Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Mercedes GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 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 QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The QX50’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 QX50 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, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The QX50 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 QX50 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 QX50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLA’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 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.

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 QX50’s reliability 20 points higher than the GLA.

The QX50’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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Mercedes GLA:

The QX50 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 QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLA (5). This means the QX50 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLA every 15,000 miles.

The QX50 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 QX50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The QX50’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.

The QX50 stops shorter than the GLA:

For better traction, the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLA (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLA.

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLA doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 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 QX50’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the GLA (110.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX50 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLA.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the GLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the GLA 250 4MATIC (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’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 QX50 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front 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 QX50 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 QX50 has 2 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 19 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The QX50 AWD Autograph offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

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 QX50 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.

Consumer Reports rated the QX50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the GLA’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the QX50 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLA doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the QX50 and the GLA offer available heated front seats. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the GLA.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLA isn't recommended.