Compare the2024 Mazda CX-50VS 2023 Mercedes GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 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 Mazda CX-50 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 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The CX-50’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 CX-50 and the GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLA has not been tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 41 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

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 CX-50’s reliability 40 points higher than the GLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (256 vs. 221) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The GLA doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-50 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The GLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The CX-50 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The CX-50 stops shorter than the GLA:

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLA (245/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The CX-50 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the GLA (110.8 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLA.

The CX-50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58.9% to 41.1%) than the GLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the CX-50 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-50 handles at .81 G’s, while the GLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GLA’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The CX-50 has .1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the GLA.

The CX-50 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 CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 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 CX-50’s headlight performance “Very 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 CX-50 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the CX-50 and the GLA offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLA isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Mercedes GLA by 51% during 2022.