Our blog’s test driver, TAKURO-san, recently bought a Mercedes-AMG GLA35 at the end of the year, so right at the start of the new year, I got a chance to see it up close.

Mercedes-AMG GLA35

Speaking of the current GLA, my younger brother owns a GLA200d 4MATIC, and I’ve driven it a few times. Also, I bought the sibling model, the GLB200d 4MATIC, last year, so I want to report on the differences between these, as well as how it compares to the Porsche Macan.

Exterior

First, the exterior design is something you might call a ‘GLB Coupe’ style, with an overall rounded shape. The color is white, and such rounded designs really suit bright colors like white.

The most obvious difference from the regular model is the Panamericana grille at the front. Unlike the regular model, this grille features vertical slats, making it clear at a glance through the rearview mirror that this is an AMG model when approaching from behind.

Looking at the rear, the ‘AMG’ badge is placed on the left side where the grade emblem would normally be, and the ‘GLA35’ badge is on the right side, which is another major difference.

Also, because the design is similar, it’s quite hard to notice, but the wheels are different from the regular AMG Line—they are exclusive to the AMG model, which is another distinction.

Compared to the GLB, the width is almost the same, but the GLA’s wheelbase is 100mm shorter, making the overall length over 200mm shorter. The height is also about 80mm lower on the GLA, giving it a sportier profile.

Interior

The interior is AMG-specific, featuring a dedicated AMG steering wheel, and this particular car was equipped with optional AMG Performance bucket seats.

Though the seats look quite firm, once seated, they offer excellent support with ample cushioning. The leather used in the GLA and GLB tends to be slippery, but both the seat bottom and backrest provide strong hold, making it hard to slide even under lateral G-forces.

The interior design is very similar to the GLB. The main difference is that the GLA lacks the aluminum trim around the steering wheel and above the glove box that the GLB has.

The rear seats are the same as in the GLB, and the cabin space feels almost identical, or perhaps the GLA feels slightly smaller.

First Impressions on the Road

Starting the engine normally, it doesn’t roar as you might expect from AMG. In fact, it sounds very similar in volume and tone to our GLB200d, which was quite surprising.

Since it’s an AMG model, it features the ‘AMG Emotion Start’ function, where pulling either paddle switch while starting the engine wakes it with a bold AMG-style sound.

Putting it into D and starting to drive, at slow speeds in a parking lot, it’s almost indistinguishable from the GLB200d. The torque delivery, throttle response, and automatic transmission control are very similar.

As you slowly accelerate out of the parking lot, the first thing you notice is the difference in suspension. While the road’s small bumps are more noticeable than in the regular model, the suspension moves well and absorbs them, so there’s no discomfort—just a subtle bumpiness.

However, those used to the soft suspension of Japanese cars might find this feeling a bit unusual, so keep that in mind. Since AMG is a high-end Mercedes grade, if you expect a super-soft ride, you’ll be disappointed.

AMG should be thought of as offering good ride comfort for a sports car. So, at typical city driving speeds, if you’re just looking at NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), the regular 200d models are clearly more comfortable.

The owner, TAKURO-san, bought this car for his wife, and she really likes it, including the ride comfort. She previously drove a Golf 7 Golf R, so I think the AMG’s moderate firmness feels just right for her.

Personally, I find this ride perfectly fine for a private car used solo. In fact, I like the suspension feel.

One thing that did catch my attention was the amount of body sway on rough, wavy roads at high speed. Compared to my GLB200d, this likely comes from the tighter suspension, stabilizers, and the shorter wheelbase.

The side-to-side sway is somewhat pronounced, which might bother some passengers, especially in the rear seats when carrying multiple people.

Testing on Winding Roads

Taking corners, the difference from the normal model is clear. The steering response is tighter, with no slack, reacting precisely to every input. This is a definite step up from the regular model.

The engine grows stronger and louder from mid-range RPMs. You simply can’t experience this kind of engine excitement with the diesel models. The sound and steering response raise the driver’s excitement, allowing smooth, flowing handling of successive curves.

Mid-drive, switching to Sport Plus mode via the steering wheel controls transforms the GLA35 dramatically. While Normal and Sport modes feel like a sporty Mercedes, Sport Plus pushes it firmly into sports car territory.

The engine noise clearly intensifies, and the “AMG Speedshift DCT 8G” transmission shifts become even sharper. The satisfying ‘pop!’ sound on upshifts is a joy—something you won’t get from the regular diesel models.

The steering feedback tightens further, making road surface conditions and tire direction very clear. This mode delivers a pure sports car feel and is a lot of fun to drive.

Although the ride becomes noticeably firmer, the electronic suspension control is excellent. Despite the firmness, there’s no bounciness, and the tires stay firmly planted on the road in all situations.

Driving this car is a real pleasure.

Talking with TAKURO-san while driving, he said the driving enjoyment doesn’t quite match the early Macan but is close to the mid-cycle Macan. Having driven many cars, I think his impression is quite accurate.

Regarding power, it’s more than enough for Japan. It’s sufficiently fast. TAKURO-san considered the GLA45 but felt the extra wildness and power weren’t necessary, so he chose the 35. If you want to focus seriously on sporty driving, the 45 might be better, but for daily use balanced with sportiness, the 35 is a great choice.

Overall Impression

This car is perfect for those who want one vehicle that can do it all. You can enjoy genuine sports car performance, drive comfortably in narrow city streets without worrying about width, and carry five passengers when needed.

In our family’s case, with many children, we chose the 7-seater GLB and have other sports cars, so we went with the 200d instead of AMG. But if I were to choose a private car for everyday use, the GLA35 would definitely be an option.

There are many sporty SUVs out there, but this one stands out with its excellent balance of chassis, power, and design philosophy.