Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 2015 Review

There is no doubt SUVs are booming in popularity, so it makes sense that more and more performance SUVs should be appearing on-sale as well. Mercedes-Benz hot tuner AMG has got into the act with the GLA 45, an $80,430 hyper hot four-cylinder that delivers startling pace and plenty of fun.

Used to be an AMG was unobtainable stuff, the 1000Nm preserve of millionaires.

But there has been a well-documented democratisation of the Mercedes-Benz performance brand to the point that it's almost, well, affordable.

The GLA 45 is an obvious example of this trend. Not only is it priced well under $100,000 at $80,430 (plus on-roads), it's also an SUV (well sorta – you would think twice before tackling the Simpson) and high-performance (definitely) so it ticks some key boxes that appeal to Australian new car buyers.

You do miss out on that traditional AMG V8 of course, but the high-performance 2.0-litre petrol-turbo four-cylinder is a mighty good substitute knocking out 265kW and 450Nm (between 2250 and 5000rpm) and delivering it to all four wheels via the AMG Speedshift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system.

If that reads a bit familiar it's because the driveline is shared between each of the entry-level AMG 45 models that also head the A-Class, CLA-Class and (soon) CLA Shooting Brake line-ups.

They can share that drivetrain because under their bespoke sheetmetal all these cars are based on the same front/all-wheel drive MFA architecture.

The GLA 45 deviates a little from the rest because it rides on a slightly taller suspension – albeit still lowered 25mm and stiffened considerably compared to the standard versions of the compact five-door – and at 1585kg is 37kg heavier than the A-Class AMG (but roughly equivalent to the CLA).

What that equates to is a slightly softer ride and a slightly less nimble feel than those two. Now, when we say 'slightly' that's exactly what we mean. The GLA 45 is no soft-rider – or soft-roader for that matter! Riding on big 235/40ZR20 Continental ContiSport Contact rubber, it clatters through holes and bumps, doing little to shield occupants from crappy road surfaces.

But that also means exceptional body control. The steering is quick and response is precise and deft, especially for an SUV. It's so quick and the suspension so stiff you really have to pay attention because it can deflect off line quite quickly. No playing with your phone there yuppies!

But you shouldn't need any distractions driving this thing. Sitting there clamped into the supportive single-piece seat, grasping that flat-bottomed steering wheel and flicking up and down through the gearbox is a really tactile and exciting experience – and that's just driving down to their shops!

Get out into the areas where the engine can be let off the leash a bit more and the experience is amplified. It explodes up the rev range and speedo making the 4.8 sec 0-100km/h claim immensely and satisfyingly believable (launch control is standard by the way), then crackles, bangs and pops on the over-run.

The vented and cross-drilled brakes are powerful and progressive; handling is prone toward understeer but 4MATIC will adjust as the pressure goes on the front-end. Well-tuned stability control helps as well.

It really is good fun. And not too thirsty either. Against an optimistic 7.6L/100km official combined claim, the GLA 45 returned 9.7L/100km on test. That's on the most expensive 98 RON PULP though – which considering the performance of the engine is an understandable expense.

It's some consolation the GLA 45 comes well equipped with standard-fit AMG Night Package cabin finishes, the full-house COMAND APS satellite-navigation and 12-speaker harmon kardon Logic 7 surround sound.

There's also the standard fare of regular GLAs including a reversing camera, Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Pre-Safe, Attention Assist, Active Bonnet, Active Parking Assist and dual-zone climate-control, plus Distronic Plus, Lane Keeping Assist, Intelligent Light System and a huge panoramic sunroof.

Note though, there is no spare tyre.

Inside the cabin beyond the leather, powered, perforated, heated, red piped drivers' seat – which to be frank is where you really want to be in this car – the GLA 45 offers decent storage space up-front, nice quality trims and a set of instruments dominated by an iPad-style media screen mounted high on the dashboard – which works in tandem with a Comand controller dial on the centre console.

The biggest issue is outward visibility. You sit deep within the GLA 45 – which is a good thing – but the small windows and thick B- and D-pillars make reversing and head checks a chore. The reversing camera and sensors are much appreciated.

In the rear there is only adequate legroom for adults, adequate storage and visible and controllable air-con vents. The boot offers up 412 litres of storage space, which is better than the A-Class because the overall body length is stretched 150mm to 4445. Fold the rear seats and you can fit a mountain bike back there with the front wheel removed.

Overall the GLA 45 is a pretty impressive piece of gear. Within its competitive set the GLA is ahead of the Audi RS Q3, but behind the Porsche Macan S petrol-turbo, which is a bit more expensive but also a class-defining drive. It's also just that bit more liveable round town than the AMG.

AMG won't like that – being ranked behind a Porsche. But then who'd have thought a few years ago we'd be debating the merits of sub-$100,000 SUVs from either brand and regarding them so highly for driving quality.

It's true what they say then; for all its faults democracy is a very good thing.

Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 pricing and specifications:
Price: $80,430 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 265kW/450Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 177g CO2/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)