Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Nissan X-Trail
A side-by-side comparison of the used Mercedes-Benz GLA and Nissan X-Trail — price, real monthly finance, running costs and MOT reliability, all from live UK stock.
Reviewed by the Motoring Today Editorial team · methodology in our editorial standards.
Mercedes-Benz GLA or Nissan X-Trail — which should I buy?
The Nissan X-Trail starts cheaper (Mercedes-Benz GLA from £9,658, Nissan X-Trail from £6,995), with illustrative finance from £235/mo and £161/mo respectively. On MOT reliability they score 100% and 88% first-time passes. The full spec, running-cost and deal breakdown is below.
- GLA from
- £9,658
- X-Trail from
- £6,995
- In stock
- 4 vs 3
| From live stock | ★ Best value overall Mercedes-Benz GLA 4 in stock · from £9,658 | Nissan X-Trail 3 in stock · from £6,995 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest in stock | £9,658 | £6,995★ lowest |
| Median price | £12,401 | £10,598★ lower |
| From (per month)Illustrative, from live stock | £235/mo (HP, 60 months, 17.4% APR) | £161/mo (HP, 60 months, 14.4% APR)★ lower |
| Road tax (VED)Typical car in stock | £200/yr | £200/yr |
| Median mileage | 62,681 mi | 52,796 mi★ lower |
| Median year | 2018★ newer | 2017 |
| Median CO₂ | 132 g/km★ cleaner | 139 g/km |
| Typical power | 161 bhp★ more | 130 bhp |
| Most common fuel | Diesel | Diesel |
| Most common gearbox | Automatic | Manual |
| MOT first-time passDVSA history | 100%★ more reliable | 88% |
| Great/good deals in stockMotoring Today price rating | 2 / 4★ more | 1 / 3 |
| View all 4 GLA → | View all 3 X-Trail → |
Motoring Today score
Our 0–100 vehicle-intelligence score: reliability is from real DVSA MOT pass rates, the rest from manufacturer specs (MPG/CO₂, insurance group, Euro NCAP, dimensions). Higher is better — the stronger side is highlighted.
| Score | Mercedes-Benz GLA | Nissan X-Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | — | 61/100 |
| Reliability | 66 | 59 |
| Running costs | — | 59 |
| Safety | — | 55 |
| Family & practicality | — | 78 |
| Insurance | — | 56 |
A guide, not a guarantee — based on the sample of stock and MOT/spec records we hold for each model.
Specs, side by side
Manufacturer specifications across the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Nissan X-Trail trim range. The stronger figure is highlighted where there's a clear better/worse direction (dimensions are shown for reference only).
| Spec | Mercedes-Benz GLA | Nissan X-Trail |
|---|---|---|
| MPG (combined) | — | 28–57 mpg |
| CO₂ emissions | — | 129–237 g/km |
| Insurance group1 (cheapest) – 50 | — | Group 15–36 |
| Euro NCAP safety | — | 67% pillar avg |
| 0–60mph | — | 6.8s |
| Power | — | 112–210 bhp |
| Seats | — | 5 |
| Doors | — | 5 |
| Length | — | 4640 mm |
| Width | — | 1830 mm |
| Height | — | 1710 mm |
How we compare. The “best value overall” column and the cells marked ★ are chosen from live market data, running costs, DVSA MOT history and manufacturer specs — the side that wins the most comparable rows leads. Deal ratings come from the Motoring Today price model. Our methodology →
About the finance figures
Monthly payments shown are illustrative examples drawn from real quotes on cars currently in stock — the exact rate, term and APR depend on your circumstances, the lender and a credit check. They are not an offer of finance and are not a representative example of the total cost of credit.
Motoring Today is a trading style of Motor Genius Group Ltd (FRN 960504), an appointed representative of The Compliance Guys Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 941360).
Motoring Today is a credit broker, not a lender.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Mercedes-Benz GLA or the Nissan X-Trail cheaper to buy?
- In current stock the Nissan X-Trail starts lower: the Mercedes-Benz GLA is available from £9,658 (median £12,401) and the Nissan X-Trail from £6,995 (median £10,598).
- What are the monthly finance payments on the Mercedes-Benz GLA vs the Nissan X-Trail?
- Illustrative finance starts from £235/mo (HP, 60 months, 17.4% APR) on the Mercedes-Benz GLA and £161/mo (HP, 60 months, 14.4% APR) on the Nissan X-Trail. These are examples from cars currently in stock, not offers of finance — the actual rate, term and APR depend on your circumstances, the lender and a credit check.
- Which is cheaper to tax, the Mercedes-Benz GLA or the Nissan X-Trail?
- The most common annual road tax (VED) across Mercedes-Benz GLA stock is £200/yr, versus £200/yr for the Nissan X-Trail — so the Mercedes-Benz GLA is generally cheaper to tax.
- Which is more reliable at MOT, the Mercedes-Benz GLA or the Nissan X-Trail?
- Based on DVSA MOT history across our stock, the Mercedes-Benz GLA averages a 100% first-time pass rate and the Nissan X-Trail 88% — the Mercedes-Benz GLA edges it on this measure.