The GLA 45 AMG, just like its elder siblings, the ML and GL, comes with ‘4matic’, Merc’s very own four-wheel-drive system. It delivers the power efficiently to all four of the gorgeous 10-spoke 19-inch wheels shod with 235/45 profile Continentals. This smart system keeps the car in front-wheel-drive mode most of the time; however, when you nail the throttle, it directs 50 per cent of the power to the rear wheels.
These figures are highly tempting and in real world, the performance of the GLA can be addictive. It is a little pocket-rocket, well, not in the literal sense. Anyway, you get a weird sense of being at the helm of a mini empire as you settle down in the snug racing seat and hold on to the Alcantara-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. Surprisingly, you get a commanding view of the road ahead despite the low seating.
In the city, driving this little monster is easy. Just leave it in the ‘Comfort’ mode and sit back. There is hardly any noticeable lag from the turbo motor and the smooth power and torque delivery with just the right amount of low-end grunt make pootling around town in traffic an effortless task.
However, lonely empty stretches of black top is where this little AMG belongs. You can rip it hard and enjoy the goodies from Affalterbach, which will leave you with an ear-to-ear grin. The 360 PS and 450 Nm of torque do wonders when you nail the throttle hard. It takes off like a rocket, reaching a ton in just 6.7 seconds from standstill. Add 16.5 seconds to that and you see the speedo needle crossing the 200-km/h mark and if you have big enough “cojones”, the GLA 45 AMG will be happy to transport you to 250 km/h in less than a minute. And it does all of that without losing its composure. It truly justifies the AMG badge despite being a toddler in comparison to the bigger AMGs with eight cylinders.
Breathtaking performance, but what about handling? click here to find out
