Mercedes GLA: Regular or Premium Gas? Find Out What’s Best!

If you’re a Mercedes-Benz GLA owner, you might wonder which type of gas you should be using.

And in that case, this article is for you!

Mercedes-Benz recommends premium gas with a minimum octane rating of 91 for the GLA. This is to ensure optimal engine performance and longevity. However, if premium gas is unavailable, the GLA can safely take regular gas (87 octane) or mid-grade gas (89 octane) temporarily.

By the end of this article, you’ll clearly understand why these recommendations exist.

So, let’s start!

At a Glance: What gas type does your Mercedes GLA need?

Before diving into the details of octane levels, let’s get straight to the answer many of you might be looking for.

After all, sometimes, all we want is a straightforward response, right?

• For a regular Mercedes GLA: A regular Mercedes GLA like the GLA250 needs premium gas (91 octane), according to the owner’s manual. However, regular gas (87 octane) can also be used temporarily.
• For AMG models: The GLA45 S AMG requires premium gas of at least 91 octane. However, Mercedes-Benz recommends 93 octane gas for optimal performance.
• Tuned Mercedes GLA: If you’ve given your Mercedes GLA an ECU tune (for example, using a RaceChip), always fill it up using premium gas (at least 91 octane).

Quick note: Occasionally filling up with regular (87 octane) or mid-grade gas (89 octane) won’t necessarily damage your car. But if you want the best for your vehicle long-term, sticking to the recommendations is the way to go.

If you prefer a table overview, here is what you should know:

Category	Type	Is It OK?	Notes
Gas	Regular (87 octane)	!	Safe to use temporarily, although prolonged use might impair engine longevity and performance.
Gas	Mid-grade (89 octane)	!
Gas	Premium (91 octane)	✓	Recommended octane rating by Mercedes-Benz, which can prevent knocking sounds and prolong the engine life.
Gas	Premium (93 octane)	✓
Gas	Ethanol-based (E10)	✓	Same as the typical gas at most pumps.
Gas	Ethanol-based (E15)	!	Not optimal for the car, but it won’t be a danger in the short term.
Gas	Ethanol-based (E85)	!	Mostly not OK. It can only be used if your Mercedes GLA has a flex-fuel system.
Gas	Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)	✓	A type of gas that burns more cleanly, about 30% of the gas sold in the US is RFG. (Source)
Additives	Fuel injector cleaner	!	Be careful; it can potentially damage the engine when overused.
Additives	Octane booster	!	Be careful; it can damage the engine when misused.
Additives	Fuel stabilizer	!	Be careful; it can damage the engine when misused.

Stick around if you’d like a deeper dive into why these recommendations exist. Otherwise, happy driving, and treat that Mercedes-Benz well!

Reader’s tip: 6 Best-Looking Wheels For Your Mercedes (OEM & Aftermarket)

Does the Mercedes GLA require regular or premium gas?

Time to dive a little deeper!

According to the Mercedes GLA owner’s manual, premium gas (91 octane) must be used for maximum engine output and longevity. However, if premium gas is not available, regular gas (87 octane) can be used temporarily:

That means you risk prematurely damaging the fuel system or engine by continuously using regular gas (87 octane).

Similarly, the engine of the Mercedes GLA is designed to reach its rated performance and fuel consumption values with premium gas (91 octane).

Tip: The correct gas type for your Mercedes GLA will always be written on the inside of the fuel filler flap.

If you own an AMG model of the Mercedes GLA, like the GLA45 AMG, premium gas (91 octane or higher) is a must.

While one tank of regular (87 octane) or mid-grade gas (89 octane) isn’t the end of the world, consistently using this gas type can lead to issues like engine knocking, reduced power, and even potential long-term engine damage.

And what about a tuned Mercedes GLA?

Modifications like RaceChip can significantly increase the power of your Mercedes GLA. But when you upgrade the engine’s performance, its gas needs an upgrade too.

Just as an athlete on a rigorous training regime needs specialized nutrition, a tuned Mercedes GLA requires premium gas (91 octane or higher).

Difference between regular, mid-grade, and premium gas

Fueling up might be a mundane task, but there’s a science to it.

Behind each pump, there’s a lot of chemistry going on to make our vehicles run smoothly.

