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Mercedes-Benz GLA250 vs Porsche Macan

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Mercedes-Benz GLA250
Mercedes-Benz GLA250

$19,932 - $41,800

2018 price

Porsche Macan
Porsche Macan

2024 price

Summary

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250
2024 Porsche Macan
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

0.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Electric
Fuel Efficiency
7.0L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Expensive servicing
  • Some interior bits are cheap
  • Getting old

  • Big price jump from ICE
  • Lacks fizz and emotion
  • Ergonomic quirks in the cabin
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 Summary

Buuuuuuuur, parp, buuuuuuuuuuuur, parp. Anyone who knows anything about cars immediately recognises the sound of a 45-engined A-class derivative. It's the sound you hear in a tunnel as old mate blasts past with a giant carbon-fibre wing atop his hatchback. It's the sound you hear at 3:00am on a summer morning (if your suburb has no speed bumps, of course).

In short, that sound means big power from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, a seven-speed transmission, and a bunch of Germans who clearly had a sense of humour in charge of tuning the exhaust note.

Sure, the GLA compact SUV is probably a slightly unexpected source of all that noise. But then, Merc's Ingolstadt rivals stuffed Audi's stupendous five-cylinder engine into a Q3 to make the hugely improbable RSQ3, so why not do the same with their skirts-lifted A-Class?

To be honest, my expectations for this car were low. So do I owe Mercedes a grovelling apology? Or can I still claim the moral high ground after a week of GLA 45 "ownership"?

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2024 Porsche Macan Summary

This might be the biggest gamble in Porsche's history. It's the latest version of its best-selling car, the Porsche Macan, only this one has a very big difference.

You see, this time, it’s all-electric. There is not an internal-combustion engine (ICE) in sight. And that makes climbing into an entry-level Macan significantly more expensive than ever before.

So, will this bold shift help or hinder the Macan in Australia? And is this the country’s best all-electric SUV?

There’s only one way find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 2024 Porsche Macan

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