The Mercedes-AMG GLA45 Yellow Night Edition brings standout looks to the hot hatch segment

What is it?

The GLA45 is a quick, capable and relatively practical hot hatch from Mercedes-AMG. However, for those who find it just a little too ‘ordinary’ there’s this – the Yellow Night Edition.

Bringing with it a series of bright yellow styling additions, as well as a ‘look-at-me’ rear spoiler, it’s there for those people who really want to stand out from the crowd while being able to back up the looks with plenty of performance.

What’s new?

The vast majority of changes with the Yellow Night are visual. You get a series of yellow highlights for the exterior, including yellow-rimmed alloy wheels.

It certainly has a lot of presence, though it may not be to everyone’s tastes. Inside, you get swathes of Alcantara alongside a set of comfortable and supportive buckets seats as well as additional yellow touches. It’s not a car for shrinking violets, that’s for sure.

What’s under the bonnet?

The GLA45 utilises a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces an impressive 376bhp and 475Nm of torque.

Sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed DCT gearbox, that power equates to a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds and a 155mph top speed or 168mph when fitted with the optional AMG Driver’s package. It’s scarcely believable how quickly it can accelerate, and yet Mercedes claims that it’ll return 38.2mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 172g/km CO2.

What’s it like to drive?

There’s no getting away from it – the GLA45 is fast. Plant the throttle, and immediately you’ll be travelling very quickly indeed. The torque figure makes the biggest difference here, as it means there’s a huge amount of shove from low down in the rev range – though it’ll still happily keep pulling further up.

Straight-line performance aside, the GLA45 remains very capable. Thanks to all-wheel-drive, there’s plenty of traction in all manner of conditions, while large 235/40 section tyres mean a good amount of mechanical grip is available too. The steering, too, is accurate, and transforms the GLA45 into a capable point-to-point hot hatch.

One negative is the ride. Large 20-inch alloy wheels don’t help the affair, but the GLA45 is harsh over all surfaces, even when switching the suspension into its most comfortable setting.

How does it look?

Funnily enough, a hot-hatch finished in bright yellow accents isn’t going to be everyone’s taste. There’s no doubting that it stands out, but in our eyes at least it’s just a little over the top. However, if you’re after a car that is as lively to look at as it is to drive, the GLA45 could be right up your street.

Of course, if you’re after a more understated car then the regular GLA45 is an option – and it’s still just as quick as the Yellow Night Edition.

What’s it like inside?

Unfortunately, the GLA45’s interior does let things down somewhat. Though lavished with plenty of Alcantara and leather, the overall effect feels somewhat down on the car’s hefty £59,940 price – inclusive of options. The build quality isn’t up to scratch, and the entire cabin feels out-of-date compared to other current offerings.

That said, this is a car that is reaching the end of its lifespan – it’s likely we’ll see a much improved interior on the new-generation of A-Class-based vehicles when they arrive next year.

What’s the spec like?

Thankfully, the GLA45 does come with a good amount of standard equipment. LED high- performance headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof and a full infotainment system is included in the base price, as is parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Our test car also came with a driver assistance package that includes blind spot and lane keeping assist systems, as well as the AMG dynamic plus package, adding a front differential lock and ride control sports suspension to the vehicle.

Though the base price for the Yellow Night Edition stands at £53,405, this is over £10,000 more than the standard A45 – and it’s not any more capable nor good to drive as a result. There’s not even with any additional equipment on board, and this does take away from the GLA’s appeal somewhat.

Verdict

You can’t fault the way the GLA45 gets you down the road quickly and effectively in all conditions. This Yellow Night Edition does make the car stand out, there’s no denying that, but it doesn’t go far enough to appropriate the elevated price tag. If you’re after a car that is reasonably compact yet fast – we’d still opt for the regular A45.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model as tested: Mercedes-AMG Yellow Night Edition
Price as tested: £59,940
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Power: 376bhp
Torque: 475Nm
Max speed: 155mph
0-60mph: 4.3 seconds
MPG: 38.2 (combined)
Emissions: 172g/km