2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG SUV Review

The GLA 45 is the high-performance variant of the GLA-Class crossover. The GLA 45 AMG shares its 2.0-litre engine with the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG .

The engine is a major highlight of the performance crossover, the GLA45 is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor backed by a scroll-turbocharger delivering 360PS @ 6,000rpm and 450Nm of maximum torque between 2,250 – 5,000rpm. The engine is paired to an AMG seven-speed speedshift dual clutch transmission. The GLA 45 will be offered with an AWD system as standard unlike the GLA-Class, which is front-wheel drive. 

Styling changes on the exterior of the Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 is courtesy an AMG body kit which includes a sporty front bumper, brushed aluminium front splitter, side skirts, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels and rear bumper that gets an integrated diffuser along with quad chrome-tipped exhaust tips. The GLA45, as is the case with the GLA-Class, is based on Mercedes-Benz’s Modular Front Architecture (MFA) platform that also underpins the A-Class and the B-Class. The company had reduced the rise-height of the GLA45 AMG to improve its handling characteristics. 

The Mercedes GLA45 AMG shares most of the equipment inside with the standard GLA crossover; it gets AMG badging on the door-sill, AMG seats and red seat belts. These ensure that the GLA 45 will not be confused with its much more sedate variant.