By SUV standards, the GLA 45 AMG is cramped and overpriced. You can get a whole lot of Honda Pilot for upwards of $50,000 (€58,900 in Germany), which is what this thing costs. But if you want a brutish little pocket rocket from Mercedes, this is your only hatchback option in America, as the A-Class isn't offered.
Ever wondered how the GLA 45 AMG compares to a big AMG model? I know I did, and today I can show you what happens when you put the scorching-hot crossover against an S 65 AMG Coupe. Yes, that's the one that costs a quarter of a million and has the V12 6-liter engine with twin turbos and 630 horsepower.
At a glance, the GLA 45 AMG has no chance, as its rival has three times the displacement, twice the number of turbos and enough torque to easily squeeze juice from coconuts. However, the S 65 AMG suffers a humiliating defeat in a short drag race organized on a race track in South Africa.
The skinny bloke behind the wheel of the S 65 AMG is a race car driver, so you can't say that he doesn't know what he's doing. However, the S-Class suffers from some setbacks. For example, the Germans in their wisdom only offer this 1000 Nm V12 engine in combination with rear-wheel drive. And even though this is one of the most expensive AMGs you can buy, it doesn't have launch control.
So the GLA 45 AMG sprints off the line by ferociously searching for grip while the Coupe takes a more leisurely approach. By the end of the runway, its brutish power allows it to catch up, but the victory belongs to the plucky little GLA.
Weight also plays a small role here, as there is a massive 600-kilo (1322 lbs) gap between the two. Most of that is down to the massive 6-liter AMG engine, but also to the luxury features. Yet even though the AMG treatment has made the GLA somewhat allergic to offroading, it's still the most versatile car in this comparison.
At a glance, the GLA 45 AMG has no chance, as its rival has three times the displacement, twice the number of turbos and enough torque to easily squeeze juice from coconuts. However, the S 65 AMG suffers a humiliating defeat in a short drag race organized on a race track in South Africa.
The skinny bloke behind the wheel of the S 65 AMG is a race car driver, so you can't say that he doesn't know what he's doing. However, the S-Class suffers from some setbacks. For example, the Germans in their wisdom only offer this 1000 Nm V12 engine in combination with rear-wheel drive. And even though this is one of the most expensive AMGs you can buy, it doesn't have launch control.
So the GLA 45 AMG sprints off the line by ferociously searching for grip while the Coupe takes a more leisurely approach. By the end of the runway, its brutish power allows it to catch up, but the victory belongs to the plucky little GLA.
Weight also plays a small role here, as there is a massive 600-kilo (1322 lbs) gap between the two. Most of that is down to the massive 6-liter AMG engine, but also to the luxury features. Yet even though the AMG treatment has made the GLA somewhat allergic to offroading, it's still the most versatile car in this comparison.