Half-price heroes: Volkswagen Polo Vs Mercedes GLA

How they stack up: Volkswagen CrossPolo (orange), Mercedes-Benz GLA (blue). Pictures / David Linklater

Welcome to another 'half-price heroes' feature where we identify a special new vehicle then try and find something that gives you a similar experience for half the money. We're not suggesting that the less-expensive vehicle is better - rather, we're just trying to find a half-price car that can deliver a similar experience to the upmarket one in a few crucial areas.

Image 1 of 16: Volkswagen CrossPolo VS Mercedes-Benz GLA. Photo / David Linklater

Pint-sized crossovers: a car company is nothing without one these days. Even premium carmakers are seeing the volume-enhancing attraction in taking something small and raising it up a bit further off the ground.

The Mercedes-Benz GLA is one of the newest of the breed. It's based on Mercedes-Benz's entry-level hatchback, the A-class, borrowing its powertrain, platform and interior architecture. It's pretty sleek actually, but it's also got raised ride height and chunky body addenda: make no mistake, it's intended to be a mini-sports utility vehicle (SUV), albeit one for the fashion-conscious urban crowd.

On the surface, the GLA seems to offer it all: crossovers are hot property at the moment and this is one from a German brand known for its quality and engineering excellence, delivered in a city-friendly compact package. The only obvious downside is the price of entry: it starts at $64,900 and the GLA 250 4Matic featured here costs $76,900.

So what if we told you that there was another compact-crossover from another German brand also known for its quality and engineering excellence, at less than half the price? Like the new Volkswagen CrossPolo, which is the current flagship of the Polo range but sells for just $29,990.

The GLA certainly looks the part, although the low roof and reclined driving position are not terribly SUV-like. The CrossPolo doesn't represent a comprehensive makeover like the Mercedes - it's clearly just a Polo with some plastic bits and extra ride height. But it still has more of an SUV aura, thanks to its large glass areas and more upright driving position.

There's little point evaluating these cars as off-roaders because they're not. Both are produced in front-drive, despite the extra ground clearance. The GLA 250 4Matic does have four-wheel drive and even boasts a pushbutton "off-road mode", which changes the calibration of the powertrain and steering to cope with low-traction surfaces. But it's still not a car anybody's going to go rock-hopping in.

There are remarkable similarities in powertrain technology. Both are powered by small-capacity four-cylinder engines with direct-injection and turbocharging, matched to seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes.

The CrossPolo has a little engine that could: a 1.2-litre with an impressive 81kW/175Nm. It drives the front wheels through a seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).

The entry-level GLA 200 is powered by a diesel, but if you want a petrol the 250 is the one: it has a 2.0-litre powerplant with 155kW/350Nm, matched to Mercedes-Benz's 7G-DCT (Dual Clutch Gearbox) with drive to all four wheels.

So the GLA 250 might be twice the price of the CrossPolo, but don't say you're not getting value for money: it has nearly twice as much power and torque!

Suffice to say that the Mercedes is a swift and fairly sporty machine. It sprints to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds and has quite firm suspension for a crossover, resulting in a busy ride on some urban surfaces (not uncomfortably so) but with considerable cornering prowess.

The Volkswagen CrossPolo's instrument panel is functional but not as impressive as that of the Mercedes-Benz GLA (below). Pictures / David Linklater

The VW is altogether more modest, hitting 100km/h in 9.8 seconds and providing a compliant ride. But that's not to say it lacks the fun factor. When VW puts a small TSI engine with its DSG transmission, the result is usually full of verve and the CrossPolo is no exception. It's an incredibly lively engine and the DSG clicks from gear to gear with alacrity when you put your foot down - it's smoother even than the technically similar DCT in the GLA 250.

Inside, the Mercedes-Benz has a wow-factor that really shows where your money goes. It's pretty blingy, which may not be to all tastes, but it's still superbly executed: gorgeous materials, striking styling and black "red cut" leather on the seats.

The GLA has a tablet-like screen sitting atop the dashboard which serves as satellite navigation, audio control and trip computer (although most functions can also be viewed on the information screen in front of the driver). Our test car had the optional COMAND package (another $2190) which brings a larger screen and more comprehensive sat-nav system. If you're splashing out on a Mercedes-Benz, it's worth having.

While we're on the subject, the car you see here also wears South Seas Blue metallic paint ($990), the AMG sports package ($2590) and 19-inch AMG wheels ($2190). The grand total is $83,260. Easy to get carried away, right?

For less than $30k you could afford to splash out on a few options for your CrossPolo. The facelifted model is beautifully finished for a mainstream supermini and has some bling of its own, with high-gloss black on the steering wheel and silver around the centre console.

Nice big touch-screen too, although you'll need to dip into your wallet to really get good use out of it. Sat-nav is a reasonable $750 and the same amount again for reversing camera - although a rather good parking radar system with on-screen graphic is standard-fit.

IS THE CROSSPOLO A HALF-PRICE HERO?
The Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 looks and feels like a premium product, no question. It costs, but it also represents value for money in terms of status and ability. Nonetheless, the CrossPolo is a half-price hero: it's fun to drive and there's a real sense of quality about it, too.

Do not be afraid: the CrossPolo is available in colours other than orange.