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Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 7:11 AM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 7:11 AM » Social News Waiting for me at the airport very late one night was a GLA250, and one of the first features I encountered — after figuring out that it had a genuine ignition key and that the wiper stalk was in fact the gear lever — was a message window that all but ordered me to pull over and take a nap. Attention Assist, standard on the GLA, is the latest safety angel from Mercedes-Benz. In the first few minutes of driving, it analyzes our steering inputs: Is this dude smooth, or is he making too many nervous little corrections? Then it checks things like crosswinds and the condition of the road, and monitors how long we’re at the wheel and how fast we’re traveling. Altogether, Attention Assist keeps an eye on dozens of parameters, and if it ever concludes that the driver is overly challenged, not only does he get the motherly advice, but the satnav will also direct him to the nearest rest area. That wasn’t all. If I drifted toward the next lane, the wheel vibrated in my hands. Had I fallen asleep, Collision Prevention Assist would have kept me from plowing into something. Distronic Plus radar cruise control kept me safely away from other traffic (not that there was any, at that time of night) and would have even brought me to a complete stop if necessary. It hardly needs saying, but yes, I got home in one piece — in comfort and at a good pace. The GLA250, a new-for-2015 model, is Mercedes-Benz’s best attempt yet to wow us with German cachet at more or less Korean prices. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter Four sending 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque to the latest version of M-B’s 4Matic part-time all-wheel drive through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Pressed hard, and especially when shifting gears manually with the paddles behind the steering wheel, the GLA250 will pick up its skirts and run. Puttering around town, gear changes are sometimes hesitant or less than perfectly smooth; otherwise, the ride, brakes and steering are what we expect from a non-sporting Mercedes-Benz: invisible, yet ever more nailed-down as speed builds. Just like a $100,000 S550 sedan, the GLA defaults to its E-for-Eco setting whenever the engine is started. This makes the car feel like it’s wading through mud, and we soon learned to select “S” (Sport) automatically, via a three-way button below the radio. (There is no Normal setting; the third option is “M,” for manual shifting.) A different “E” button separately disables the stop-start, another eco feature that returns automatically whenever the engine starts. Every carmaker is playing for fuel efficiency these days, and the GLA250 earned city/highway ratings of 24 and 32 miles per gallon. At a glance, the GLA’s profile might evoke Volvo or even Subaru wagon, which may account for the immodest size of the three-pointed star in the shiny grille. Inside, however, there are no doubts about its identity. Although the back seats are cramped and the cargo bay is smaller than many sedan trunks, the Anthracite/Black trim recalls the slightly frosty cool of an S-Class, and of course the seat controls are on the doors, where Mercedes-Benz has put them since time began. There’s even an available baby version of COMAND, M-B’s joystick function controller; its screen looks like an iPad Mini mounted on the dash, but the system is easy to use and the graphics are sharp and clear. GLA250 4Matic prices start below $35,000, but of course swell rapidly. With its Premium and Multimedia packages (seat heaters, two-zone automatic HVAC, upgraded entertainment system, voice control, GPS, that LCD screen, a rearview camera and more), our car listed for $41,625. A less-expensive FWD-only GLA is due next spring. An AMG-hotrodded GLA45 4Matic, with 355 horsepower, is available now and costs another eight grand. Back in the early days of the SUV boom, the highest praise that could be heaped upon one of those truck-based wagons was that “it drives almost like a car!” The GLA250, on the other hand, is a compact five-door wagon that has some of the attributes of a sport-ute. It’s also fine way to ease into Mercedes-Benz ownership. Likes - Sleek style, especially for a G-series Mercedes - More compact station wagon than sport-cute - Hits the price-value-cachet sweet spot Dislikes - Dual-clutch transmission sometimes hesitates - Radio can’t be switched off without losing COMAND screen - Door lock button is where my elbow wants to be Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 22, 2014 at 7:11 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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