Compare the2022 Land Rover Range Rover VelarVS 2021 Mercedes GLA

Both the Range Rover Velar and GLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Velar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLA’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Velar. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The Range Rover Velar’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.

Both the Range Rover Velar and the GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 around view monitors.

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar weighs 636 to 1046 pounds more than the Mercedes GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Range Rover Velar’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLA’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The Range Rover Velar P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (247 vs. 221) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (269 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Range Rover Velar P340’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 114 more horsepower (335 vs. 221) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Range Rover Velar P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 174 more horsepower (395 vs. 221) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the Range Rover Velar’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLA doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Range Rover Velar has 9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (21.7 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Range Rover Velar higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLA (5). This means the Range Rover Velar produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLA every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Range Rover Velar’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The Range Rover Velar’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the GLA are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Range Rover Velar has larger standard tires than the GLA (255/50R20 vs. 235/55R18). The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLA (265/45R21 vs. 235/55R18).

The Range Rover Velar’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 GLA’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Velar has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLA. The Range Rover Velar’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLA.

The Range Rover Velar offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare 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. Some tire options on the GLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Range Rover Velar 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 Range Rover Velar has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Velar’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GLA doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Range Rover Velar’s wheelbase is 5.8 inches longer than on the GLA (113.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Range Rover Velar is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLA.

The Range Rover Velar’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the GLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Range Rover Velar more stable handling and braking.

The Range Rover Velar handles at .82 G’s, while the GLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the GLA 250 4MATIC (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The Range Rover Velar has 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The Range Rover Velar has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (30.9 vs. 15.4 cubic feet). The Range Rover Velar has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Range Rover Velar’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Range Rover Velar has a 5291 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the Range Rover Velar uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GLA doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Range Rover Velar is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Range Rover Velar to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GLA doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Range Rover Velar has a standard rear speed-sensitive 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 Range Rover Velar’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the GLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Range Rover Velar offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLA doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Range Rover Velar has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GLA. The Range Rover Velar also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.