Want the Mercedes GLA's Full Dashboard? It'll Cost You Over €4,000

One of the biggest highlights of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA is the dashboard. At first glance, it looks like one seamless screen stretching from one side of the cabin to the other. The illusion works well, although there's a catch. Only two of those displays come standard.

The third one, sitting in front of the passenger, costs extra, and getting it isn't as simple as ticking a single box.

The passenger display is missing from the GLA 200, GLA 250, and even the 349-hp GLA 350. Buyers who skip the option don't get an empty space, though. Mercedes fills it with a glossy black panel covered in illuminated three-pointed stars. It looks surprisingly elegant, although it's also a constant reminder that the dashboard could have looked a little more high-tech.

Officially, the MBUX Superscreen costs €1,160.25 ($1,330). That's the good news. The less exciting part comes when the configurator asks for two more packages before it lets you continue. Along with the screen, buyers also need the €226.10 Digital Entertainment package and the €2,796.50 Advanced Plus Package, which includes heated seats, ambient lighting, flush door handles, wireless phone charging, and several other extras. By the end of the process, that €1,160 display has quietly turned into a €4,182.85 ($4,789) upgrade.

Once installed, the passenger screen can stream videos and display entertainment, although Mercedes makes sure the driver can't join in for long. If the system notices the driver watching for more than two seconds, the screen immediately goes dark. It's a clever feature, even if the biggest surprise isn't the technology. It's how quickly a "small" option turns into a four-figure shopping spree.