Mercedes-Benz, which has nurtured royalists based on E- and S-Class large sedans here, is more recently whipping up small-size artful models into the Korean market.

A less-is-more mentality is taking root in everything from food to fashion. The luxury car is no exception. Of the nation’s soaring import car market, vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000cc or less now make up more than 50 percent of total sales.

Compared to its German rivals BMW and Audi, Mercedes-Benz had shown less vigor in promoting its smaller cars in Korea. But more recently the carmaker is increasingly reaching out to younger customers with a slew of new launches.

My test car, the GLA crossover, is the latest member of the brand’s potent low-end family. Slotted between the A- and B-Class, the car made its Korean debut in August.

The GLA 220CDI is powered by a 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine producing 136 horsepower. Its fuel efficiency is 16.2 kilometers per liter.

Disregarding the price difference at about 10 million won ($9,000), I would easily succumb to GLA’s charm and choose it over its smaller A-Class sibling that shares the same platform.

Thanks to a taller suspension and higher profile tires, the GLA soaked up small and bigger bumps. There was good body control around corners and decent grip despite the absence of all-wheel-drive traction. 

Like other Benz compacts, the car felt slow to respond at lower speeds. It took a few moments for the engine to start delivering its torque. It’s not a problem during normal driving, but can be an irritation when trying to make a quick getaway from a standstill.

But the car did a good job in maintaining a fairly rapid pace. Thanks to that, it was much more fun and effective driving on the Sport mode.

Driving agility may fall behind its segment rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3. Considering both models are older, the GLA has the upper hand when it comes to luxury styling and interior.

The come-hither styling is especially an important feature for compact haulers who want to show that they can afford to buy a bigger car but choose not to.

The car shares many common styling traits with the A-Class sedan, but the GLA boasts a sportier and more fashionable look overall.

The cabin interior, boosted by the distinctive metallic-finish air vents, is almost unrivaled in its segment as it continues the upscale push of its fancier brothers. The back seats are also spacious enough for two people.

In Korea, the GLA is available in two trims ― the 200 CDI and its high-performance 45 AMG. The diesel-powered model is priced at 48.6 million won.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)