Compare the2024 Ford EdgeVS 2024 Mercedes AMG GLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Edge 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.

The Ford Edge 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 AMG GLA doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Edge 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front and rear parking sensors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG 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 AMG GLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Edge’s reliability 38 points higher than the AMG 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 33 more horsepower (335 vs. 302) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 295) than the AMG GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Edge uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG GLA requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Edge has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLA (18.5 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Edge 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.

The Edge stops shorter than the AMG GLA:

For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the AMG GLA (245/60R18 vs. 235/50R19). The Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG GLA (265/40R21 vs. 255/35R21).

The Edge has a standard space-saver spare (not available Sport with 21” wheels) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG 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 AMG GLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Edge’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the AMG GLA (112.2 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG GLA.

For better maneuverability, the Edge’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the AMG GLA’s (39.3 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The front grille of the Edge uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Edge has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG GLA.

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLA with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 15.4 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLA with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The Edge’s cargo area is larger than the AMG GLA’s in every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Edge SEL/Titanium/ST’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The AMG GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Edge has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The AMG GLA has no towing capacity.

The Edge ST can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The AMG GLA can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Edge (except SE) uses the AdvanceTrac® 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 Edge 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.

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

Both the Edge and the AMG GLA offer available heated front seats. The Edge Titanium/ST also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG GLA.

Insurance will cost less for the Edge owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Edge will cost $1100 to $2015 less than the AMG GLA over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Edge will be $9053 to $10532 less than for the Mercedes AMG GLA.

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the Mercedes GLA by over 8 to one during 2023.