2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA45: owner review

Owner Review

00:0118 November 2022

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A vast majority of reviews of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 make note of the fact that it's a bit of a pointless Frankenstein of a car. Why would anyone want a small SUV, but more hot hatch on stilts, that can smash out 0–100km/h in 4.3 seconds?

Owner: Jake Mormile

What we love

Performance and handling are mind-boggling for a small SUV
Safety and tech are top-notch
Ingress and egress a dream for broken old bodies

What we don’t

Fuel economy is laughable
Comfort mode is occasionally hesitant
Price and availability

A vast majority of reviews of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 make note of the fact that it's a bit of a pointless Frankenstein of a car. Why would anyone want a small SUV, but more hot hatch on stilts, that can smash out 0–100km/h in 4.3 seconds?

Well, picture this – you want something high-tech, comfortable and fun, but years of pretending you are Jacques Kallis mean getting in and out of your VW hot hatch is all of a sudden a precarious affair. Yes, I understand I'm probably part of a small target market here, but I guess that's why I am utterly in love with this car.

Let's get the bad out of the way first – the asking price is obscene. Availability is limited. I found the aero pack tacky, so I opted for without, but your mileage may vary.

Speaking of which, don't bother trying to get decent fuel economy here (although I'm not sure why you'd opt for an AMG model if that were your concern). Sub-10L/100km for highway, and anywhere from 13–17L/100km for city driving, with pricey 98RON your only option.

I also had a few strange electrical glitches – ambient lighting playing up, and one instance where when parked, the boot and sunroof decided to open by themselves a couple of times. In comfort mode, the car will occasionally hesitate at the lights, although no such issues in any other situation or driving mode. And finally, boot space isn't exactly on family-friendly SUV levels.

The good, however, dwarfs any negatives. The level of performance Mercedes-Benz has achieved in a 2.0-litre four-cylinder is just mind-boggling. Handling is hot hatch-esque – I challenge anyone to take this car on the road or track and not feel utterly glued to the road.

I also opted for the regular seats over the performance option, and they're comfortable enough that my hip issues from the previous VW are kept to a minimum. The MBUX system is good enough that I don't opt to use CarPlay or Android Auto at all, and the sound system is balanced and clear. And finally, the included 360-degree camera and plethora of safety tech are amongst the best in class.

The fastest choice is the A45, and the more mature option is the CLA45. The best option for me is the GLA45, and I love the fact it exists.

Owner: Jake Mormile