For those who value brands and have limited budgets, entry-level products of traditional luxury brands have always been their first choice to support the ranks, but it is not difficult to find that in recent years, this type of products have been affected by the rise of independent brands and the gradual popularization of new energy, and they no longer have the glory of the past, and the monthly sales of four digits have peaked.
However, even if the market situation changes abruptly, it still can't change the mentality of some people to buy cars, so Mercedes-Benz, which is difficult to make achievements in the electric vehicle market, has launched the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV in order to further harvest the young market, and the price remains unchanged, or 299,900 yuan.
Cadillac, as a second-tier luxury brand, will also launch its entry-level SUV product - Cadillac GT4 in May 2023, with an official guide price of 219,700 ~ 309,700 yuan, and the difference between the two is nearly 80,000 yuan.
If you had to choose one or the other, would you choose the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV or the Cadillac GT4?
In terms of appearance, compared with the old model, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV has mainly been adjusted for some details, among which the front grille has been changed to a "starry-eyed" style similar to the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the middle strip is still a chrome trim strip with a huge three-pointed star logo, and the lower surround is equipped with a newly designed silver front apron, and the overall visual effect is still more aggressive than the old model.
On the side, a rounded waistline runs through the front and rear of the body, enhancing the layering of the side of the body, the wheel arches and side skirts are designed with raised ribs, the roof is slightly curved, equipped with a thick luggage rack and shark fins, with a thick black trim, showing a strong sense of muscle. However, the chrome trim around the body of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV has been removed, and it is less refined. In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV are 4427/1834/1610 mm, and the top model is slightly larger, with a measurement of 4446/1849/1625 mm and a wheelbase of 2729mm.
The rear styling is consistent with the old model, showing a slightly slippery shape, the rear bumper design is thick, echoing the style of the vehicle, and it is equipped with a two-sided exhaust layout, with a spoiler above the tailgate, to enhance the sporty atmosphere of the vehicle.
Cadillac GT4 adopts avant-garde design aesthetics, the appearance is inspired by the family's classic diamond-cut style, the new V shield and blackened active grille, with a wide three-dimensional line design, so that the entire front face is quite visually impactful, sporty and fashionable and elegant, the in-line LED lightning headlights on both sides + in-line lightning daytime running lights, it makes the vehicle appear full of tension and highly recognizable.
From the side, the Cadillac GT4 adopts a two-tone body design, with a two-tone rearview mirror paint with blackened high-gloss treatment, showing dynamic vitality, and the powerful waistline extends from the headlights to connect with the taillights, which not only makes the vehicle more slender, but also makes the side more layered, coupled with the streamlined fastback design and Brembo red sports car-level four-piston calipers, it presents a full sporty atmosphere. It is worth noting that the Cadillac GT4 is also equipped with Bridgestone self-sealing tires, which can continue to be easy on the road without repairing the tire after encountering nails with a diameter of no more than 5mm, and the system can also remind the tire pressure change at any time, which can further ensure the safety of travel. In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the Cadillac GT4 are 4633/1878/1536 (1535) mm, and the wheelbase is 2800mm.
In terms of the rear, the in-line flying wing LED taillights echo the front and rear of the headlight group, with the flowing water steering effect, which is full of recognition. It is worth mentioning that the top platinum version is also equipped with a series of obsidian blackened sports kits as standard, including obsidian blackened active air intake grille, obsidian blackened luggage rack, obsidian blackened sports roof, high-gloss blackened aluminum alloy wheels, etc., and the visual effect will be more domineering and sharp.
Compared with the slight changes in the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV, it is obvious that the Cadillac GT4 is more in line with the aesthetic trend of young people, and it is also a compact positioning, and the Cadillac GT4 can also allow users to enjoy a more advantageous driving space.
In terms of interior, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV continues to be equipped with a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument and a 10.25-inch central control screen, forming a dual-screen design, but the screen has a wide black edge, and the sense of grade is not strong, with a built-in MBUX intelligent human-computer interaction system, integrating mainstream applications such as AutoNavi custom navigation, Tencent video, QQ music, etc., in addition, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV also adds voice continuous recognition, app store and other functions. However, the overall interactive experience is still lagging behind domestic new energy models of the same level.
The Cadillac GT4 adopts a wrap-around yacht cockpit design, and the 33-inch surround screen super retina screen is particularly eye-catching, not only with curvature, allowing the driver to easily view vehicle information, but also with a resolution of 9K, the ultra-clear visual experience is as if you are there, and with the 15-speaker AKG sound system with Quantum Logic surround sound technology, you can enjoy a studio-like audio-visual experience. And the system ecology is also extremely rich, it not only has a series of built-in Baidu intelligent ecology and on-board applications, but also equipped with AI-like intelligent voice assistant, almost barrier-free communication, and OTA intelligent cloud updates, which can be commonly used and always new, and the overall intelligent experience is no different from independent new energy products at the same level.
In terms of other details, the door handle of the Cadillac GT4 adopts an electronic and mechanical integrated switch, which is not only practical, but also very aesthetic, with a smart and fashionable pocket block design, with the crystal knob of the Mens shield on the suspended central control, which is the finishing touch to enhance the texture of the interior, the seat adopts a new Piping stitching process, which is very good in support and comfort, and has a Haptic safety warning vibration function, which can give users a personal warning at a critical moment, and the safety of driving and riding is further guaranteed.
It can also be seen from the comparison of the interior that the more avant-garde design of the Cadillac GT4 presents a sense of comfort, luxury, and technology that is significantly ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV. At the same time, in terms of driving safety, it should also be more thoughtful than Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV.
In terms of power, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV follows the old powertrain, providing 1.3T+7DCT+48V mild hybrid system and 2.0T+8DCT+48V mild hybrid system, the former has a maximum engine power of 120kW, a peak torque of 270N·m, 000 acceleration in 9.4 seconds, WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption of 6.61L/100km, fuel consumption data is not bad, but this power is comparable to a vegetable car, and the maximum engine power of the latter is only 140kW, The peak torque is 300N·m, and with the four-wheel drive system, the 000 acceleration is only 8.1 seconds, which is really unsatisfactory for a first-line luxury brand.
The Cadillac GT4 also provides two sets of powertrains, namely 1.5T + 9AT+48V mild hybrid and 2.0T + 9AT+48V mild hybrid + intelligent timely four-wheel drive, the former has a maximum power of 155kW, a peak torque of 270N·m, and a 000 acceleration of 8.8 seconds, and a WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption of 6.74L/100km, while the latter has a maximum power of 174kW, a peak torque of 350N·m, and a 000 acceleration of 7.8 seconds, and a WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption of 7.47L/100km.
Uncle Che concluded
As Mercedes-Benz entry-level SUV, Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV in recent years has been a small fight, and it can even be said that it is a change of soup without a change of medicine, as the independent brand continues to impact the high-end market, resulting in sales in recent years suffered Waterloo, you must know that before it can contribute to the sales of five or six thousand units per month, now even if the discount is more than 100,000, it is difficult to recover the decline.
Although the sales of Cadillac GT4 are not very good, compared with Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV, the former is more cost-effective, its interior and exterior design is more in line with the aesthetics of young people, the intelligent experience is more in line with the car habits of Chinese people, the space is also larger, and the power handling is better than Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV, so if you choose one of the two, it is still more worth starting.
However, one more thing to say here, instead of spending more than 200,000 yuan to buy the entry-level products of these traditional luxury brands, it is better to look at the same level or even higher level of independent high-end new energy vehicles, intelligent driving, refrigerators, color TVs, large sofas are readily available, and the user experience is definitely better than these products.