So, if you’ve been wondering, “What do these octane numbers mean?” let’s take a look!

The octane rating of a gasoline type indicates its resistance to premature detonation or knocking.

In car terms, knocking is a rattling or pinging sound you’d hear when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders detonates earlier than it should. It’s not good for your engine!

The higher the octane rating, the more compression the gas can withstand before it ignites, which reduces the likelihood of knocking and leads to smoother engine performance.

When you’re filling up, you will typically see the following gas types:

• Regular gas (87 octane): Regular gas is the most common and least expensive type of gasoline available at most stations. It’s best for everyday vehicles that don’t demand high performance.
• Mid-grade gas (around 89 octane): As the name suggests, mid-grade gas sits between regular and premium gasoline in terms of performance and price. Perfect for those who want higher-quality fuel without paying too much.
• Premium gas (91 octane and above): Designed for high-performance engines, this gas resists knocking and ensures smoother combustion. It’s best for high-performance vehicles, luxury cars, and those with turbocharged engines.

The main difference between regular, mid-grade, and premium gas is that regular gas has an octane rating of 87, mid-grade gas has an octane rating of 89, while premium gas has an octane rating of 91 or higher.

High-end cars (like Mercedes-Benz models) often have advanced engines that run on relatively high compression ratios. These engines thrive on the richness of premium gas, offering better acceleration, fuel economy, and longevity.

Real-world experiences with Mercedes GLA gas choices

Even though Mercedes recommends premium gas, does that mean you really can’t use regular gas? Let’s check out some real-world experiences from Mercedes GLA owners!

1. No noticeable issues with regular gas

Here’s a GLA owner who has had no noticeable issues using regular gas:

I traded a Beamer 328i for this GLA, and I always used regular in it, without issue, because the dealer said I could when I bought it. I never had any noticeable issues over 4 years.

Source

2. No problems with regular gas

Here’s another owner who (mistakingly) put regular gas in their vehicle:

So my beautiful wife filled up her new GLA250 for the first time last night, and by mistake put in regular (87) instead of premium (91).

Update….

I’ve driven the car now 60 or so miles, and it seems totally normal in every way. I’ve even been driving in non-eco mode, with sport turned on. No problems at all.

Source

Can you use ethanol-based fuels for the Mercedes GLA?

Ethanol-based fuels are fuels that contain ethanol, which is a renewable fuel made from biomass. Biomass consists of a variety of plant materials.

It looks something like this:

That’s a joke, of course!

In reality, over 98% of gasoline in the US contains ethanol. The most common ethanol-based fuel is E10, which consists of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.

Ethanol-based fuels reduce air pollution, but at the same time, using gas that contains a high concentration of ethanol can damage your vehicle.

E10 is a standard that’s commonly accepted to be safe for most cars on the road today, including the Mercedes GLA.

However, you may occasionally find E15 gas containing 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. In the US, E15 can be found in 30 states at over 2,400 pumps (source).

E15 is not optimal for the Mercedes GLA, but it won’t be a danger in the short term.

Once you increase the ethanol percentage further, it really won’t be too good for your car.

For instance, E85 gas is also available in some places, but it can only be used for your Mercedes GLA if you have a flex-fuel kit.

FAQs about gas for the Mercedes GLA

If you have any more questions about which gas type to use for your Mercedes GLA, take a look at these FAQs:

Final verdict

To summarize: You can temporarily use regular gas in the Mercedes GLA, but it’s highly recommended to use premium gas for the long term.

Mercedes-Benz recommends premium gas to preserve the engine and ensure your GLA continues driving as it should for years to come.

Sure, in the short run, you might save a bit by using regular gas. But think about the long game: lower fuel efficiency and potential repair bills.

Suddenly, those upfront ‘savings’ might not feel so significant.

If you have any more questions, let us know in the comments!

Gas requirements for other Mercedes models

Are you interested in the required gas type of other Mercedes-Benz models?

If so, you can find everything you need to know in the following articles:

• Mercedes A-Class gas type
• Mercedes C-Class gas type
• Mercedes E-Class gas type
• Mercedes S-Class gas type
• Mercedes GLC gas type
• Mercedes GLE gas type