Mercedes-Benz has been missing out quite a fair bit in the compact SUV segment - one that has been dominated by Audi, BMW and Volkswagen for quite a while - until now.
Sharing its platform with the A-Class, the B-Class and the CLA-Class, the GLA-Class is the latest compact SUV to join Mercedes-Benz's lineup. While the car is designed to go head on with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3, the only direct rival at the moment for the souped-up GLA45 AMG that you see here is the Audi RS Q3.
This, thus, makes the Merc a very good proposition because the Audi RS Q3 isn't coming to Singapore anytime soon, which will make you one of the few discerning and tasteful buyers who will gain all the stares of envy (or jealousy) should you decide to have the GLA45 in your garage.
Exterior
Designed to blend the practicality of a hatch with an elevated driving position, the GLA45 AMG is very pleasing to gaze upon. In fact, to our eyes, it has a more visual appeal compared to the A45 AMG, with 20-inch wheels nicely filling up the wheel arches, giving it the necessary road presence and stature.
Sharing its platform with the A-Class, the B-Class and the CLA-Class, the GLA-Class is the latest compact SUV to join Mercedes-Benz's lineup. While the car is designed to go head on with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3, the only direct rival at the moment for the souped-up GLA45 AMG that you see here is the Audi RS Q3.
This, thus, makes the Merc a very good proposition because the Audi RS Q3 isn't coming to Singapore anytime soon, which will make you one of the few discerning and tasteful buyers who will gain all the stares of envy (or jealousy) should you decide to have the GLA45 in your garage.
Exterior
Designed to blend the practicality of a hatch with an elevated driving position, the GLA45 AMG is very pleasing to gaze upon. In fact, to our eyes, it has a more visual appeal compared to the A45 AMG, with 20-inch wheels nicely filling up the wheel arches, giving it the necessary road presence and stature.
Measuring 4,445mm by 1,804mm by 1,479mm (L x W x H), the GLA45 doesn't sit a lot higher than the hatch. Thus, the new car has a silhouette that resembles much more like a generously proportioned hatchback than an SUV.
The Edition 1 package, which will also be coming to Singapore, sports all the go-faster bits like a contrasting black roof spoiler and red outlines that further enhance the already aggressive-looking car.
There are also clear visual AMG refinements, such as the massive and deeper air intakes as well as the distinctive quad exhausts that speak of the car's potent character.
The Edition 1 package, which will also be coming to Singapore, sports all the go-faster bits like a contrasting black roof spoiler and red outlines that further enhance the already aggressive-looking car.
There are also clear visual AMG refinements, such as the massive and deeper air intakes as well as the distinctive quad exhausts that speak of the car's potent character.
Interior
There are some resemblances to both the A45 and the CLA45 in here, with similar but superb front bucket seats, sporty Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and fire red seat belts. It's all these things that add up to help convey the GLA45's intent before you even fire up the engine.
That's not to say it's all about form. The cabin, like all Mercs we've come to hear, read and driven (for the lucky ones, of course), is filled with top notch quality materials in excellent fit and finish.
There are some resemblances to both the A45 and the CLA45 in here, with similar but superb front bucket seats, sporty Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and fire red seat belts. It's all these things that add up to help convey the GLA45's intent before you even fire up the engine.
That's not to say it's all about form. The cabin, like all Mercs we've come to hear, read and driven (for the lucky ones, of course), is filled with top notch quality materials in excellent fit and finish.
Despite having a sloping roofline, headroom is still adequate for three adults at the back, with sufficient leg and shoulder room.
Although the GLA45 is 15mm lower than the regular GLA models, the seating position of the compact SUV never fails to let you have a clear sight of the road ahead, providing you with the confidence needed to gun from one exit of the highway to another.
Although the GLA45 is 15mm lower than the regular GLA models, the seating position of the compact SUV never fails to let you have a clear sight of the road ahead, providing you with the confidence needed to gun from one exit of the highway to another.
Drivetrain
Very much like the recent offerings from Mercedes-AMG, the GLA45 has no shortage of pace. With 360bhp and 450Nm of torque available from just 2,250rpm, this car will outsprint the RS Q3 with its 4.8 seconds century sprint timing.
Credit for the GLA45's rapidity goes to the seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT dual-clutch transmission. The gears play along precisely and smoothly, with lightning quick changes through every input on the throttle pedal, accompanied by a whole heap of snap, crackle and pop from the AMG Performance exhaust system.
Driven hard, the free-revving engine dominates and complies willingly too, sounding just as good at the redline as it does at 3,000rpm. Thus, you never get the sense that the car is running out of breath.
The communicative steering has a nice amount of heft and feel, which helps to bring forward the car's eagerness, agility and ruthless accuracy when piloting through curvaceous mountain roads. Even when the car makes a hard turn over slippery surfaces, the 4Matic all-wheel drive blesses the car with traction at all times.
Very much like the recent offerings from Mercedes-AMG, the GLA45 has no shortage of pace. With 360bhp and 450Nm of torque available from just 2,250rpm, this car will outsprint the RS Q3 with its 4.8 seconds century sprint timing.
Credit for the GLA45's rapidity goes to the seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT dual-clutch transmission. The gears play along precisely and smoothly, with lightning quick changes through every input on the throttle pedal, accompanied by a whole heap of snap, crackle and pop from the AMG Performance exhaust system.
Driven hard, the free-revving engine dominates and complies willingly too, sounding just as good at the redline as it does at 3,000rpm. Thus, you never get the sense that the car is running out of breath.
The communicative steering has a nice amount of heft and feel, which helps to bring forward the car's eagerness, agility and ruthless accuracy when piloting through curvaceous mountain roads. Even when the car makes a hard turn over slippery surfaces, the 4Matic all-wheel drive blesses the car with traction at all times.
More significantly, the manic Merc has a fantastic ride composure and compromise, allowing for plenty of compliance. The AMG Performance suspension that came equipped on our test car is also able to tolerate most cracks and creases on the road comfortably, with only the sharpest edges sending vibrations into the cabin.
Conclusion
The GLA45 certainly doesn't fall short of a bombastic character and charisma, even if it's slower, heavier and more expensive than the A45 when it arrives in Singapore in the second half of this year. But its dynamic capabilities and eagerness to please the driver are just simply too hard to ignore.
Plus, it's more practical, useful and distinctive over both the A45 and the CLA45. And it's definitely no less fun.
Conclusion
The GLA45 certainly doesn't fall short of a bombastic character and charisma, even if it's slower, heavier and more expensive than the A45 when it arrives in Singapore in the second half of this year. But its dynamic capabilities and eagerness to please the driver are just simply too hard to ignore.
Plus, it's more practical, useful and distinctive over both the A45 and the CLA45. And it's definitely no less fun.
