Road Test: Mercedes-AMG GLA45 Yellow Night

The Mercedes-AMG GLA45 has been glammed up even more with the new Yellow Night edition, which adds contrasting yellow into the mix to make it really stand out. Is it worth the hefty price tag, though? AOL Cars gets behind the wheel to find out.

What is it?

The GLA45 already has a quite unique place in the market as a sporty crossover. Yet, for the very few who might find it a bit too ordinary, there is now this – the glitzy, show-off Yellow Night Edition.

It adds lashings of yellow interior and exterior styling cues, including a 'look at me' spoiler. It really isn't for the faint hearted – and offers plenty of performance for thrill seekers.

What's new?

Nearly all of the Yellow Night's differences over the standard GLA 45 are cosmetic. As already mentioned, you get loads of yellow styling pieces including yellow-rimmed alloy wheels. It certainly stands out and will split opinion hugely. The interior is covered in Alcantara, and features comfortable yet supportive bucket seats, and of course the Yellow Night's trademark yellow touches.

What's under the bonnet?

The GLA45 uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that produces an impressive 376bhp and 475Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels using a seven-speed DCT transmission. It's certainly quick in a straight line, with a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph – or 168mph if the optional AMG Driver's package is fitted.

Surprisingly it is not as bad on fuel as you would think – returning a combined 38.2mpg and emitting 172g/km of CO2.

What's it like to drive?

The GLA45 AMG is seriously fast and even with just gentle throttle touches you can soon be going very quickly indeed. It's the torque that contributes to this, though, providing plenty of shove at both ends of the rev range.

Elsewhere the GLA45 is just as capable, as its all-wheel-drive system provides plenty of grip, while the steering is light and accurate, too, allowing the GLA to be given hot hatch dynamics despite its slightly increased size over the regular A45.

However, the only disappointment is the ride. While the 20-inch wheels might look the part, they do make the ride quite harsh over rougher surfaces. Even switching between suspension modes fails to make much of a difference.

See also: First Drive: Mercedes-Benz AMG A45

See also: Road Test: Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet

How does it look?

The Yellow Night Edition is controversial with its looks – you really either love it or hate it. It certainly leaves a lasting impression, but a black and yellow hot hatchback is just a bit much, in our eyes at least. However, if you want to be noticed without spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a supercar, the Yellow Night's looks might just work for you.

What's it like inside?

The interior of the GLA45 is one of its biggest disappointments. While lashings of Alcantara may have been placed to disguise the ageing interior, the overall impression doesn't make you think that it is worthy of its £50,000 price tag. The build quality is lacking and the whole cabin feels out of date compared to newer offerings. A new A-Class is on its way shortly, which hopefully means that a new GLA is on its way. When this comes, there will hopefully be a much-improved interior.

What's the spec like?

Luckily the GLA45 Yellow Night does come with a good range of equipment to help justify its £53,405 asking price. It comes as standard with LED headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof, a full infotainment package, parking sensors and a parking camera.

However, our test car cost nearly £60,000 with options including a driver assistance package that had blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assist systems. It also had the AMG dynamic plus package which adds a front differential lock and sports suspension, too.

The price of the GLA45 Yellow Night is hard to swallow. It costs over £10,000 more than the A45 hatchback and comes with the same equipment, though isn't as good to drive. When you compare it in this way, it makes this special edition even harder to justify.

Verdict

The GLA45 is seriously impressive when it comes to covering distances quickly and in all conditions. However, while the Yellow Night Edition does stand out well and will be a rare sight on UK roads, it is hard to justify its extra price. If you are wanting a fast and luxurious hot hatch, you would be much better off opting for the equally quick A45, and saving yourself money in the process.

The knowledge

Price: £53,405
Model (as tested): Mercedes-AMG GLA45 Yellow Night
Price (as tested): £59,940
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged engine
Power: 376bhp
Torque: 470Nm
Max speed: 155mph (168mph with optional pack)
0-60: 4.3 seconds
MPG: 38.2mpg
CO2: 172g/km