Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Subaru Forester
Verdict
The Forester is about 14% cheaper, the Forester has a 12% bigger boot, while the Forester is 12% more powerful. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 258,888 | RM 222,689✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-Valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,332 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 161 hp | 182 hp✓ |
| Torque | 250 Nm✓ | 247 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Boxer |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 72.2 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7G-DCT | Lineartronic |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.7 seconds✓ | 9.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h✓ | 205 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,410 mm | 4,655 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,611 mm | 1,730 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,729 mm | 2,670 mm |
| Weight | 1,485 kg | 1,643 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 43 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 435 litres | 496 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R19 | 225/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/50R19 | 225/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact6 | Falken Ziex ZE001A A/S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" AMG 5-Twin-Spoke Light-Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" AMG 5-Twin-Spoke Light-Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Suspension | SI-Drive and X-Mode |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee & Front Passenger Seat Cushion, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (Up To 105 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with 10.25" Touchscreen, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver and Front Passenger Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Surround View | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 5 years✓ |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 100✓ | RM 838 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.