Together with the GLA range as a whole, Mercedes GLA 45 AMG safety is yet to be tested by independent body Euro NCAP but the regular A-Class upon which it is heavily based achieved a full five stars.

Standard safety systems include Attention Assist, which monitors the driver’s steering inputs and issues a warning if they become erratic.

On the road the GLA 45 AMG is extremely stable and surefooted with impressively powerful brakes. A sophisticated stability control program is fitted as standard and features three modes – fully engaged, a halfway disengaged function and fully disengaged.

Like the regular GLA, Mercedes GLA 45 AMG practicality is reasonable rather than remarkable. The boot isn’t huge, although it is larger than the A-Class hatchback (Mercedes quotes a figure of 481 litres for the GLA compared with 341 for the A-Class) and load space compares well enough with other small 4x4s and crossovers.

It doesn’t really offer any great advantages in terms of access and egress over the regular A-Class as the roofline isn’t all that high.

Despite the AMG’s racier bodywork it still includes roof rails as standard, finished in silver. There are useful tie-down points in the boot along with a 12 V socket, and there’s a further 12V outlet in the rear passenger section.