Compare the2022 Hyundai KonaVS 2020 Mercedes GLA

The Kona’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLA.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited’s standard cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The GLA doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Compared to metal, the Kona’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mercedes GLA has a metal gas tank.

Both the Kona and the GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 110 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLA has not been tested, yet.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GLA’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLA’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLA.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator (130-amp - Kona 1.6T). The GLA’s 115-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona’s reliability 55 points higher than the GLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 14 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better fuel mileage than the GLA:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLA requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Kona has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLA doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kona stops shorter than the GLA:

The Kona FWD/2.0 AWD has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 1.6T AWD) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Kona has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GLA’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona SEL AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the GLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the GLA 250’s (34.8 feet vs. 36 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLA (6.7 vs. 5.3 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Mercedes GLA.

The Kona is 8.3 inches shorter than the GLA, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GLA (94.1 vs. 91).

The Kona has .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The front step up height for the Kona is 2.4 inches lower than the GLA (16” vs. 18.4”). The Kona’s rear step up height is 3.4 inches lower than the GLA’s (16.1” vs. 19.5”).

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (45.8 vs. 43.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona easier. The Kona’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the GLA’s liftover is 29.5 inches.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLA only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Kona’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the GLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Kona (except SE/SEL) detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Kona owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Kona with a number “8” insurance rate while the GLA is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Kona is less expensive to operate than the GLA because typical repairs cost much less on the Kona than the GLA, including $476 less for a water pump, $215 less for a muffler, $217 less for front brake pads, $368 less for a starter, $424 less for fuel injection, $249 less for a fuel pump, $217 less for front struts and $681 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Kona will be $8060 to $12852 less than for the Mercedes GLA.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLA isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kona third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLA isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The GLA has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.