I'm still amazed and shocked that such a good channel like this with proper reviews and car content only have 200k followers... Their figures should be much much more! Although I watch many channels regularly, I almost never subscribe or comment on a video. However with Autogefühl I've subscribed the moment I discovered it and I'm now leaving a comment to congratulate you all and for you guys to keep up the awesome work! No doubt this channel will grow bigger and bigger.
The 2D Mercedes logo is fitted for vehicles with Distronic Plus. Those without the 2D logo (and have a 3D logo instead) don't have Distronic Plus, but still retain Active Brake Assist (previously called Collision Prevention Assist Plus).
Just got the 2020 180 AMG Line version of this. It looks stunning and very attractive. It has loads of extras installed. It drives well and is quiet and comfortable. It is also good going over bumps and potholes. It is not over quick but my philosophy is these days, there are so many speed cameras around, lots of acceleration and speed is no longer practical. The cockpit is lovely and although the dashboard is not a intuitive as the new A-Class I traded it in for, it is still pretty good. I got car at a reduced price so for the money, I got a lovely and great looking car. I am very happy with it.
Thanks Thomas, good review which you seem to have made all by yourself (without a camera person! :-) I do like this car, it looks nice (especially from the front) and they made nice use of the opportunity to play with the design of the cloth seats. It also seems to drive well. The biggest problem for the car is that, as you mentioned, it doesn't really excel at anything other than pricing..
After using this car 18 months the change of temperature (at min 10) is not like that. The temperature is displayed on Screen so the user looks at screen and change in the low button (yes i agree it is low but you do not look at it). Living in Switzerland with winter of -15 and Summer of 35 never had any problems adjusting.
In the US this is the #1 vehicle that owners regretted buying for 2017 & by looking at it I don’t blame the customers.If this was a Toyota or Lexus it would have been bashed from start to finish.
I know, right!? This was my first car. Not THIS one, but the 2013/2014 model. It was so good and surprisingly capable. I did end up selling it less than six months ago for another Mercedes-Benz. I still miss it.
Thomas i am 1.88cm after i have tried all the equivalent vehicles from competitive manufacturers i have to say is by far the most claustrophobic car in its class. The Mercedes Rep proclaimed that due to it's aerodynamic shape they had to compromise on the space but really that doesn't cut it for me for 2+2 crossover. Seriously its just little better than sitting on the rear of a ..911 lol :) Great video as always
can i say to start off , Thomas is absolutely brilliant with his reviews of every vehicle he does he leaves no stone unturned im trying to decide on this car or a Peugeot 5008 ive driven the 5008 which is an incredible vehicle and in the gtline premium 1.6 thp turbo it is fully loaded so im going to have a drive of the gla amg see how that gies , Thimas if tou have any advice in which to choose I'd be very appreciative ps its for my motobility vehicle cheers Thomas .
thanks! Hope you ve compared our reviews to those! Remember this one here is a tiny car, compared to the 5008 which is big. Pretty much a size decision :)
You’re a reference for me when I’m looking for a car review. What do you think about the engine sound (nose)? Because I heard it is little bit nosy. Thanks
Hi Thomas, I love your explanations of cars, especially Mercedes Benz cars. Your commenting and opinions help to make up my mind about which car to buy, either an A45amg or GLA amg 🤔🤔🤔 maybe both ? 😋😋😂😂
Shouldn’t sound insulation be part of a comfort driving experience Thomas? To me this awful noise roaring into the cabin destroys driving comfort/experience.
I own a GLA 200 7G-DCT (no facelift, Urban line with Exclusive pack) and I must say I don’t like the facelift with holes everywhere in the front, don’t like the rear lights either, these should be thinner. I agree this is really fun car to drive and even thee small 1.6 liter petrol has a lot of oomph (sports mode makes the difference, really), it looks like it has more power than 156 hp. Great interior quality but not perfect. Fuel consumption very reasonable at 7L on 30000 km of various roads. HK sound system kicks ass.
