Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class vs Volkswagen Atlas: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Volkswagen Atlas burns about $2,450 of fuel annually against $2,600 for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class leads in both cycles — 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway against 22 and 29 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; FFV), the Volkswagen Atlas with 1 (SIDI). Across 43 recorded Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class configurations and 57 for the Volkswagen Atlas, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen Atlas with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class emits 306 g/mile of CO2 versus 364 g/mile for the Volkswagen Atlas. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.