Item: Mercedes A45 AMG
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The 161bhp A200 is much pokier than the A180, and our pick of the range. We tested it smashing 0-60mph in 7.5sec – far quicker than the Audi A3 35 TFSI and BMW 118i managed – and it has effortless oomph for relaxed cruising. It's a bit thrashy at high revs, but makes up for that with good average fuel economy – we managed over 40mpg.

A200

Hatchback

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

A CLASS

Mid-rung Sport is our favourite trim. Over and above SE trim, you get more attractive 17in alloy wheels, more powerful LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and various styling enhancements. Consider adding the Executive package, which adds front and rear parking sensors, power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a 10.3in infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto and wireless phone charging.

Sport

A200 Sport 5dr Auto

a200-sport-5dr-auto

Abarth 595

Audi RS3

Audi S3

BMW M135i

Cupra Leon

Ford Fiesta ST

Ford Focus ST

Honda Civic Type R

Hyundai i20N

Hyundai i30N

Mercedes A35 AMG

Mercedes A45 AMG

Peugeot 308 GTi

Renault Megane RS

Skoda Octavia vRS

Suzuki Swift Sport

Toyota GR Yaris

Vauxhall Corsa VXR

Volkswagen Golf GTD

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Up GTI

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the most expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch">hot hatch</a>&nbsp;you can buy, costing many, many thousands of pounds more than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW M135i</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a>. Make no mistake, this is a seriously pricey <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">A Class</a>.

Although it’s unlikely you’d run one as a company car, it's worth noting that the A45’s CO2 emissions of 189g/km put it in the top 37% benefit-in-kind <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-is-company-car-tax-calculated/n22618">(BIK)</a> tax bracket. However, its official&nbsp;32mpg economy figure isn’t bad for a car this fast, although don't expect to get anywhere near that unless you drive like a vicar.

Safety is one of the A45’s strong points: the A Class proved to be the best in its class in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP&nbsp;safety tests</a> in 2018. To help you avoid testing its crash-protection credentials, though, the A45 comes with automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, lane-keeping assistance and&nbsp;driver&nbsp;attention monitoring as standard. Go for the Plus version and you'll also get blindspot monitoring.

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Let’s start with the obvious:&nbsp;the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is indecently fast. With launch mode engaged (in the dry at least)&nbsp;there’s barely a single horsepower wasted as the car hunkers down and fires you forward like few other cars of any type, let alone hatchbacks. We can fully believe that 3.9sec official 0-62mph time.

That’s all well and good, but how often do you really use launch control? More important is how the A45 AMG accelerates when you just plant your right foot on the accelerator pedal. Whether you’re stationary or moving, there’s the briefest of hesitations before the A45 rockets forward ferociously, firing through its gears swiftly yet smoothly.

There is, of course, a manual mode which is pretty faithful to your requests (you pull paddles behind the steering wheel), but&nbsp;isn’t quite as engaging as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Civic Type R’s</a> uber-satisfying fully manual gearbox.&nbsp;But don’t expect the power to arrive all of a sudden like it does in some heavily turbocharged cars.

This is an engine that thrives on revs, with peak power not&nbsp;arriving&nbsp;until a heady 6750rpm. That's no&nbsp;hardship, though – you’ll enjoy how the turbo wakes up at around 2000rpm, and how the power increases in a linear fashion all the way to the redline. And, sure, it might not sound as good as the five-cylinder <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a>, but it’s still pretty tuneful for a ‘mere’ four-cylinder.

Now, if you’re reading this thinking the A45 must be a&nbsp;temperamental beast&nbsp;that behaves like a bear with a sore head in traffic, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Left in comfort mode, it feels no more recalcitrant than the regular A Class on which it's based and is happy to trundle along quietly.

Yes, its standard adaptive suspension is firmer, but only nasty potholes or manhole covers really cause any discomfort. Avoid scrappy surfaces&nbsp;and the A45 AMG is&nbsp;actually quite easy to live with by hot hatch standards, proving far softer than the often jarring <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-rs/hatchback/review/n17168">Renault Megane RS Trophy</a>.

So, what happens when you turn away from regular roads and onto something more sinewy and interesting? Well, although the steering isn’t exactly bristling with feedback, you do get a few messages from the front tyres when you pick up some speed. Crucially, though, the steering&nbsp;feels natural, making it&nbsp;a cinch to place the A45 exactly where you want it on the road.

Even in Comfort mode, body lean is minimal, and you can happily ramp things up up to Sport mode to further reduce it without completely ruining ride comfort. The Sport + and Race suspension settings are a bit too much for all but the smoothest of roads,&nbsp;but you can opt to have apply&nbsp;these most extreme modes to the engine and exhaust without affecting the ride.

Despite being front-wheel drive in gentle&nbsp;driving, the back end always seems happy to receive plenty of power to help prevent the nose running wide through corners. Push harder and you can really feel it dig in and help to&nbsp;steer the car out of a bend.&nbsp;

Then of course there’s drift mode. Although this doesn’t make the A45 fully rear-wheel drive like the drift mode in the larger&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17226">Mercedes-AMG E63</a>&nbsp;does, it does help the car to slide sideways easily when you accelerate hard and steer into a bend. Given its propensity to destroy tyres and its unsuitability for road use, though, it’s really an interesting gimmick and nothing more.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

With 415bhp, the range-topping A45 AMG can crack 62mph from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds and go on to a top speed of 168bhp. That's incredible performance for a hot hatchback, albeit it seriously pricey one.

http://example.com

A45 S 4Matic+

a45-s-4matic-plus

Four hundred and fifteen horsepower. That might seem like the power figure for a musclebound sports or performance car, but it’s actually how much grunt the Mercedes-AMG A45 S packs into its sensible hatchback skin.

