Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG GLAVS 2023 Dodge Durango SRT

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG GLA have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Durango SRT doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The AMG GLA’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG GLA offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

The AMG GLA offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango SRT only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the AMG GLA and Durango SRT have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG GLA has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango SRT’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The AMG GLA’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG GLA and the Durango SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The AMG GLA comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Durango SRT’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the AMG GLA have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Durango SRT.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG GLA gets better mileage than the Durango SRT:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the AMG GLA’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG GLA higher (3 to 5 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango SRT (1). This means the AMG GLA produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Durango SRT every 15,000 miles.

The AMG 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG GLA’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango SRT’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG GLA offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Durango SRT’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The AMG 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 Durango SRT doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the AMG GLA 35’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Durango SRT’s (37.9 feet vs. 41 feet). The AMG GLA 45’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Durango SRT’s (38.1 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Mercedes AMG GLA may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1750 to 1850 pounds less than the Dodge Durango SRT.

The AMG GLA is 2 feet, 2.2 inches shorter than the Durango SRT 392, making the AMG GLA easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG GLA is 9.6 inches shorter in height than the Durango SRT, making the AMG GLA much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The AMG GLA has .9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Durango SRT.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the AMG GLA easier. The AMG GLA’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.2 inches, while the Durango SRT’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG GLA’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Durango SRT, the AMG 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 AMG GLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG GLA’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango SRT’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The AMG GLA’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango SRT’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG GLA to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the AMG GLA offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The AMG GLA also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The AMG GLA offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango SRT.

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

The AMG GLA’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Durango SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes AMG GLA will be $5926 to $14029 less than for the Dodge Durango SRT.

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