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BMW X1 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA Quick Comparison

Now that Mercedes-Benz finally has a competitor for BMW’s entry-level SUV or crossover, however you want to call it, it was just a matter of time until comparisons between the two started surfacing the web.
BMW X1 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA 16 photos
Photo: Auto Motor und Sport
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One of the first ever made belongs to the guys from Auto Motor und Sport and it was done in their typical, German way: using hard facts and little emotion. It somehow reminds me of a really, uptight, famous person that liked to wear a similarly famous mustache. Can’t really remember his name though. But I digress.

The two are definite competitors, even though some will claim otherwise. The GLA is superior in the drag coefficient comparo, tapping out at 0.29 whilst the Bimmer does so at 0.32. Not a huge difference but to some people it means a lot.

The X1 is also heavier than the Stuttgart rival, by nearly 200 pounds (90 kg) but this kind of a difference varies from one model to another so you might find it less interesting that it seems at first. In the interior space department, the BMW stands better, especially when it comes to the rear seats, where headroom is noticeably improved compared to the GLA.

Furthermore, you get claustrophobic in the back of the Merc, mainly due to the configuration of the windows that have low profiles and a high shoulder line. Both of them have top-notch interior finishes, with a little plus for the Benz that seems more up to date.

When it comes to loading the two, the Leipzig-built car takes up more stuff with a total of 1,350 liters of cargo whereas its rival taps out at 1,235 liters, a noticeable difference.

Going over the engines, the X1 range (being launched in 2009) got to an impressive number of options, for all kinds of people and, in general, with more power and better fuel efficiency numbers than the GLA offerings, currently limited to 4 options. Another advantage is the all-wheel-drive drivetrain (or rear-wheel-drive for a few models) that is far superior to the FWD design of the Merc (optional 4Matic on the GLA220 model).

Bottom line, the fight in this segment is about to jump off starting next year and it will be very interesting to see how the two will go at it.
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