Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz GLA

Audi e-tron

Audi’s electric luxury SUV.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Mercedes' compact SUV on the MFA2 platform.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi e-tron

Pick the e-tron for a big cabin, smooth all-wheel drive and zero-emission driving in a premium SUV.

Best engine: The 55 quattro (larger battery).

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Pick the GLA for a raised driving position, space and efficient engines in a compact premium SUV.

Best engine: The GLA 200 (petrol) or GLA 200 d / GLA 220 d (diesel) — the sweet spot.

Read the full guide

Performance

55 quattro · Electric vs M282 GLA 200 · Petrol

	Audi e-tron	Mercedes-Benz GLA
Power	408 hp Winner	163 hp
Torque	664 Nm Winner	250 Nm
0–100 km/h	5,7 s Winner	8,7 s
Top speed	200 km/h	210 km/h Winner
Power-to-weight	159,1 hp/t Winner	110,1 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	0 g/km Winner	140 g/km
Consumption (WLTP)	—	5,9 L/100km

Dimensions & space

	Audi e-tron	Mercedes-Benz GLA
Boot	660 L Winner	435 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.725 L Winner	1.430 L
Wheelbase	2,93 m Winner	2,73 m
Length	4,90 m	4,41 m
Width	1,94 m	1,83 m
Height	1,63 m	1,61 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi e-tron	Mercedes-Benz GLA
Platform	MLB Evo (longitudinal, adapted for electric drive)	MFA2 (front-wheel-drive base, shared with the A-Class W177, B-Class W247 and CLA C118)
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	Dual electric motors (quattro)	M282/M260 petrol · OM654 diesel · plug-in hybrid
Fuel	Electric	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid
Transmission	Single-speed automatic (fixed ratio)	7G-DCT / 8G-DCT dual-clutch (no manual)
Euro standard	N/A (electric)	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)
LEZ access	Zero-emission — unrestricted access in all LEZ zones	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi e-tron

Software (early cars)
High-voltage system warnings
Motor coolant issues (occasional)
Battery data still limited at high mileage

Mercedes-Benz GLA

M282 (1.3): thermostat/cooling and elevated oil consumption reported
Early OM654 diesel: rocker arm / camshaft concerns
7G-DCT/8G-DCT needs earlier-than-official fluid changes
MBUX software glitches (mostly resolved by updates)

Pros

Audi e-tron

Big interior & roomy boot
Dual-motor all-wheel drive (quattro)
Improved range (Q8 e-tron)

Mercedes-Benz GLA

435 L boot growing to ~1,430 L — roomy for a subcompact SUV
Efficient OM654 2.0 diesel (GLA 200 d: 150 hp / 320 Nm, ~4.8 L/100 km)
MFA2 platform with MBUX and optional 4MATIC
GLA 250 e PHEV: 218 hp and 450 Nm, company-car friendly

Cons

Audi e-tron

Real-world efficiency lower (size & weight)
Early software quirks

Mercedes-Benz GLA

OM654 diesel: AdBlue/DPF watch-points with lots of short trips
Dual-clutch gearbox needs earlier-than-official fluid changes
Early M282 (1.3): elevated oil consumption reported

Driving experience

Audi e-tron

Smooth, silent and effortlessly luxurious. The e-tron rides with genuine isolation, steers lightly and accurately, and accelerates strongly from its dual-motor quattro with none of the fuss of a combustion engine. It is heavy, which shows in corners and in real-world range, but the payoff is a hushed, relaxed calm that suits long journeys. Regenerative braking is strong enough for one-pedal driving in traffic. It was the first large electric SUV from Audi, and it drives more like a luxury saloon than a tall, heavy crossover.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Comfortable, easy and closer to a hatchback than an SUV to drive. The GLA rides smoothly, stays quiet at speed, and steers lightly and precisely with little feedback. The 2.0-litre M260 petrol is smooth and pulls strongly from low revs; the OM654 diesel is the one for high mileage, nearly inaudible on the motorway; the 250 e plug-in covers short trips on electric power. The dual-clutch gearbox is quick once moving, though it can hesitate from a standstill. There is little here for keen drivers — the GLA puts comfort, quietness and the tech-heavy cabin ahead of any sporting pretension.