Upmarket SUVs and crossovers are the current kings of the urban jungle.
Upmarket SUVs and crossovers are the current kings of the urban jungle. With their desirable premium image, high-riding visibility, family friendly practicality and fuel-saving front-wheel-drive layouts, theseversatile machines blend fashionable off-roader styling cues with low running costs.
The latest model to join the fray is the Mercedes GLA. Based on the sleek A-Classhatchback, it promises rugged good looks and agile car-like driving dynamics. There’s a choice of four or two-wheel drive, and we try the latter with a frugal 200 CDI turbodiesel.
Ready to give the GLA a thorough workout is the Audi Q3. It’s beautifully built and good to drive, plus the front-wheel drive and 2.0-litre TDI combination promises low fuel bills.
The final member of our trio is the Range Rover Evoque. In entry-level, front-wheel-drive eD4 Pure form, it gives you the stylish upper-crust look for less.
So which of our tall-riding contenders will emerge victorious?
Click the links below for the full verdict on each car...
Now read our head-to-head group test results below...
Head-to-head
Off-road?
All our contenders feature the high-riding stance and rugged design cues of traditional SUVs. Yet with front-wheel drive and a lack of electronic aids, they’ll be no better in the rough stuff thana normal family hatchback.
However, the Range Rover does come with all-season tyres, so it’ll be more capable on snow and ice than the Mercedes GLA or the Audi Q3. The trade-off for this versatile rubber is less grip and composure on dry tarmac.
Badge appeal
There’s plenty of premium appeal here, but which badge has the most kudos? From a residual values perspective, the Range Rover leads the way. Our experts calculate it’ll retain 58.7 per cent of its value after three years, compared to 51.4 per cent and 55.4 per cent for the GLA and Q3 respectively.
Running costs
Company car drivers will like the Mercedes, which has the lowest Benefit In Kind bills. If you want to save fuel, then the frugal Audi is hard to beat. The Evoque is thirsty and a pricey company car, while servicing is quite expensive, too.
Verdict
1st place: Range Rover Evoque
It’s expensive, but the stunningly styled and well finished Range Rover Evoque feels a cut above its rivals here and is worth the extra. Decent driving dynamics, a practical cabin, lots of kit and strong residuals add to the desirable model’s appeal.
2nd place: Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 boasts surprisingly sharp handling, a smooth and efficient engine, plus a classy interior. It’s not quite as roomy as its opponents in this test, but there’s enough space for most families, and in S line trim it’s pretty well equipped.
3rd place: Mercedes GLA
Look past its attractive price and decent running costs, and the case for the Mercedes GLA falls apart. Not only is it hobbled by an unrefined engine, but it’s also missing rivals’ tough SUV styling cues. It feels like a normal A-Class behind the wheel.
Range Rover Evoque eD4 Pure Audi Q3 2.0 TDI Mercedes GLA 200 CDI SE On-the-road price/total as tested 29,205/£30,795 £28,350/£32,640 £27,300/£32,050 Residual value (after 3yrs/30,000) £17,143/58.7% £15,706/55.4% £14,032/51.4% £13,268 Depreciation £12,062 £12,644 £1,035/£2,071 Annual tax liability std/higher rate £1,277/£2,554 £1,296/£2,591 £1,578/£2,630 Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £2,072/£3,453 £1,542/£2,570 25/£383/C/£30 Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost 29/£413/E/£130 18/£398/E/£130 £24pm Servicing costs £499 (5yrs/50k) £16pm Length/wheelbase 4,355/2,660mm 4,385/2,603mm 4,417/2,699mm Height/width 1,635/1,985mm 1,608/1,831mm 1,494/1,804mm Engine 4cyl in-line/2,179cc 4cyl in-line/1,968cc 4cyl in-line/2,143cc Peak power 148/4,000 bhp/rpm 138/4,200 bhp/rpm 134/3,400 bhp/rpm Peak torque 380/1,750 Nm/rpm 320/1,750 Nm/rpm 300/1,400 Nm/rpm Transmission 6-spd man/FWD 6-spd man/FWD 7-spd auto/4WD Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 54 litres/foam 64 litres/space-saver 50 litres/foam Boot capacity (seats up/down) 575/1,445 litres 420/1,325 litres 481/1,235 litres Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 1,595/755/1,500kg 1,445/600/1,200kg 1,535/485/N/A Turning circle/drag coefficient 11.3 metres/0.35Cd 11.8 metres/0.32Cd 11.8 metres/N/A Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (unltd)/3yrs 3yrs (60k)/3yrs 3yrs (unltd)/4yrs Service interval/UK dealers 15,000 (1yr)/130 Variable (1yr)/121 Variable (1yr)/136 Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 20th/15th^ 12th/23rd^ 9th/12th^ NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 86/75/41/86/5 94/85/52/86/5 N/A 0-60/30-70mph 9.8/9.7 secs 9.7/9.3 secs 9.3/9.3 secs 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 4.2/7.0 secs 4.2/6.9 secs 3.5/4.0 secs 50-70mph in 5th/6th/7th 8.4/12.3 secs/N/A 9.4/13.2 secs/N/A 6.0/7.9/10.5 secs Top speed/rpm at 70mph 112mph/1,800rpm 126mph/1,900rpm 127mph/1,900rpm Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 50.2/35.4/9.3m 49.1/34.2/9.5m 48.0/35.3/9.3m Noise levels outside/idle/30/70mph 67/48/61/68dB 69/54/63/69dB 71/46/61/71dB Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range 35.8/7.9/425 miles 48.1/10.6/677 miles 47.0/10.3/517 miles Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 47.1/62.8/56.5mpg 45.6/60.1/54.3mpg 51.4/72.4/62.8mpg Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 10.4/13.8/12.4mpl 10.0/13.2/11.9mpl 11.3/15.9/13.8mpl Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 211/133g/km/22% 157/137g/km/23% 161/119g/km/19% Airbags/Isofix/parking sensor/camera Seven/yes/yes/£330 Six/yes/yes/£650 Seven/yes/£705/yes Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control No/yes/yes No/yes/£225 Yes/yes/yes Climate control/leather/heated seats Yes/yes/yes Yes/part/£260 £2,365*/no/£300 Met paint/xenon lights/keyless go Yes/£900/£500 £525/yes/£425 £575/£1,345*/no Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth £1,600/yes/yes/yes £495/yes/yes/yes £495/yes/yes/yes