Verdict
At RM258,888, the GLA saves RM22,185 and its RM100 annual road tax is RM265 lower, while its 4,410-mm length suits tighter Malaysian parking spaces. But the X9 uses that extra money well: seven seats, a 721-litre boot and a 94.8-kWh battery rated for 535 km turn it into the proper family carrier. Its 315-hp, 450-Nm motor also reaches 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds against the GLA’s 8.7. Choose the Mercedes for compact petrol ownership; choose the Xpeng if the larger footprint and EV charging fit your routine.
GLA
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLA if you want the lower RM258,888 entry price, RM100 road tax and a far more compact 4,410-mm SUV.
X9
Pick the Xpeng X9 if you need seven seats, a 721-litre boot and 535 km of EV range.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLA RM258,888; Xpeng X9 RM281,073.
- Seating and boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLA 5 seats and 435 litres; Xpeng X9 7 seats and 721 litres.
- Output: Mercedes-Benz GLA 161 hp and 250 Nm; Xpeng X9 315 hp and 450 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Mercedes-Benz GLA 8.7 seconds; Xpeng X9 8.2 seconds.
- Dimensions: Mercedes-Benz GLA 4,410 mm long with a 2,729-mm wheelbase; Xpeng X9 5,316 mm long with a 3,160-mm wheelbase.
- Annual road tax: Mercedes-Benz GLA RM100; Xpeng X9 RM365.
GLA
- RM22,185 lower purchase price and RM265 lower annual road tax.
- 4,410-mm length is 906 mm shorter than the X9.
- 210 km/h top speed, versus 200 km/h.
- Five seats and a 435-litre boot trail the X9's seven seats and 721 litres.
- 161 hp, 250 Nm and an 8.7-second 0-100 km/h time fall behind the X9.
- No blind spot system, lane-keeping steering correction, adaptive cruise control or auto parking.
X9
- Seven seats, 721-litre boot and 3,160-mm wheelbase.
- 315-hp, 450-Nm motor and 8.2-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 94.8-kWh battery, 535-km range, 11-kW AC and 537-kW DC charging.
- Costs RM22,185 more and carries RM365 annual road tax versus RM100.
- At 5,316 mm long and 1,988 mm wide, it needs more room than the 4,410-mm-long GLA.
- 200 km/h top speed is 10 km/h lower than the GLA's.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM258,888✓ | RM281,073 |
| Body type | SUV | MPV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM100✓ | RM365 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,332 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 161 hp at 5,500 rpm | — |
| Torque | 250 Nm at 1,620 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 72.2 mm × 81.4 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 315 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 94.8 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 535 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 537 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7G-DCT | — |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.7 seconds | 8.2 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 5.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h✓ | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,410 mm | 5,316 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm | 1,988 mm |
| Height | 1,611 mm | 1,785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,729 mm | 3,160 mm |
| Weight | 1,485 kg | 2,750 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 43 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 435 litres | 721 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/50R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact6 | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" AMG 5-Twin-Spoke Light-Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Rear Wheels | 19" AMG 5-Twin-Spoke Light-Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Suspension | Air Suspension, Rear-axle Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags, Integrated Second Row Seat Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Second & Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (Up To 105 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function | Driver and Front Passenger Powered Seats, Front Seat Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 14-way Second Row Individual Captain Seats with Ventilation, 60:40 Split-folding Third Row with One-touch Electric Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Double Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 Wireless Chargers, 2 USB Second Row, 2 USB Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade, Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with 10.25" Touchscreen, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 17.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 27-speaker XOpera Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Surround View | Yes, with 360-degree Surround View |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Front Doors & Rear Sliding Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-Year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used GLA & X9 for sale
GLA vs X9 FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLA or Xpeng X9 better?
The Xpeng X9 is better for family space, EV range and equipment, with seven seats and a 721-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz GLA is better for buyers who prioritise a smaller SUV, lower road tax and a lower upfront cost.
What is the price difference?
The Xpeng X9 costs RM22,185 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Which one has more family space?
The Xpeng X9 has substantially more room on paper: seven seats, a 3,160-mm wheelbase and a 721-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz GLA has five seats, a 2,729-mm wheelbase and 435 litres of luggage space.