Great car and all, but why the hell won't they fix the end of the front door trim where it meets the dashboard? It looks disgusting at this price range. The CLA has it just fine, but the A and the GLA does not. What's the problem? Frameless doors?
Tomas hi and congrats for the reviews! i have a complaint... when reviewing SUV style cars why dont you try it in dirt road or gravel to see the behaviour (no dont go to METEORA for moutain climbing!!)
Hey first of all thanks! We often do this when we get the opportunity, but as I mentioned in the video there aren't many people who will ever take a GLA off-road. But as you can i. e. in our Discovery 5 review or even a little bit in our new Cayenne review, we take vehicles off-road when possible.
Does anybody know if the "leatherette" is indeed made from artificial materials not using even a tiny bit of real leather? I am asking it because I have recently heard on Polish car review that something that is called artificial leather or ecological leather (at least that is how it is called here in Poland) is in fact made from real leather leftovers which are for example damaged, they just mill those pieces and then form it to look leather- like. So to be honest I don't know if every leatherette thing is actually a sustainable material after all.
Well there is such thing as leather that is created for leftovers, but those seats are still marketed as leather. If it is leatherette you can be pretty sure it is artificial. We have extensive resources considering this issue, feel free to inform yourself: Thank you for taking interest in this very important topic! We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter. At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself. In Summer 2017, Tesla motors has decided to be the first manufacturer to go all the way with sustainable seat materials, only offering fabric/cloth seats or leatherette seats in different colours. They have banned all real leather from the seating surface and at the steering wheel in the white trim or on demand. So Tesla shows where the industry will and must be heading, just like they went forward with electrification first. Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production: th-cam.com/video/LNSUzZXzpdc/w-d-xo.html List of practical reasons against animal skin seats: 1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it) 2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling 3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating 4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling 5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa 6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review th-cam.com/video/y2wNGFKa4M0/w-d-xo.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that and as described, non-leather materials are now standard for ALL Tesla 7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather) To the environmental reasons: 1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below) 2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf 3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage. 4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body. 5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy. 6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/ To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production” 1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small. 2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce. 3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future. More special video episodes: 1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: th-cam.com/video/8f91KgbVbJQ/w-d-xo.html 2. And another one right here: th-cam.com/video/tMNgcLE0LDU/w-d-xo.html 3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: th-cam.com/video/JipYvuDsI6s/w-d-xo.html timecode starting 27:46 4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: th-cam.com/video/OgHs239bAnE/w-d-xo.html 5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway. Manufacturers reactions: We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury. Tesla was the first one to react in a major way now. So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Besides Tesla, Mercedes already shows major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change! Help to raise awareness on this subject. Thanks!
Even if you leave the ethical aspect aside, here is the official calculation of the CO2-Output animal skin vs leatherette (different kinds of leatherette): Leather 17 kg CO2/m² PVC leatherette 10 kg CO2/m² (Standard) Acella Eco natural leatherette 8,5 kg CO2/m² Benova (PUR leatherette): 8 kg CO2/m² So by using the latest high-tech leatherette, you even the CO2-emissions are cut in half!
Shame they left the interior - I had one as a loan for a week, horrible plastics, not close to what you expect from a Mercedes and that horrendous cheap looking screen lives on - and you did well not to bash your head getting in the back ....
the new fiesta or yaris not only look MUCH better but are way more reliable. Mercedes used to make good cars in the 80s but the quality over the last 20 years has been horrible. avoid!
Hi Thomas, excellent review, I own this car (200 7G-DCT) for 2.5 years now and I fully agree with all you said. About design, I own the first version and I like it better than this facelift with holes in the front grille... Very fun car to drive indeed, and also confortable (also with Exclusive pack sport seats), all equipments are well designed and efficient, Comand online is very nice to use and good GPS with trafic information, HK sound system is excellent for me. The 200 is also very sporty and I find it feels to have at least 20 hp more than 156 so you can save some money by taking this version ;) No technical problem, fuel consumption is 7.4 calculated from the beginning (36500 km so far) which is very decent, and it doesnt wear the tires at all, still running with the original ones and I can do 15000 km more with them for sure. Only downside is that build consrtuction could be better for the price, I have some rattles at the back on really bad ways... Space is also a bit limited at the back but it's still very compact so also perfect for the city driving and parking, while also rocking on autobahn (tested is in Germany ;) ). Great car for sure !
