Used Mercedes-Benz GLA review and buying guide (2013 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Mercedes-Benz GLA should you buy?

Neither engine family makes the 2013 to 2018 GLA a clean bet, so buy on the checks rather than the badge. The 1.6 and 2.0 turbo petrols (M270) carry a known timing chain fault, while the 2.1-litre diesel doesn't share it but has its own owner reports: a failed dual-mass flywheel, a particulate filter that kept blocking and a set of failed swirl flap motors. A 2014 4Matic, engine not stated, lost its flywheel too.

The airbag recalls matter as much as the engine. Cars up to 2017 are covered by the steering column clock spring recall, which fixed a broken spring that can short out and fire the driver's airbag with no warning, and a 2018 recall dealt with driver's airbags whose gas generator housing could fail when the bag went off. Don't buy one without paperwork showing the recall work that applies to it has been done.

The GLA that arrived in 2020 has no known faults or owner reports on record yet, and that's a gap in the evidence rather than a clean sheet. What's on record is that it's quiet and comfortable but dull to drive, and the cabin only looks its best with plenty of options added, so check the spec of the one you're viewing and ask for its full servicing record.

Which GLA engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

No engine in the 2013 to 2018 GLA comes without a warning, and the 1.6 and 2.0 turbo petrols (M270) carry the serious one. Their chain stretches and the hydraulic tensioners leak, and if it's ignored the plastic guides wear until the chain can jump a tooth. It's a two-stage timing chain rather than a belt, and the cam phasers start wearing from around 60,000 to 80,000 km, which shows up as a tick from cold.

The 2.1-litre diesel, badged CDI or d, doesn't share that chain fault, but it's gruff when worked hard and it isn't trouble-free. One 2015 220 CDI's dual-mass flywheel stopped the starter motor engaging at 23,000 miles, and a 2014 4Matic had its flywheel fail despite a full dealer history. Take a diesel only with the flywheel checked, and pass on any petrol that rattles when it's started from cold.

The 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic isn't a safe default either. Between 50,000 and 100,000 miles its wet clutch packs wear, giving judder and jerky low-speed shifts, and the mechatronic control unit can fail, causing delayed engagement, harsh changes from 2nd to 3rd and limp mode. It can also be slow to respond and to kick down, and one 2015 200 CDI owner briefly lost drive altogether 3 miles into a trip.

What should you check when viewing a used GLA?

Ask for the engine to be stone cold when you arrive, then start it yourself with the bonnet up. On a petrol, a metallic rattle lasting several seconds is the chain and tensioner fault, and an engine light with rough running backs it up. Watch the airbag warning light too, because it's the symptom of the clock spring fault.

On the drive, pull away gently from a standstill several times: shudder, a hesitant lurch or a clunk going into P, N or R points to a tired 7G-DCT. Then do slow, tight turns. One 2015 250 4Matic made a repeated tapping noise on a slow uphill turn from 22,000 miles, owners have reported the front tyres scrubbing on slow corners, and one 4Matic had noise and vibration from the four-wheel drive at low speed.

Walk round the back and check the tailgate latches and stays shut, because one 2016 car kept opening its hatch by itself even after a new lock, and another had rainwater leaking into the tailgate, so look for damp around it. Look at the front alloy centres for spreading corrosion and at the driver's seat fabric for shiny, worn patches.

For paperwork, you want dealer proof of the clock spring and 2018 driver's airbag recall work. Mercedes also ran a voluntary emissions software update across Europe on diesels registered between 2011 and 2015, and one owner reported weaker performance and heavier fuel use afterwards, so ask whether it's been done. On a diesel, a receipt for a new flywheel and clutch means that job's already been paid for.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

Is a used Mercedes-Benz GLA W176 / C117 / X156 (2013 to 2018) worth buying?

It's worth buying with the airbag recalls signed off, a clean pull-away on the 7G-DCT and, on a petrol, a quiet cold start, and it's one to skip if the engine rattles from cold. The dual-clutch wear shows up between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, and the chain fault on the 1.6 and 2.0 petrols gives itself away with a rattle from cold, so those two tests come before anything else.

Diesel owners have reported more than the flywheel. One 2014 200 CDI had its inlet manifold swirl flap motors fail at 46,000 miles, and one 220d owner who drove the motorway every day still had the particulate filter block repeatedly, starting with an engine light and cut power within three months of buying it new. One new 2017 220d 4Matic had its front left suspension collapse.

Electronics have caught out a few owners. One 2014 220 CDI threw up a random PRE SAFE warning, lost full acceleration and wouldn't kick down until it was switched off and restarted, one GLA 45 AMG lost all power from 50mph with a collision prevention message, and one 2016 250 had a front parking sensor that took several visits to fix. That same GLA 45 had warped brake discs that needed replacing at 16,000 miles.

What does a used Mercedes-Benz GLA cost to run?

What do GLA owners like about them?

On the comfort suspension the GLA rides impressively well, so it's worth finding out whether the car you're viewing has that setup fitted. It's hushed at motorway speeds as well, with little noise reaching the cabin, which makes a long motorway run an easy one.

The car that arrived in 2020 is roomy inside for its size, and some of the technology in it is properly impressive. At the top of the range it looks and feels posh inside, and that's the version to hunt for if a Mercedes cabin is the reason you want one.

• The Mercedes-Benz GLA offers an impressive ride quality when equipped with comfort suspension.
• The Mercedes-Benz GLA maintains a quiet cabin, with little noise noticeable at motorway speeds.
• The Mercedes-Benz GLA achieved a 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating under the 2014 assessment system.
• The Mercedes-Benz GLA provides a spacious interior, considering its relatively compact size.
• The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA incorporates genuinely impressive technology, enhancing the driving experience and overall user interaction.