Mercedes-Benz GLA

Park the GLA next to a similarly-sized lower-priced car and cynics might wonder where the money went. However, the GLA's premium does pay for a nicely finished interior and nimble handling, with compact dimensions adding to maneuverability. Fuel economy isn't too shabby either at 26 mpg overall.

But as we experienced with the CLA (upon which the GLA is based), if you expect real Mercedes qualities -- such as a hushed cabin, plush ride, and a vault-like solid feel -- you'll be disappointed. Further letdowns include marginal head room, unintuitive controls and poor visibility. Test track acceleration numbers are impressive, but in routine stop-and-go traffic, the car feels unresponsive.

And, while the GLA is considerably less expensive than the larger GLK, the latter is a much more substantial vehicle.

The GLA lineup is pretty simple. Most buyers will go for the GLA250 with its 2.0-liter, 208-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. Unlike many rivals, all GLAs come with all-wheel-drive.

Buyers who crave speed can opt for the GLA45. Tweaked by in-house tuner AMG, the 2.0-liter turbo is turned way past 11, all the way to 375 hp. But it's frighteningly expensive for what you actually get.

The GLA250 is light on standard equipment. Luxury car basics like heated seats, and a sunroof are all optional. Leather is also an added-cost item, but the standard MB-Tex leatherette is a pretty good facsimile. Going with leather as part of the Interior package also forces you to get narrow sports seats that will cramp most buyers.

Because of the lousy visibility, we'd make sure to get the rear camera and the blind-spot monitoring system. Resist the urge to opt for larger flashy wheels beyond the standard 18-inch ones, they would likely make the stiff ride even worse.

The GLA was new for 2015 and based on the CLA compact sedan. 2016 models got an upgraded infotainment system, standard dual-zone automatic climate control and keyless start, and more seat adjustments.