Compare the2023 Infiniti QX55VS 2022 Mercedes GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX55 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 GLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Infiniti QX55 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 GLA doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX55 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GLA doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the QX55. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The QX55’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 QX55 and the 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Infiniti QX55 weighs 576 to 739 pounds more than the Mercedes GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The QX55 comes with a full 4-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 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX55 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The QX55’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLA’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX55 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLA.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 9 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The QX55’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (268 vs. 221) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The QX55 has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (16 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX55 higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLA (5). This means the QX55 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLA every 15,000 miles.

The QX55 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.

For better stopping power the QX55’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The QX55’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 QX55 has larger tires than the GLA (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The QX55’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLA’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX55 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLA.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX55 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the GLA.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX55’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the GLA (110.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the QX55 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than on the GLA.

The QX55’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57.7% to 42.3%) than the GLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the QX55 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the QX55’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the GLA’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the QX55 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The GLA uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The QX55 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLA doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX55 has .9 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The QX55 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (26.9 vs. 15.4 cubic feet). The QX55 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (54.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX55’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX55 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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the QX55 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.