2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA Class vs. Its Competition

John Voelcker

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA falls into a compact luxury utility category whose contenders take remarkably varied approaches to small-size SUV-alikes.

The BMW X1 may be the most obvious contender; it's a tall and more traditional utility wagon, versus the GLA's hatchback shape and packaging.

The Range Rover Evoque is even more of an urban style statement than the GLA's aggressive flourishes make it, and it offers a two-door version that's impactical but even longer- and lower-looking.

Its powertrain, however, may be fuel-efficient, but it's also coarse.

Three new contenders entered the category last year as well.

The Audi Q3 is a virtual scale model of the popular Q5, but based on front-wheel-drive mechanicals—as is the GLA.

The Q3 may be the closest direct match in packaging and shape to the newest, smallest Mercedes.

The Lexus NX is a hot seller, with aggressive—even hostile—styling on a traditional SUV shape.

Its compact size slots in seamlessly below Lexus' larger RX, which virtually invented the luxury-SUV category.

And while Ford's luxury brand has struggled over the past decade, the Lincoln MKC is also a compact luxury SUV on the larger end of that category.

But the GLA blends a fun-to-drive character and luxury features into one of the smaller packages in the group, and that may be a winning formula.

There are no contenders, meanwhile, for the hot-rod (or hot-hatch) GLA 45 AMG.

With the Mitsubishi Evo off the market, the closest one is likely the Subaru WRX STI sedan.