The GLA gets the same tune of the engine and same Speedshift 7G automatic gearbox. It stands 2.4 inches taller than the A45, is just slightly wider, and has 4.9 inches of added length while sharing the same wheelbase of 106.3 inches. Weight on the GLA 45 is up 66 pounds on the A 45, which borders on negligible here, but there is that higher center of gravity to explore.

The GLA 45 AMG will strike most people in the United States especially as silly expensive. The even more silly Edition 1 in all of its forced hotness would do fine here because it only needs to sell a few hundred to make the business case. If you value small sports car thrills while having a truly premium German interior, however, this AMG is a sheer blast, feeling as though it has nearly nothing to do whatsoever with the higher-selling GLA 250 4Matic. It's the hot luxury hatch of the moment — at least until the Porsche Macan Turbo gets its passport.