Compare the2022 Mercedes GLAVS 2021 Volvo V60

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLA 4MATIC’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The V60 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Both the GLA and the V60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLA’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 17 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLA is faster than the V60 T5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the GLA 250 FWD gets better fuel mileage than the V60 T5 FWD running its gasoline engine (24 city/34 hwy vs. 23 city/34 hwy).

Both the GLA and the V60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All GLAs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the V60.

The GLA offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The V60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The GLA stops shorter than the V60:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLA offers optional 20-inch wheels. The V60’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The V60 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the GLA uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The GLA’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The V60 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Mercedes GLA may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Volvo V60.

The GLA is 1 foot, 1.8 inches shorter than the V60, making the GLA easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the GLA uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The V60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The GLA has .6 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 3.9 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the V60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLA’s rear seats recline. The V60’s rear seats don’t recline.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the V60, the GLA has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLA’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLA offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The V60 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The GLA offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The V60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLA’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The V60’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The GLA will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GLA will retain 51.6% to 51.76% of its original price after five years, while the V60 only retains 42.19% to 43.68%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes GLA will be $5996 to $29765 less than for the Volvo V60.

The Mercedes GLA outsold the Volvo 60 Series by 39% during the 2021 model year.