Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA presented a modernized look with its new generation, fitting snugly as the smallest SUV in the Mercedes lineup. Its proportions and styling were distinct, making it easily recognizable among its larger siblings like the GLS, GLE, GLC, and GLB. The GLA's dimensions placed it on the larger side of the subcompact class, comparable to the BMW X1. It was 7.6 centimetres taller and 1.2 cm shorter in length than its predecessor, with short overhangs and cladding that added to its muscular appearance. Despite its small windows, the seating positions provided ample visibility. However, the interior was filled with less-than-premium surfaces, and while the seats were well-appointed, the overall interior quality did not match the luxury expected from a Mercedes, especially when compared to mass-market models like the Buick Encore GX or Nissan Qashqai.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, pursued a conservative and familiar design, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and substantial cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. However, the use of glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces detracted from the overall quality. The climate system was straightforward, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Despite these drawbacks, the Grand Highlander provided a practical and spacious environment for families.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA offered three variants: the GLA 250 4MATIC, AMG GLA 35, and AMG GLA 45. The GLA 250 4MATIC was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h. The AMG GLA 35 increased power to 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The AMG GLA 45 further boosted power to 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, reaching zero to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. The GLA's AWD system offered various drive modes, but the GLA 250 struggled with turbo lag and transmission issues during daily driving. Its ride quality was decent, but road noise was prominent, and the steering lacked feedback.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. It offered satisfying acceleration and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning of CVTs. The Hybrid Max had a fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km combined, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it achieved 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The Hybrid Max provided rewarding acceleration, a soft ride quality, and secure handling, although it felt large on mountain roads. Visibility was excellent, aided by available cameras, but the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA offered a more SUV-like seating position with its added height, providing excellent headroom and legroom for front passengers. The rear seats, with a 40/20/40 split-fold, offered improved legroom, making them comfortable for smaller adults. The GLA featured synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and reclining rear seats. Cargo capacity was 435 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,430 litres with the seats folded. This was average for its class, providing ample storage for a family road trip.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating in all three rows and over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and supportive cushions. However, the rear doors were long and had sharp corners, making child seat installation challenging. The second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console allowed easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander provided 586 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,761 litres with the second row folded, nearly matching the Sienna minivan's capacity.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA came standard with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring two 7.0-inch display screens. The system included four USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Upgrades included a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 12-speaker Burmester audio system, wireless charging, a head-up display, and navigation. The MBUX system was user-friendly, with customizable screens and voice-activated controls. However, it lacked a quick way to scroll through radio stations. The GLA also introduced a car-wash function, folding mirrors, closing windows, and adjusting climate controls with a single command.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, but the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were minor drawbacks. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system, delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA offered a reasonable amount of active safety features, including a rearview camera, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and driver-drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, the GLA's safety features felt lacking compared to more affordable SUVs like the Hyundai Venue and Cadillac XT4.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, but it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander's safety tech operated accurately, although the lane keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.