Mercedes GLA hybrid costs, insurance, warranty & tax
The Mercedes GLA 250 e makes a lot of sense for company-car users; private buyers will have to be a bit more careful with the options list, however
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | Annual company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34-35 | 3yrs / unlimited miles | 1yr / 12,000 miles (est) | From £802 / £1,604 |
As is so often the case with plug-in hybrids, the GLA makes the most sense for company-car drivers thanks to its low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rating of just 8%, which equates to reasonable monthly payments. Private buyers who spend most of their time around town will benefit from lower fuel costs compared to a petrol or diesel car, but there's no denying the difference in up-front cost.
So while the Mercedes is a no-brainer for company-car users, as a private buyer It's worth making a rough estimate of your annual mileage before buying a plug-in hybrid, especially if overall running costs are a concern. Still, we'll always recommend one over most petrol or diesel cars if you're more concerned about environmental impact. The fully electric Mercedes EQA will be even cheaper to run, but costs around £4,000 more to buy.
Mercedes GLA hybrid insurance group
The GLA hybrid falls into insurance groups 34 to 35 depending on exact specification, which is pretty high for a small SUV. Insurers tend to ask more when covering cars with electric motors, batteries and other pieces of high-tech equipment – these tend to be more expensive to fix when something goes wrong, and cars fitted with them tend to be more expensive.
Warranty
The Mercedes GLA 250 e is covered by a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. For context, BMW’s cover is identical, while Audi and Volvo each offer three-year warranties capped at 60,000 miles. Mercedes covers the car's battery for 62,000 miles or six years, which is a little on the low side compared to some brands.
Servicing
Exact servicing information isn't available yet, but Mercedes offers free roadside assistance and its ServiceCare system, which allows you to budget by spreading the cost out monthly or making a single annual payment.
Road tax
Thanks to the low emissions, the GLA 250 e will cost nothing to tax in the first year. However, because it breaches the premium rate for cars with a list price of more than £40,000, you’ll have to pay £560 in years two to six of ownership.