Hi Eric ! Do you have that option, where you can push the back seats 15 degrees so that you have more trunk space and are you happy with the trunk space in general ?
partyzanin Hi, no I don’t have this option. For us the trunk space was OK, and we are 5 at home. But as my children have grown and nearly adult sized, the back is now too small, so I’ll change my GLA for bigger sized SUV.
Thank you, Eric! I am thinking of getting a GLA and the trunk space is my biggest worry since we are 3 at home (for now). Basically I'm looking for a family vehicle. I guess it should be OK. :)
Emission-free transportation technologies have been available for mass production for over 25 years, but without the needed infrastructure. Cars - affordable for the general public - with engines of about 1 litre fuel consumption, or cars with real water-using engines have been ready for production for over 2 decades now. These high-tech prototypes were successfully tested in countries like Canada, USA, Australia, Norway, England, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Poland, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Israel, China, India, South Korea and Japan. We should already be manufacturing 35-40 million emission-free vehicles annually, and H2O engine systems should have been producing energy instead of our fossil-based and nuclear power plants. Entire technological documentations of such technologies have vanished in the EU`s Institute for Innovation and Technology, and, according to the legislation in order, it is right to be so. The expense involved in the production of such technologies is half of that of the traditional engines, they weigh about 70% less, and they can provide a huge torque. Their working range can be several thousand miles, cars could weigh 200 kg less, and their price could be 3-4000 Euros less. Segments of nearly the entire car industry secretly have the prototypes and successful tests. At the present moment we are poisoning our environment just out of mere arrogance and greed. We live in a cheap and indecent world. I firmly claim that we simply shouldn`t lie to 7 billion people, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. This information is entirely true and I hold myself accountable for its validity. Sincerely, Istvan Gazso, inventor
I drove one of these as a courtesy car not long ago.It was the blandest most uninspiring car I've ever driven,it might well have been a Vauxhall.Sorry,but owning a Merc is just like owning any other mid range car.
It's found in one of the steering stalks. It's feels un- natural and unfortunately new mercedes are like that now . I suppose they want make centre console clutterless and interior looks more spacious.
Bongani Ntenza I agree, it’s unfortunate they decided to move the gear selector. It took me a long time to adapt to the steering column shifter in my e class
Alex G It's such a simple gear lever and works much better than a center mounted one. It literally just requires a flick of a finger to go back and forth. It's so simple. It's the best implementation of a gear lever.
CX-30 vs X1 vs GLA (2019 Mazda 3 CUV vs BMW 1 CUV vs Mercedes A CUV) Dear Thomas and Autogefühl, I would really appreciate, and it would be most useful to potential buyers if you could do a comparison video between these three please. I have driven the all-new Mazda 3 a few times, and am convinced that it is a solid contender across many aspects between the 1 and A class, and it would be my pick. Problem is, the lady peters a CUV/SUV for easier ingress/egress and city driving/visibility. Partially also because many other ladies she knows, all own "compact SUVs" - I tend to agree with this length for easier classification: www.automobiledimension.com/compact-suv.php VW group is evil, but you could choose a Audi or something if you wanted as well 😁 But I find a shortlisted 3 car finalist detail comparison review (with finalist decided), is more efficient. Thanks again and keep up the good work. I have taken your reviews with most priority, before deciding on my purchases - in two different countries in Asia if I may add ☺️👍
@9:58 to 10:05 the motorcycle think there is an unmarked police car parked and he take a U turn and rides even faster thinking he might be a stoped by the police car !!!!! little he know is that its Thomas lol !!!!!
