Mercedes GLA hybrid range, MPG, CO2 & charging
The Mercedes GLA 250 e plug-in hybrid is very efficient on paper and has a generous electric range
| Fuel economy | CO2 emissions | Electric range | Wallbox charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202mpg | 31-32g/km | 37 miles | 1hr 45mins (10-100%, 7.4kW) |
Plug-in hybrids are intended largely for users who spend most of their time carrying out shorter journeys, making the most of electric power. They retain the ability to travel further if required, with the benefit of lower emissions and improved economy compared to an equivalent petrol-only car.
The GLA fills this brief well thanks to its healthy 37-mile electric range – a figure we got close to in our early tests – and impressive on-paper fuel economy. A single charge should be enough for a couple days' commuting or school runs, all without waking the petrol engine.
The GLA is, on paper, ahead of the competition in these areas: it beats the claimed electric ranges and official economy figures of both its Volvo and BMW rivals. We'll just have to wait and see how that manifests itself in real-world daily use.
Mercedes GLA hybrid range, MPG & CO2 emissions
With almost 100% battery charge, our test car estimated its own electric range to be 36 miles – just short of the officially claimed 37. The car defaults to Hybrid mode when you switch it on, which means the petrol engine doesn't burst into life immediately and you proceed in silence at speeds up to 81mph.
Mercedes claims official fuel economy of 201.8mpg – a pretty lofty figure that's only likely to be anywhere near possible if you keep the battery topped up and spend as much time as possible in pure-electric mode. Once the battery runs out of charge, you're more likely to see an economy figure in the 40 to 50mpg range.
CO2 emissions sit at 31 to 32g/km – low enough for company-car users to enjoy low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates and for private buyers to be exempt from a first-year road-tax payment. You will have to pay for the London Congestion Charge, however, as the plug-in hybrid exemption ended in October 2021.
Charge time
Mercedes supplies the GLA hybrid with a three-pin charging cable and a cable for connecting to a home wallbox or public charging station. Using the three-pin option, you're best to wait overnight, with a full charge from 10% taking five hours and 30 minutes. The same charge will take an hour and 45 minutes at the maximum 7.4kW speed using a suitable home wallbox, or 3 hours and 15 minutes from a slower 3.6kW charger.
