Lexus RX vs Mercedes-Benz GLA

The Lexus RX starts from $93,550 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz GLA opens at $58,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz GLA the more affordable entry point by $34,650.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $102,905 and $64,790 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Lexus RX by roughly $1,140 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Lexus RX features a 14-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz GLA gets a 10.3-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Lexus RX stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Lexus Premium Sound audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Lexus RX uses a Hybrid producing 184kW and 239Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.7 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz GLA responds with a Petrol making 120kW and 270Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.1 seconds.

The Lexus RX has the clear power advantage at 184kW vs 120kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus RX is 1.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus RX measures 4,890mm long on a 2,850mm wheelbase, 479mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz GLA at 4,411mm (2,729mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus RX generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 612L in the Lexus RX and 435L in the Mercedes-Benz GLA, giving the Lexus RX a 177L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz GLA leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,539/year for the Lexus RX and $1,767/year for the Mercedes-Benz GLA. That is a $228 annual difference in favour of the Lexus RX.

Estimated annual total: $1,539 (Lexus RX) vs $1,767 (Mercedes-Benz GLA). The Lexus RX saves you roughly $228 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus RX) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz GLA). The Mercedes-Benz GLA has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: 4yr (Lexus RX)—.