Good car but not worth the money.An AUDI Q5 is better compact SUV IMHO.Better quality interior,great motors,better sporty and comfort ride than this .The AUDI Q5 is the superior car to this at the price,I would take it over this,but great video anyway,Keep it up Thomas!
Okay,fine.even the AUDI Q3 is better value/quality interior /ride than this car by Mercedes.I'd still take it over this car.The AUDI Q3 is still the superior car to this GLA .
Alex G Excuse you. Don't spread erroneous information here. The Infiniti is based on the GLA. The GLA has NOTHING to do with the Infiniti. It is the Infiniti that is using MERCEDES platform and engines. Not the other way around. Please get your facts straight!
Als Service für Deutsche Zuschauer, die lieber (auch) auf Deutsch schauen möchten, haben wir hier nun angefangen, auch deutsche Videos zu produzieren: youtube.com/@AutogefuhlDeutsch-qp1ze?sub_confirmation=1
BMW ///M Yes agreed. By the way, in the beginning of the video the rear looks a little bit like a Fiat 500 to me, with a massive dog nose at the front.
Boring looking car, boring mono tone review ... man add some chili in your food before commenting .... a bit of energy / enthesiast / a bit of anything .... after 4-5 minutes I fall asleep almost always ,,,,
I'm still amazed and shocked that such a good channel like this with proper reviews and car content only have 200k followers... Their figures should be much much more!
Although I watch many channels regularly, I almost never subscribe or comment on a video.
However with Autogefühl I've subscribed the moment I discovered it and I'm now leaving a comment to congratulate you all and for you guys to keep up the awesome work!
No doubt this channel will grow bigger and bigger.
thank you so much! Feel free to spread the word for us - and great that u are with us :)
my go to car review channel, no bull just facts 👍 another great no nonsense review Thomas
The 2D Mercedes logo is fitted for vehicles with Distronic Plus. Those without the 2D logo (and have a 3D logo instead) don't have Distronic Plus, but still retain Active Brake Assist (previously called Collision Prevention Assist Plus).
yes! thank you autogefuehl for fulfilling my video request! much thanks!!
enjoy - just for u :)
Gorgeous. Nice review. 🤗 The space of the GLA surprised me. The SUV looks tiny, but that trunk is massive! Rear leg room is good.
Just got the 2020 180 AMG Line version of this. It looks stunning and very attractive. It has loads of extras installed. It drives well and is quiet and comfortable. It is also good going over bumps and potholes. It is not over quick but my philosophy is these days, there are so many speed cameras around, lots of acceleration and speed is no longer practical.
The cockpit is lovely and although the dashboard is not a intuitive as the new A-Class I traded it in for, it is still pretty good.
I got car at a reduced price so for the money, I got a lovely and great looking car. I am very happy with it.
Thanks for the feedback! Enjoy!
Can't deny the fact that those seats are gorgeous. Wonder if the full leatherette looks so neat :-) Great video as always!
they sure do! thx :)
Thanks Thomas, I have just today ordered a GLA after watching your video. I hope Mercedes are paying you a referral fee 😉!
Cool! Sadly not :)
Thanks Thomas, good review which you seem to have made all by yourself (without a camera person! :-)
I do like this car, it looks nice (especially from the front) and they made nice use of the opportunity to play with the design of the cloth seats. It also seems to drive well.
The biggest problem for the car is that, as you mentioned, it doesn't really excel at anything other than pricing..
indeed - thanks gerard!
Please do comparison videos. Iam requesting you bcz you are unbiased and prompt. Most reviewers choose which they want to promote.
I like the black Mercedes badge
Another great autogefhul video
thanks m8 !
After using this car 18 months the change of temperature (at min 10) is not like that. The temperature is displayed on Screen so the user looks at screen and change in the low button (yes i agree it is low but you do not look at it). Living in Switzerland with winter of -15 and Summer of 35 never had any problems adjusting.
