India-spec 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA engine details revealed

The second-gen Mercedes-Benz GLA is set to launch in India in the coming weeks. Showcased at the Auto Expo 2020, the second-gen small luxury SUV was expected to launch in India last year though its launch was pushed back to 2021. Sharing it’s underpinnings with the recently launched A-class Limousine, the new GLA will go on sale with a petrol and diesel engine option with an AMG variant expected to join at a later date.

• GLA 220d to come with OM654 2.0-litre diesel with FWD and AWD
• GLA 200 to get a 163hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol
• Locally assembled AMG GLA 35 expected to join line-up at a later stage

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA engine variant and engines for India

The second-gen Mercedes GLA, when launched, will be available in three different variants. The first, the 220d, gets a 190hp diesel engine and 4Matic all-wheel drive and will only be available in the AMG Line trim. There will also be a regular 220d that is front-wheel-drive only and available in Merc’s Progressive line trim.

The engine is the same OM654q (OM stands for Oil Motor or diesel and q is for its transverse placement) seen on other Mercedes products in India. It comes with a variable-geometry turbo, 2,050 bar of injection pressure, a forged crankshaft and steel pistons.

There is a petrol in the range too. The GLA 200 actually uses a derivative of the 1,332cc Renault-Nissan direct-injection turbo-petrol developing 163hp and 250Nm of torque and is shared with the A-Class sedan.

Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 expected to join in too

While initially available in standard petrol and diesel variants, the second-gen GLA is also likely to get an AMG variant at a later date. However, unlike the first-gen GLA which was available in the CBU import AMG 45 spec, the second-gen SUV is expected to be available in the 306hp AMG 35 spec with all-wheel drive. As with the AMG A35 sedan, this variant too is expected to be locally assembled in India.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA rivals in India

The second-gen GLA will go up against the BMW X1, Volvo XC40, Mini Countryman and the yet-to-launch second-gen Audi Q3.

Mercedes has also lined up a number of launches for 2021 – 15 in total – with some of the notable ones yet to arrive being the new Mercedes S-class and the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

You can read our exclusive review of the upcoming new GLA in the Autocar India April 2021 issue on stands now.