The Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic SE certainly isn’t short of performance. With 208bhp and 258lb ft of torque, the GLA has more than enough muscle to pull any suitably matched caravan, sprinting from 30-60mph in 8.6 seconds. That’s comfortably the fastest acceleration in the second weight class.

We’d take stability over speed every time, but with the Merc you get both. Some slight steering corrections were needed at 60mph and beyond, but nothing untoward.

With an electronic parking brake to rely on, car and caravan stayed still on our 1-in-6 test hill, with so much power and four-wheel drive the GLA pulled up the slope easily. We had no trouble reversing uphill, either.

As an everyday drive, What Car? experts rate the GLA for its comfortable ride and refinement, with very little noise from the petrol engine.

The cabin is attractively designed and well finished, although don’t expect a huge amount of space inside. The rear seats are a bit of a squeeze for tall adults.

According to official figures the boot is a roomy 481 litres, but we couldn’t come close to fitting a full load of holiday luggage in the back. On the plus side, the reversing camera is a boon when hitching up.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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