Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Hyundai IONIQ 5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Discontinued model
Mercedes-Benz GLA in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz GLA

GLA 200 Petrol Mild Hybrid 8-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 901,887 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 270 Nm ⛽ 15.2 km/l
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Discontinued model
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Hyundai IONIQ 5: the short answer

IONIQ 5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over GLA.

Recorded price context GLA: current from ZAR 901,887 · IONIQ 5: last listed from ZAR 859,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GLA IONIQ 5
Maximum Power GLA120 kW IONIQ 5225 kW
Maximum Torque GLA270 Nm IONIQ 5605 Nm
Engine Size GLA1332 cc IONIQ 5Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy GLA15.2 km/l IONIQ 5Not Applicable
Ground Clearance GLA143 mm IONIQ 5160 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

GLA 200

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GLA

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

GLA

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

IONIQ 5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec GLA IONIQ 5
Model Introduced Year 2026 2022
Generation Current South African GLA generation represented by derivative GLA 200 First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers
Facelift History Current-generation/facelift specification; derivative-specific South African configuration Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch
Facelift Launched Since Current South African model cycle 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style Suv SUV
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status Current South African retail range discontinued
Segment Premium SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 2190 kg
Spec GLA IONIQ 5
Length 4412 mm 4635 mm
Width 1834 mm 1890 mm
Height 1616 mm 1605 mm
Wheelbase 2729 mm 3000 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 143 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 220 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 43 l 72.6 l
Boot/Cargo Space 435 l 527 l
Kerb Weight 1650 kg 2190 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2000 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Payload Capacity 550 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 2000 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m Not Officially Disclosed
Front Headroom 960 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 960 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 900 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 900 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This GLA and IONIQ 5 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: GLA 54 vs IONIQ 5 100.

Efficiency index: GLA 63 vs IONIQ 5 90.

Safety-equipment index: GLA 99 vs IONIQ 5 98.

Practicality index: GLA 62 vs IONIQ 5 70.

Ownership-cover index: GLA not separately scored vs IONIQ 5 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 16 points

IONIQ 5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over GLA.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 16 points
Data 75% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

IONIQ 5

75% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 16 points
70
#2

GLA

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Performance 54
Performance 54
Efficiency 63
Safety 99
Practicality 62
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +46 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +27 Safety GLA +1 Practicality IONIQ 5 +8

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

GLA

Performance 54/100
Efficiency 63/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 62/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 70 pts for GLA

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, IONIQ 5 leads. However, GLA may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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GLA vs IONIQ 5 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.