I've owned C-Classes for many years, and a 190e before that. My last car was a C230 V6 with all the trimmings. However the size of the new C Class is too big for the internal garage in my new house, so I had took elsewhere. I live in mountainous terrain so 4WD is a must in winter, and now the kids are both at uni, the back seats hardly ever get used.
This all led me to look at compact SUVs but so many manufacturers only sell diesels, which I did not want, and too many models lack any sporty prowess. I drive quite sedately most of the time but being an ex-racer I occasionally like to put my foot down when the conditions allow, and I also need to be able to overtake tractors and slow tourists very quickly (i.e. safely) on short stretches of country roads. This all pointed to one car: the GLA250 4matic AMG line (silver), and I am not disappointed.
I've never owned a hatchback before and am still getting used to the sound of a straight-4 engine after the ultra-smooth V6, but the GLA is just so darnn comfortable and easy to drive that I'm bowled over by just how good this new car is. The automatic lighting that dips the lights and changes shape to suit the traffic has to be seen to be believed, and the command sat nav with voice control is fab. The automatic parking is a hoot to impress friends, and the seats with their lumbar support are absolutely ideal for my spinal implants following major surgery (I never thought I'd be able to sit in a car again for more than an hour at a time, but these leather AMG line seats have given me a new lease of motoring life).
If you own a C Class and are considering a GLA, don't think you'll have to take a drop in comfort levels - take a GLA250 AMG line for a test drive and see what you think
BTW, the GLA 45 was beyond my budget and seems too extreme for my new life in the country.