Compact SUVs are best sellers. There is no segment that is currently growing as successfully as this vehicle class in which everyone looks as if they could, but when it matters, they surrender to mild off-road driving.

The latest Mercedes offshoot from the “GLA” category is not even intended for off-road use.

"Fat prey of nonsense .."

After a compact SUV is by definition not suitable for off-road driving, it is best to lower it again immediately, to give it fat wheels and martial war paint. (Sic!)

CONCEPT GLA 45 AMG

One cannot argue about the sense or nonsense of 360 hp. You can never have enough performance. Only how to get them on the asphalt and what is the meaning of the whole in the end, can be philosophized well not only with SUVs.

The GLA 45 AMG is still called a “Concept”, but if it comes, I would bet a portion of Maultaschen. And if it really comes as it was presented in Los Angeles, no matter how happy it is to be called a “compact high-performance SUV”, it is simply the result of an idiotic “all-you-can-eat” -Mentality".

Thanks to its own sports branch called AMG, Mercedes-Benz has introduced an almost insanely powerful two-liter four-cylinder. The most powerful series two-liter engine in the world with 360 hp is ideally suited to the to blow the march of the new A-Class (A for breathless) or from the little CLA, one erotic four door burner in the compact car class.

It is no secret. A-Class, CLA and GLA share many assemblies and so it was only the fulfillment of a negligent voluntary commitment to put the 450 Nm berserk in the “compact SUV fantasy” of the A-Class.

And now this Swabian fantasy of omnipotence is in Los Angeles. And the wet dreams of pounding turbo junkies come true in a mixture of a housewife tractor and console fair. Sorry?  What are these meaningless flaps on the front? The rear spoiler with red trim. This red contrasting line in the radiator throat looks as if a 10-year-old has used her mother's lipstick for her own Halloween make-up for the first time.

"Fat prey of nonsense .."

You have to sit higher, that's why it's an SUV. It mustn't be too big, otherwise the neighbors will look over the garden fence with the reproachful CO² view, so it's a compact SUV. It has to be sporty, because sporty is youthful and anyone who can afford to spend over € 53.000 (my estimate) for a not even seriously four-seater compact car would like to be youthful again. So it has to be lowered again and take large rims for a walk.

It's an extremely pointless combination and this version will probably be just as fun to drive as the “compact brother” - because it's a Daimler and the guys aren't happy until the customer is too. But seriously, couldn't this portion of Swabian brainpower have been packed into a meaningful vehicle development?

Probably not. Because the GLA will sell like sliced ​​bread and the GLA 45 AMG will also find its customers. He will find himself on the Kö, in front of high-priced in-pubs, on Sylt and everywhere where none of the played talents are really needed.