Ahead of a festive season launch, the Mercedes GLA was spotted in Pune by Indian Autos Blog reader, Mr. Snatak Mundade. Dealers of Mercedes-Benz India have started accepting bookings for the GLA, with the booking amount being INR 1 lakh. The first customer deliveries are expected in September or October.
Based on the MFA (Mercedes Front wheel Architecture) platform that underpins the A Class, the GLA is Mercedes's answer to the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo V40 Cross Country. The GLA sports marginally higher ground clearance than the A Class, while features such as body cladding, skid plates and roof rails, lend it a slightly tough appearance.
Inside, the GLA's cabin is similar looking to the A Class with the three-spoke steering wheel, the SLS-inspired AC vents, and the COMAND screen mounted in the center. Initially, Mercedes is expected to import the GLA as a CBU (Completely Built-up Unit), while local assembly could take place at their Pune plant in the future.
The GLA for India would be available in the 220 CDI spec, which gets power from a 2,143 cc engine producing 167 hp and 350 Nm of torque, matched to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It remains to be seen if Mercedes launches the 4MATIC all-wheel drive version of the GLA.
