Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2024 Mercedes GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-70 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 CX-70 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 Mazda CX-70 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-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-70. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The CX-70’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-70 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 1369 to 1814 pounds more than the Mercedes GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Mazda CX-70 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The GLA has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-70 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-70’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 5 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 22 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The CX-70’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 59 more horsepower (280 vs. 221) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-70 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 102 more horsepower (323 vs. 221) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 119 more horsepower (340 vs. 221) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLA:

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The GLA can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-70 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on CX-70 PHEV for maximum performance). The GLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (18.5 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (19.6 vs. 13.5 gallons).

For better stopping power the CX-70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The CX-70’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 CX-70 has larger standard tires than the GLA (265/55R19 vs. 235/55R18). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLA (275/45R21 vs. 235/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLA. The CX-70 Premium’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLA.

The CX-70 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-70’s wheelbase is 15.4 inches longer than on the GLA (122.8 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than on the GLA.

The CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLA 250 4MATIC (26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The CX-70 has .7 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 19 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the CX-70’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-70 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-70 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GLA doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the CX-70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-70 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 CX-70 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLA doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-70 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GLA. The CX-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GLA doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.