Here’s a POV video that could make some of you consider making a deposit for the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45.
But what exactly is the GLA, when you strip it down? Mostly an A-Class with an increased ride height and numerous mods, carefully applied by the brand’s engineers and designers, in an attempt to take on the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, for the first time, as well as the new Volvo XC40.
And while the basic GLAs might fly under the radar, the range-topping 45, which benefits from AMG’s know-how, is an entirely different animal. It comes with sportier settings, a more aggressive styling, some tweaks made to the cabin, and of course, the piece de resistance, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine from its super hatch sibling.
The unit puts down an impressive 381 horsepower and 475Nm (lb-ft) of torque, channeled to the 4Matic all-wheel drive through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In this configuration, the compact SUV needs just 4.4 seconds to reach 100km/h (62mph) from a standstill, which makes it just 0.5sec slower than the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Coupe.