Everything. The new Mercedes-AMG GLA35 and GLA45 are based on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-class, which is a ground-up redesign.The Mercedes-AMG GLA-class is offered in both GLA35 and GLA45 guise, and both come standard with a host of performance features that turn up the heat on the Benz-branded GLA250. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a sport-tuned suspension. Pricing and option packages haven't yet been officially released, so we aren't sure which one represents the best value. But, that 382-hp version of the GLA's turbo-four makes the GLA45 model the most compelling from a performance standpoint.
AMG waves its wand over the new baby SUV from Benz.
PROS Fierce package Second row fits adults, hurrah Will become the most popular baby AMG for a reason
CONS Front seat is uncomfortable Noisy cabin is far from premium Some will write you off as a wannabe
The GLA has been fully redesigned for 2021.
PROS Smooth ride and comfortable seats Features one of today's best, most advanced infotainment systems Mercedes badge at an affordable price
CONS Most of the GLA's advanced safety features are optional Too much road noise for a luxury SUV Cargo capacity is small compared to Mercedes' GLB
Not only is the MX-30 an all-new model for Mazda, it marks the first time the Japanese automaker has experimented with an all-electric powertrain. It's similarly sized to the current CX-3 and the upcoming CX-30 crossovers, but borrows the MX nomenclature of the MX-5 Miata, giving us hope that it will be a performance-oriented option in the electric-SUV marketplace.
Another day, another electric vehicle. This time around it's from Mazda, and it blends all the hallmarks of a sporty city SUV with a fully-electric heart. The MX-30 debuts Mazda's pure-electric e-SkyActiv platform, along with a number of new interior technologies likely to filter through the rest of the Japanese brand's line-up in due course. The all-electric MX-30 is part of Mazda's plan to offer an e-SkyActiv (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric) vehicle in each of its model lines by 2030. That includes everything from the Mazda 2 through to the dual-cab BT-50 replacement.
Mazda could have played it safe with this one but it didn't. Instead, it went bold. Rugged, in fact. All the more impressive is the fact that the all-new 2021 Mazda MX-30 is the Japanese automaker's first-ever all-electric vehicle. Going bold is something GM, for example, never would have done. Just look at the Chevrolet Bolt. The new MX-30, by contrast, has unique styling inside and out that may not be to everyone's liking. Mazda has been repositioning itself over the past few years as a more premium brand overall, and the MX-30's slightly more rugged look is not what everyone expected. But it also serves as the ideal gateway model for the brand as it takes its first step towards all-out electrification. The question is whether the MX-30 can successfully challenge the likes of the popular Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and even the upcoming BMW iX3.