In the US this is the #1 vehicle that owners regretted buying for 2017 & by looking at it I don’t blame the customers.If this was a Toyota or Lexus it would have been bashed from start to finish.
Fun to drive, so gorgeous. This is our 3rd Mercedes Benz.
I know, right!? This was my first car. Not THIS one, but the 2013/2014 model. It was so good and surprisingly capable. I did end up selling it less than six months ago for another Mercedes-Benz. I still miss it.
Thomas i am 1.88cm after i have tried all the equivalent vehicles from competitive manufacturers i have to say is by far the most claustrophobic car in its class. The Mercedes Rep proclaimed that due to it's aerodynamic shape they had to compromise on the space but really that doesn't cut it for me for 2+2 crossover. Seriously its just little better than sitting on the rear of a ..911 lol :) Great video as always
ye i know what u mean!
Thomas, please do an in depth review on the Kia GT Stinger!!!
Excellent & detailed review. Thank you!
+ಕನ್ನಡ ಮೊದಲು KannadaFirst cheers!
My favourite TH-camr ❤️
thx =)
can i say to start off , Thomas is absolutely brilliant with his reviews of every vehicle he does he leaves no stone unturned im trying to decide on this car or a Peugeot 5008 ive driven the 5008 which is an incredible vehicle and in the gtline premium 1.6 thp turbo it is fully loaded so im going to have a drive of the gla amg see how that gies , Thimas if tou have any advice in which to choose I'd be very appreciative ps its for my motobility vehicle cheers Thomas .
thanks! Hope you ve compared our reviews to those! Remember this one here is a tiny car, compared to the 5008 which is big. Pretty much a size decision :)
Thomad ive decided to go for the 5008 gtline premium its a no brainer as its fully loaded and as you say a bigger car .
You’re a reference for me when I’m looking for a car review. What do you think about the engine sound (nose)? Because I heard it is little bit nosy. Thanks
Cheers! Hmm maybe, but not too bad
Are you going to review facelifted Maserati Ghibli?
Hi Thomas, I love your explanations of cars, especially Mercedes Benz cars. Your commenting and opinions help to make up my mind about which car to buy, either an A45amg or GLA amg 🤔🤔🤔 maybe both ? 😋😋😂😂
Shouldn’t sound insulation be part of a comfort driving experience Thomas? To me this awful noise roaring into the cabin destroys driving comfort/experience.
Dr Sandeep Parwaga
Get a Tata,
Lot better sound insulation
Mahin Ahmed I am just fine with my Audi, thank you very much.
Thomas Brother....you deserve more Subs man!!!
Feel free to help us :)
I will spread the word best I can for ya bud!!!!
Great job, Thomas !
thanks man !
Pity Thomas did not show how to flip back seats from trunk
As always, very good revel.
thx!
Great effort truly ,
But i think this car is made for youth not family as the space inside not that good
Which compact cars are the most quiet? It might be an idea to add a decibel meter to the test?
+me2995 we tried that but u cant compare if u are not using same car on same road same day same weather same tyres
Autogefühl that makes perfect sense. :-) Didn't think about that. Thx!
GLA 220 or QX30 ? It's the same platform...
Check infiniti infotainment system first. May look fancy, but not that great if you learn more about it.
Infiniti looks good though.
Great review as usual.
+David 🙏
I own a GLA 200 7G-DCT (no facelift, Urban line with Exclusive pack) and I must say I don’t like the facelift with holes everywhere in the front, don’t like the rear lights either, these should be thinner. I agree this is really fun car to drive and even thee small 1.6 liter petrol has a lot of oomph (sports mode makes the difference, really), it looks like it has more power than 156 hp. Great interior quality but not perfect. Fuel consumption very reasonable at 7L on 30000 km of various roads. HK sound system kicks ass.
+Eric Lambert thank you for the feedback
Normally when they turn a hatchback into a crossover they look more like an SUV. This one just looks like an A Class Cross Country.
