Kings of the Urban Jungle : Mercedes-AMG's Compact Crossover SUVs

By topgearsingapore, 25 January 2021

The Real Deal: AMG. Three letters synonymous with unparalleled style, performance and luxury. No other badge on the road conjures up such contrasting emotions: exhilaration for those behind the wheel, fear in the hearts of those who come up against it on the road.

Once bestowed on only the hardest, fastest cars from Stuttgart, the AMG experience can now be enjoyed by those looking to conquer the urban environment as well as the race track.

Enter the new Mercedes-AMG GLA and GLB. The first SUVs truly worthy of the compact power SUV title. With a blend of unmistakable styling and fearsome performance from Mercedes’ skunk works division, the Mercedes-AMG GLA and GLB bring an element of sports car flair to the compact SUV segment. AMG models represent the crème de la crème of each Mercedes variant and the Mercedes-AMG GLA and GLB are no different.

Class-leading performance aside, both models also help you stay on top of your busy schedule with the introduction of Mercedes me connect by seamlessly linking you to your car and your car to the world beyond.

Whether its transmitting maintenance-related information to your dealer in preparation for your next visit, sending an address to your destination to your car’s navigation via your smartphone or performing functions such as vehicle tracking and monitoring and getting up-to-the-minute vehicle data, me connect ensures you and your car stay connected anytime, anywhere at the touch your fingertips.

With desirable looks, state-of-the-art features and unrivalled performance that other SUVs and sports cars can only dream about, who says you can’t be king of both the urban jungle and the road?

Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 4MATIC: It may be the entry point to the world of performance SUVs, but the GLA 35 4MATIC is an impressive car in its own right with figures that would shame most sports cars.

With a 2.0-litre inline-4 turbocharged engine producing 306 hp, it races to 100km/h from a standstill in just 5.1 seconds thanks to the standard RACE-START function which allows for maximum acceleration from the lights.

From there, the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and intuitive AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 8G dual-clutch transmission and contributes to the agility and dynamism of the car, allowing for F1-style gearchanges via the paddle shifters if you so prefer.

 

Don’t think for a minute practicality has been forsaken in the pursuit of performance. The GLA 35 4MATIC sports HANDS-FREE ACCESS for convenient boot loading and unloading, adjustable backrests angles in the rear allowing for increased legroom or luggage compartment flexibility and a raised seating position for all-round visibility – making it perfectly suited for the demands of urban living. The GLA 35 4MATIC is right in its element in the big city. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun doing it.

Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S 4MATIC+: To put it simply, the GLA 45 S 4MATIC+ is a GLA 35 4MATIC turned up to 11. Featuring a handcrafted 2.0-litre inline-4 M139 turbocharged engine featuring, for the first time, two-stage fuel injection, it produces a whooping 421 hp which propels it to 100km/h in a dizzying 4.3 seconds.

Power is nothing without control and the GLA 45 S 4MATIC+ is equally at home in the bends as it is racing away from the lights thanks to an AMG-tuned chassis featuring 4MATIC all-wheel drive with TORQUE CONTROL, AMG DYNAMICS control, AMG RIDE CONTROL with 3-stage adjustable, electronically-controlled damping system and 3-stage ESP with individual control strategies.

 

Embellished with AMG styling cues and accents both on the exterior and interior including 20” AMG 5-twin spoke light alloy wheels and AMG performance seats with integral head restraints, there’s no mistaking the purpose and sporty intent of this car.

Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC: Big family? Life of the party? You’ll be needing the space and practicality of the GLB 35 4MATIC then. The first seven-seater compact SUV by Mercedes, the GLB 35 4MATIC is as utilitarian as it is fast.

How fast? How does 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h sound? Those figures would be impressive for any sports car, let alone a luxury seven-seater.

Even so, the lavish yet sporty interior offers up copious space for its occupants, including those up to 1.68m in height in the rear seats. As you’d expect, no expense has been spared to ensure that driver and passengers indulge in the full-fledged luxury SUV experience.

With features like Mercedes’ intuitive MBUX infotainment system which allows the user to control functions such as navigation, entertainment and more via voice control or with your fingers and AMG DYNAMIC SELECT which vary the car’s dynamics – Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual – to suit every driving mood and terrain, the GLB 35 4MATIC carves a niche of its own when it comes to style, versatility and performance.

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