Compare the2022 Ford EdgeVS 2021 Mercedes AMG GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Edge are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes AMG GLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Ford Edge has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Edge’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 AMG GLA.

The Ford Edge weighs 469 to 862 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Both the Edge and the AMG GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front 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, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Edge the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 136 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG GLA has not been tested, yet.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG GLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG GLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Edge’s reliability 37 points higher than the AMG GLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 354) than the AMG GLA 45’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Edge 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the AMG GLA 45 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Edge uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG GLA requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Edge’s fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLA (18.5 vs. 12.7 gallons).

The Edge has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Edge higher (5 out of 10) than the Mercedes AMG GLA (3 to 5). This means the Edge produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the AMG GLA every 15,000 miles.

For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the AMG GLA (245/60R18 vs. 235/50R19). The Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG GLA (265/40R21 vs. 235/50R19).

The Edge ST’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLA’s 50 series tires.

The Edge has a standard space-saver spare (not available Sport with 21” wheels) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG 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. Some tire options on the AMG GLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Edge’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the AMG GLA (112.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG GLA.

The front grille of the Edge uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Edge has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG GLA.

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLA with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 19 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLA with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Edge SEL/Titanium/ST’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Edge ST can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The AMG GLA can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Edge (except SE) uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Edge’s available exterior PIN entry system. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Edge has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Edge and the AMG GLA offer available heated front seats. The Edge Titanium/ST also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG GLA.

On extremely cold winter days, the Edge’s optional (except SE) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the Mercedes GLA by over four to one during the 2021 model year.