The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class blends hatchback with crossover, with better than mixed results.
Pros Quick on its feet Turbo engines are a blast Hatchback practicality Very good fuel economy GLA45 AMG earns its initials
Cons Tight rear seats A $60,000 GLA45 AMG? That escalated quickly Interior can seem plasticky
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class ranked #4 in Luxury Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a score of 7.8 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 26 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Sporty handling Impressive infotainment system and features Thrilling AMG model
Cons Inefficient base transmission Cramped back seat
2018 GLA-class amount to little more than a light freshening. Newly optional LED headlamps flank a restyled grille with crossbars that feature rectangular punctures like those on the larger GLS-class SUV. A revised front bumper with more-prominent fog lamps, revised LED taillights, and new wheel designs round out the exterior tweaks. Inside, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen replaces last year’s 7.0-incher; additional chrome brightwork adorns the door panels and the center console; and new, more legible black-faced gauges replace the 2017’s gray-faced units.
Pros Quick reflexes and acceleration, all-weather capability, stylish inside and out.
Cons Cramped cabin, turbo lag around town, ride can be overly firm at times.
The 2017 Renault Koleos is a huge step up for the French brand.The launch of the second-generation Renault Koleos medium SUV in Australia is one of the company’s most significant to date. So significant that we are in fact the first market to get the car — not something we’re used to here in our remote corner of the world. This French rival to the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and imminent new Volkswagen Tiguan is poised to become the company’s top-seller here, which is fitting when you consider the continued rapid growth in this corner of the market. The new Koleos sits on the same proven architecture as the Nissan X-Trail (fruits of the global Renault-Nissan Alliance) and is once again built in Korea as part of Renault’s alliance with Samsung Motors. It’s larger than before, more upmarket and certainly better value.
Pros Interesting cabin design Plenty of interior space Good value The promise of reasonable ownership costs may surprise you
Cons Petrol engine and CVT uninspiring, a diesel would be good Not the rounded dynamic package that class-leaders are
The original Koleos was Renault’ s first crossover ever, and the newest iteration is set to be the brand’s flagship SUV that will compete against the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Nissan X-Trail, among others. As Renault’s flagship SUV, the Koleos is now larger and offers seating for up to seven. It comes loaded with an automatic four-wheel drive system, new technology, and a decent list of driver assistance systems. When spy shots of the new Koleos started surfacing, I was a little skeptical that Renault would do right by the model. The original did well in some markets, but poor in others others . Now that we’ve seen the finished product, it’s pretty clear that Renault went all out on its new flagship SUV. It’s filled with technology that will be used and doesn’t have any of the extra crap that nobody ever uses. The interior is upscale and luxurious, and it is sure to be a hit in most markets.
Pros Updated styling Space for seven Up-scale features
Cons Could be too close to the X-Trail Engine packages might fall short