Great car and all, but why the hell won't they fix the end of the front door trim where it meets the dashboard? It looks disgusting at this price range. The CLA has it just fine, but the A and the GLA does not. What's the problem? Frameless doors?
i za lov dis reviewz wis Thomas!
Tomas hi and congrats for the reviews! i have a complaint... when reviewing SUV style cars why dont you try it in dirt road or gravel to see the behaviour (no dont go to METEORA for moutain climbing!!)
Hey first of all thanks! We often do this when we get the opportunity, but as I mentioned in the video there aren't many people who will ever take a GLA off-road. But as you can i. e. in our Discovery 5 review or even a little bit in our new Cayenne review, we take vehicles off-road when possible.
These types of cars would never go on gravel roads. Especially in Greece which as far as I know the car is used as a money statement.
Does anybody know if the "leatherette" is indeed made from artificial materials not using even a tiny bit of real leather? I am asking it because I have recently heard on Polish car review that something that is called artificial leather or ecological leather (at least that is how it is called here in Poland) is in fact made from real leather leftovers which are for example damaged, they just mill those pieces and then form it to look leather- like. So to be honest I don't know if every leatherette thing is actually a sustainable material after all.
Well there is such thing as leather that is created for leftovers, but those seats are still marketed as leather. If it is leatherette you can be pretty sure it is artificial.
We have extensive resources considering this issue, feel free to inform yourself:
Thank you for taking interest in this very important topic!
We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter.
At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself.
In Summer 2017, Tesla motors has decided to be the first manufacturer to go all the way with sustainable seat materials, only offering fabric/cloth seats or leatherette seats in different colours. They have banned all real leather from the seating surface and at the steering wheel in the white trim or on demand. So Tesla shows where the industry will and must be heading, just like they went forward with electrification first.
Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production:
th-cam.com/video/LNSUzZXzpdc/w-d-xo.html
List of practical reasons against animal skin seats:
1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it)
2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling
3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating
4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling
5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa
6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review th-cam.com/video/y2wNGFKa4M0/w-d-xo.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that and as described, non-leather materials are now standard for ALL Tesla
7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather)
To the environmental reasons:
1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below)
2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf
3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage.
4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body.
5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy.
6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/
To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production”
1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small.
2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce.
3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future.
More special video episodes:
1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: th-cam.com/video/8f91KgbVbJQ/w-d-xo.html
2. And another one right here: th-cam.com/video/tMNgcLE0LDU/w-d-xo.html
3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: th-cam.com/video/JipYvuDsI6s/w-d-xo.html
timecode starting 27:46
4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: th-cam.com/video/OgHs239bAnE/w-d-xo.html
5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway.
Manufacturers reactions:
We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury. Tesla was the first one to react in a major way now.
So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Besides Tesla, Mercedes already shows major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change!
Help to raise awareness on this subject. Thanks!
Even if you leave the ethical aspect aside, here is the official calculation of the CO2-Output animal skin vs leatherette (different kinds of leatherette):
Leather 17 kg CO2/m²
PVC leatherette 10 kg CO2/m² (Standard)
Acella Eco natural leatherette 8,5 kg CO2/m²
Benova (PUR leatherette): 8 kg CO2/m²
So by using the latest high-tech leatherette, you even the CO2-emissions are cut in half!
GLA better or Ford Kuga ?
Compare the Ford Kuga here: th-cam.com/video/EhiIbLKlMcA/w-d-xo.html
Mercedes should redesign the Gla
Shame they left the interior - I had one as a loan for a week, horrible plastics, not close to what you expect from a Mercedes and that horrendous cheap looking screen lives on - and you did well not to bash your head getting in the back ....
In my opinion this is not a Mercedes, they really disappointed with this model !
the new fiesta or yaris not only look MUCH better but are way more reliable. Mercedes used to make good cars in the 80s but the quality over the last 20 years has been horrible. avoid!
Ok boomer.
