Range Rover vs Mercedes-Benz GLA45

What's the difference?

Land Rover was making SUVs before they were even called SUVs. 

Range Rovers were ferrying families around in prestigious four-wheel drive comfort decades before Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz even thought of doing it, too. 

So, even with all its rivals these days, how well does a Range Rover do modern family duties?

Well the Range Rover Autobiography came to live with my little family of four for a week. We had the seven-seater long-wheelbase version with the twin-turbo petrol V8 engine, and this is what we discovered…  

You have to feel a bit sorry for the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S. After all, it shares the same platform and engine as the A 45 S and CLA 45 S, but gets none of the limelight.

Maybe it’s because it’s a small SUV, and by virtue of pure physics, it will never be as fast or fun as its two cousins.

But what it does offer is practicality, thanks to a larger boot and comfort, due to its increased suspension travel.

Wouldn’t this make it a better buy then?

We spend some time behind the wheel of the second-generation Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S to see if can truly have its cake, and eat it too.