CIRCULATING IN WANGARATTA, BENALLA, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BEAUTY, BEECHWORTH, YACKANDANDAH, RUTHERGLEN, CHILTERN AND DISTRICTS
NORTH EAST
July 25, 2014
available online - wangarattachronicle.com.au
PRINTED FORTNIGHTLY — VOLUME 453
Mazda 323: 20 years on Storypage3
SMOOTH RIDE: The Mercedes-Benz GLA is an exciting new option for Ausralians in the small-medium SUV class.
Mercedes Benz GLA, a new SUV option T
he Mercedes-Benz GLA is the German giant’s first entry into the smallmedium SUV class in Australia. It’s already doing well in the sales race as buyers look for the prestige of the three-pointed star in a practical easy to drive machine. Mercedes GLA sits midway between an SUV and a station wagon in its shape. The bold frontal style is very A-Class, with which it shares underbody components, and there’s a real emphasis on the aforementioned three-pointed star. There are strong swage lines in the sides. The taillights share a strong family line with the latest Merc E-Class range. We aren’t sure the bumpy bits along the door sills are to our taste, but there’s no denying they are something out of the ordinary, which is important in this day and age.
By EWAN KENNEDY The big rear diffuser gives the GLA a purposeful appearance, as do the roof racks. Though the body is completely different, the interior is obviously borrowed from the Mercedes A-Class hatch. The centre screen looks like a bit of an afterthought but is easy to see and use with a minimum of driver inattention. Due to long waiting lists in Europe the only model coming to Australia at this stage is the $47,900 turbo-diesel GLA 200 CDI, naturally it’s the subject of our review. The $57,900 turbo-petrol GLA 250 4Matic is due within a few weeks. Australians are the biggest buyers of AMG models in the world on a per capita basis, so the local Mercedes guys are doing their
corporate best to hurry the GLA 45 AMG onto the ships heading downunder. It is to be priced at $79,900 and it’s no surprise that deposits are being paid as I write. The turbo-diesel has a capacity of 2.1 litres (Mercedes uses different mathematical rounding up than we do, and calls it a 2.2-litre). It produces 100 kW of power, and 300 Nm of torque between 1400 and 3000 revs. It comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission and drives only through the front wheels. The standard turbo-petrol displaces 2.0 litres and puts out 155 kW and 350 Nm. It too has a seven-speed auto, but has allwheel-drive. The upcoming AMG turbo-petrol is a highly modified 2.0-litre unit that produces 265 kilowatts and 450 Newton metres.
It drives all four wheels through the highperformance AMG seven-speed Speedshift double-clutch auto. Naturally the emphasis from the AWD setup is better on-road grip rather an off-road work. The Mercedes-Benz GLA range has no fewer than nine airbags, including units providing knee protection for both front seat occupants. It’s a given that it breezed through crash testing to gain five stars. Access is easy as the seats are at just the right height for most people. The rear seats have good legroom even with the fronts well back, and there is space for three teenagers in the rear, but only just. Boot space is good and the area is well shaped and easy to load.
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