Hi Thomas, excellent review, I own this car (200 7G-DCT) for 2.5 years now and I fully agree with all you said.
About design, I own the first version and I like it better than this facelift with holes in the front grille...
Very fun car to drive indeed, and also confortable (also with Exclusive pack sport seats), all equipments are well designed and efficient, Comand online is very nice to use and good GPS with trafic information, HK sound system is excellent for me. The 200 is also very sporty and I find it feels to have at least 20 hp more than 156 so you can save some money by taking this version ;)
No technical problem, fuel consumption is 7.4 calculated from the beginning (36500 km so far) which is very decent, and it doesnt wear the tires at all, still running with the original ones and I can do 15000 km more with them for sure. Only downside is that build consrtuction could be better for the price, I have some rattles at the back on really bad ways... Space is also a bit limited at the back but it's still very compact so also perfect for the city driving and parking, while also rocking on autobahn (tested is in Germany ;) ). Great car for sure !
thanks for the feedback !!
Hi Eric ! Do you have that option, where you can push the back seats 15 degrees so that you have more trunk space and are you happy with the trunk space in general ?
partyzanin Hi, no I don’t have this option. For us the trunk space was OK, and we are 5 at home. But as my children have grown and nearly adult sized, the back is now too small, so I’ll change my GLA for bigger sized SUV.
Thank you, Eric! I am thinking of getting a GLA and the trunk space is my biggest worry since we are 3 at home (for now). Basically I'm looking for a family vehicle. I guess it should be OK. :)
partyzanin depends on you and your lifestyle. For us it was ok for 5, but for some a big Grand Scenic isn't big enough lol
Does this compete with the bmw X2
X1, X2... sure
But the BMW x 1 is a better allrounder with more space. Also the Seat Ateca as well as the longer VW Tiguan are the more versatile cars in my view.
4:07 - fake exhaust at extra charge for sure )
Emission-free transportation technologies have been available for mass production for over 25 years, but without the needed infrastructure. Cars - affordable for the general public - with engines of about 1 litre fuel consumption, or cars with real water-using engines have been ready for production for over 2 decades now. These high-tech prototypes were successfully tested in countries like Canada, USA, Australia, Norway, England, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Poland, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Israel, China, India, South Korea and Japan. We should already be manufacturing 35-40 million emission-free vehicles annually, and H2O engine systems should have been producing energy instead of our fossil-based and nuclear power plants. Entire technological documentations of such technologies have vanished in the EU`s Institute for Innovation and Technology, and, according to the legislation in order, it is right to be so. The expense involved in the production of such technologies is half of that of the traditional engines, they weigh about 70% less, and they can provide a huge torque. Their working range can be several thousand miles, cars could weigh 200 kg less, and their price could be 3-4000 Euros less. Segments of nearly the entire car industry secretly have the prototypes and successful tests. At the present moment we are poisoning our environment just out of mere arrogance and greed. We live in a cheap and indecent world. I firmly claim that we simply shouldn`t lie to 7 billion people, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. This information is entirely true and I hold myself accountable for its validity.
Sincerely, Istvan Gazso, inventor
So how would that water engine work?
I drove one of these as a courtesy car not long ago.It was the blandest most uninspiring car I've ever driven,it might well have been a Vauxhall.Sorry,but owning a Merc is just like owning any other mid range car.
I love my GLA 25, err...I mean 250
X1 still looks way better, inside and out.
It doesn't look any different! How boring...
Am i blind? I cant see a gear selector!
It's found in one of the steering stalks. It's feels un- natural and unfortunately new mercedes are like that now . I suppose they want make centre console clutterless and interior looks more spacious.
Bongani Ntenza I agree, it’s unfortunate they decided to move the gear selector. It took me a long time to adapt to the steering column shifter in my e class
Alex G It's such a simple gear lever and works much better than a center mounted one. It literally just requires a flick of a finger to go back and forth. It's so simple. It's the best implementation of a gear lever.
