenon headlights and LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, parking sensors combined with an automated parking system, a power passenger seat with memory, a blind-spot monitor and aluminum interior trim. The high-performance AMG GLA 45 comes standard with all-wheel drive and includes the GLA250's standard features plus a more powerful engine, sport exhaust, unique 19-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension and steering and upgraded brakes. Bi-xenon headlights and styling tweaks that include a more aggressive front fascia, flared wheel arches and quad tailpipes are also standard, as are the power passenger seat and ambient lighting. Options largely mirror those of the GLA250, but also include Recaro sport seats, an upgraded steering wheel and a large rear spoiler. The Dynamic Plus package supplants last year's Driver's package and adds 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, a limited-slip front differential, a "Race" driving mode and a higher top speed. Multiple carbon-fiber trim packages and the Aerodynamics Package add performance and aesthetic appeal.