Compare the2024 Volvo V60VS 2023 Mercedes AMG GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo V60 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 AMG GLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the V60 and AMG GLA have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The V60 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG GLA’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The V60 has standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The V60’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 AMG GLA.

Both the V60 and the AMG 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, all wheel drive, 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 driver alert monitors.

The Volvo V60 weighs 648 to 842 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the V60 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG GLA has not been tested, yet.

The V60’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG GLA’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the V60 for 4 years and 40,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG 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 V60’s reliability 30 points higher than the AMG GLA.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 4 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The V60’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 153 more horsepower (455 vs. 302) and 228 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 295) than the AMG GLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The V60’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 73 more horsepower (455 vs. 382) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 354) than the AMG GLA 45’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the V60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the AMG GLA:

On the EPA test cycle the V60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the AMG GLA:

The V60 T8 Polestar Engineered Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 41 miles. The AMG GLA can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the V60’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The V60 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLA (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The V60 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volvo V60 higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes AMG GLA (3 to 5). This means the V60 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the AMG GLA every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the V60’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG GLA:

The V60’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLA’s standard 50 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the V60’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the AMG GLA (113.1 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the V60’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the AMG GLA 35’s (37.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The V60’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the AMG GLA 45’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The design of the Volvo V60 amounts to more than styling. The V60 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the AMG GLA (.35 to .36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the V60 get better fuel mileage.

The V60 has 1.2 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the AMG GLA.

The V60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLA with its rear seat up (23.2 vs. 15.4 cubic feet). The V60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLA with its rear seat folded (60.5 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The V60 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The AMG GLA has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the V60 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the V60 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the AMG GLA only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The V60 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The V60 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the AMG GLA. The V60 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG GLA.

On extremely cold winter days, the V60’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.