Bongani Ntenza It's not unnatural. It makes perfect sense and allows for quick changes between drive and reverse when doing 3 point turns.
Yeah because it took sooo long to get in reverse before.
CX-30 vs X1 vs GLA
(2019 Mazda 3 CUV vs BMW 1 CUV vs Mercedes A CUV)
Dear Thomas and Autogefühl, I would really appreciate, and it would be most useful to potential buyers if you could do a comparison video between these three please.
I have driven the all-new Mazda 3 a few times, and am convinced that it is a solid contender across many aspects between the 1 and A class, and it would be my pick. Problem is, the lady peters a CUV/SUV for easier ingress/egress and city driving/visibility. Partially also because many other ladies she knows, all own "compact SUVs" - I tend to agree with this length for easier classification:
www.automobiledimension.com/compact-suv.php
VW group is evil, but you could choose a Audi or something if you wanted as well 😁 But I find a shortlisted 3 car finalist detail comparison review (with finalist decided), is more efficient. Thanks again and keep up the good work. I have taken your reviews with most priority, before deciding on my purchases - in two different countries in Asia if I may add ☺️👍
Steep price for a small performace CUV
Not expensive, though. 😂
Don't understand the utility and the attractive part of this car...
It is very capable.
To me it looks more like Maserati quattroporte
@9:58 to 10:05 the motorcycle think there is an unmarked police car parked and he take a U turn and rides even faster thinking he might be a stoped by the police car !!!!! little he know is that its Thomas lol !!!!!
It looks awkward and squashed
Good car but not worth the money.An AUDI Q5 is better compact SUV IMHO.Better quality interior,great motors,better sporty and comfort ride than this .The AUDI Q5 is the superior car to this at the price,I would take it over this,but great video anyway,Keep it up Thomas!
Gregory Gant The GLA is not in the same class as the Audi Q5. It competes with the Audi Q2 and Q3.
cheers greg!
i ll pass
'noticeable' ;)
Mazda cx5 is a much better car...
i agree
Yet another car that is all steel with tiny tiny windows. How can you feel connected to the world with this design trend?
The facelift doesnt make the situation better...still an ugly car
Ugly, overpriced, useless.
What a ugly thing to say, besides the Mercedes is as always ultimate in engineering
White, so unoriginal and boring. Would look a lot better in different color.
Dont really understand the point of these small wannabe "SUV" s
Du bist deutsche
R also Rede auch deutsch!!!!!!
Rede deutsch !!!!!
Okay,fine.even the AUDI Q3 is better value/quality interior /ride than this car by Mercedes.I'd still take it over this car.The AUDI
Q3 is still the superior car to this GLA .
Gregory Gant well the gla is actually a dressed up Infiniti q30 or something so it clearly isn’t the same caliber of car as an Audi q2 or q3
Alex G Excuse you. Don't spread erroneous information here. The Infiniti is based on the GLA. The GLA has NOTHING to do with the Infiniti. It is the Infiniti that is using MERCEDES platform and engines. Not the other way around. Please get your facts straight!
Rede deutsch und lass dein englisch
Als Service für Deutsche Zuschauer, die lieber (auch) auf Deutsch schauen möchten, haben wir hier nun angefangen, auch deutsche Videos zu produzieren: youtube.com/@AutogefuhlDeutsch-qp1ze?sub_confirmation=1
Hideous and so old central console still there despite facelift. Embarassing.
ERST!
nas Siball I think it looked better pre face life. I also think a Q2/Q3 and the X1 are better looking and better interiors
BMW ///M Yes agreed. By the way, in the beginning of the video the rear looks a little bit like a Fiat 500 to me, with a massive dog nose at the front.
Still 💩.
Wrong.
Ugly car
Boring looking car, boring mono tone review ... man add some chili in your food before commenting .... a bit of energy / enthesiast / a bit of anything .... after 4-5 minutes I fall asleep almost always ,,,,
So u can get this ugly mass produced money making "mercedes" or can get yourself a used amg....🤔