- Mercedes’ electric GLA looks less spectacular without its optional passenger touchscreen.
- Every GLA EV from the base 200 to the top-spec 350 makes Superscreen upgrade an option.
- Tempting €1,160 Superscreen display really costs €4,183 once mandatory extras are added.
Mercedes unveiled its all-new electric and hybrid GLA yesterday with a cabin dominated by a spectacular wall of screens. But head over to the German configurator with €48,599.60 ($55,640) and dreams of ordering a basic GLA 200, and Mercedes has a little reminder that you didn’t spend enough.
What looks like one enormous pillar-to-pillar display is actually three separate screens housed behind a continuous glass panel. The digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen are standard, but the passenger display above the glovebox isn’t.
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Leave the third-screen option unticked and Mercedes fills the resulting void with a glossy black panel illuminated by dozens of three-pointed stars. It actually looks pretty smart, though being confronted by a constellation of Mercedes badges every time you climb aboard will always remind you that you didn’t spring for the full setup.
And the 221 hp (224 PS / 165 kW) GLA 200 isn’t alone in making you feel like a skinflint. The 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW) GLA 250 and even the 349 hp (354 PS / 260 kW) GLA 350 also miss out on the passenger display as standard. It’s possible however, that a top-dog AMG 45 version coming later and using the new 671 hp (680 PS / 500 kW) CLA 45’s triple-motor powertrain, might get it for free.
Superscreen Bait And Switch
The MBUX Superscreen option is listed at €1,160.25 ($1,330) on the German GLA configurator, and you can have it on every model including the lowly GLA 200. It’s not cheap, but also not likely to make too much of a difference to your monthly payment, so we can imagine a few buses being tempted. Click to add it, though, and the configurator demands you also add the €226.10 ($259) three-year Digital Entertainment package plus the €2,796.50 ($3,200) Advanced Plus Package with Digital Extras.
The latter adds more tangible luxuries including flush door handles, heated seats, four-way lumbar adjustment, ambient lighting and wireless smartphone charging. Add all three packages together and your supposedly €1,160.25 Superscreen has actually relieved you of €4,182.85 ($4,789).
Zero Benefit For Drivers
The third infotainment display can stream video, with audio routed through headphones or the GLA’s speakers. But Mercedes prevents drivers from enjoying an unauthorized movie night behind the wheel. If the car detects the driver looking at video playing on the passenger screen for more than two seconds, it blanks the image. When the passenger seat is empty, drivers can choose from various backgrounds to stop that expensive display sitting there doing nothing.
Mercedes
We’re guessing most buyers won’t spec the third screen, and it won’t be the end of the world. Those illuminated stars arguably look better than a boring plain black panel, and probably better than an unused screen covered in greasy finger marks. But Mercedes’ glamorous launch images certainly aren’t showing you what €48,599.60 really buys.
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