Even more impressive than the headline power figure –&nbsp;or indeed its 3.9sec 0-62mph time –&nbsp;is how the baby AMG achieves that level of firepower. You see, there isn't a big six&nbsp;or eight-cylinder engine to be found under the bonnet, just a 2.0-litre four-cylinder – albeit with a turbocharger that’s bigger than your head.

A less powerful non ‘S’ model is available in Europe, but apparently us Brits are too power-mad to even consider it.

Like the less powerful <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n18801">Mercedes-AMG A35</a>,&nbsp;the A45 uses an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to feed its power to all four wheels. However, while you might assume the two cars use the same four-wheel drive system, the A45’s is far cleverer and can not only vary the power split between the front and&nbsp;rear wheels, but also from side to side at the rear.&nbsp;

The aim? Well, depending on the drive mode you’ve selected, the system can either boost traction and therefore stability&nbsp;or, if you've decided to take your A45 on to a racetrack, can encourage it to drift sideways creating lots of smoke. Sound familiar? That’s probably because it’s similar to the system found in the recently retired&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus-rs/hatchback/review/n17148">Ford Focus RS</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a> has its sights set a little higher than to match a mere Ford, though. In fact, there’s really only one car that can even get close to the A45’s manic performance:&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a>. Of course, you might also want to consider the less powerful <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW M135i</a> if a premium badge is a must. If it isn’t, we’d certainly add a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> to your list of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch">hot hatches</a> to try.

So, is the Mercedes-AMG A45 S&nbsp;any good to drive, or is it just good for bragging rights down the pub? Stay with us over the next few pages of this review to find out if it’s fun as well as fast and whether you could actually live with the thing day to day.

Don’t forget that you can save thousands off the list price of most makes and models of cars – and find some very tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/deals?trim=amg-s">Mercedes-AMG A45 S deals</a> – by checking out the free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>.

In addition to the A-Class’s already visually striking interior, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S&nbsp;gets plenty of racy touches such as a pair of AMG sports seats, an AMG flat-bottomed steering wheel with touchpad controls, and AMG-specific graphics for the digital instruments, which include a Supersport mode with a large central rev counter.&nbsp;

The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment and, in combination with a steering wheel that offers decent amounts of&nbsp;reach and rake adjustment, allows&nbsp;drivers of all sizes to find a comfy posture. If you want electric seat adjustment, you'll need to go for the Plus version.

The A45 AMG&nbsp;also adds a bundle of bespoke AMG software to the car’s MBUX infotainment system. This can show engine and gearbox oil temperatures, engine output, record lap times and even has a G meter to show handling and acceleration forces. It can also log eighty separate feeds of data so you can analyse your on-track performance. It’s something we doubt any buyers will actually use more than once, and, like having a dive watch that's rated to 200m, it’s more about bragging rights than anything else.

To display this array of information, the A45 has twin 10.3in screens –&nbsp;one behind the steering wheel instead of traditional instrument dials, with a touchscreen to its left. Both have sharp graphics and the ‘virtual’ instruments are highly configurable yet remain easy to read at all times. You adjust them by using a small touchpad on the right of the steering wheel; this is a bit&nbsp;fiddly at first but is something you do get used to.

As for the infotainment system, it can be controlled either by pressing the central touchscreen, swiping a&nbsp;laptop-style touchpad between the seats or using another small pad on the left of the steering wheel. It’s a good system with logical menus, if not as intuitive&nbsp;as the iDrive system in the cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW M135i</a>.

The AMG 45 is a mega-pricey hot-hatch but stupidly fast. Equipment highlights include 19in alloy wheels, AMG-tuned suspension, twin 10.3in screens, 64-colour interior ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, AMG bucket front seats, power-folding door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and heated front seats.

AMG S

Incredibly rapid in a straight line, while also agile and entertaining through the corners. The interior is striking&nbsp;too – but it's very expensive.

Mercedes-AMG A45

To put it simply, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is just as practical&nbsp;as any other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A Class</a>. That means plenty of space up front for a couple of 6ft-plus adults – especially if you avoid the head room-stealing sunroof that comes on Plus versions – and decent oddment storage, too.

A couple of tall mates will fit in the back, but can expect to find their knees close to the front seatbacks and their heads near the roof. Still, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a> isn’t much better. If you want a hot hatch and need to carry adults in the rear regularly, the generous rear leg room of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Civic Type R</a> makes it a better bet, although it isn’t quite as fast.

There’s nothing spectacular about the boot of the A45, although it’s spacious enough for a big weekly shop or a week away for two. In fact, when we did our suitcase boot test, the A Class and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a> tied on six carry-on suitcases each (the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a> managed five), although it was less of a squeeze to get them in the Audi.

The lip at the boot entrance is a bit annoying; its presence means you have to heave heavy items over it rather than simply sliding them in or out. More annoyingly, there’s no height-adjustable boot&nbsp;floor on the options list, either.

amg-s

Make no mistake, the A45 AMG is more than just a one-trick pony. Not only is it incredibly rapid in a straight line, it’s also agile and entertaining through the corners, too. It's very pricey, though.


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best hot hatches on the market, along with its main competitor,&nbsp;the&nbsp;equally as responsive and cheaper to buy Hyundai i30 N. But there are some terrific options for even less money than both of these cars. We're big fans of the Ford Fiesta ST, which is definitely one of the best hot hatches ever and certainly one of the most fun to drive. It's full of character and its engaging handling makes it a bit of a hoot at all speeds.&nbsp;

If you’ve got a bit more money to spare, there are even faster cars available, such as the Honda Civic Type R. This latest version is sublime to drive, either on road or on a track, as it's so sweetly balanced. It's also incredibly quick in a straight line&nbsp;and round a corner, and yet it's as practical as a regular Civic.&nbsp;

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