Item: Mercedes A35 AMG
Rating: 3
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 AMG A45

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 A35 is a lot pricier than our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch">hot hatch</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Civic Type R</a>, although you do get a reasonable roster of luxuries as standard. Leather seats&nbsp;(heated in the front),&nbsp;climate control, privacy glass and keyless start are all included.

However, by the time you’ve added metallic paint and&nbsp;one of the equipment packs, you'll be paying a five-figure sum that&nbsp;starts with a four for your A35. We’d just stick with the Premium Pack so you get the&nbsp;pair of 10.25in screens we mentioned earlier, keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors, an upgraded stereo and a central rear armrest.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">CO2 emissions</a> are pretty competitive for something this fast and powerful, although if you use the A35's full 302bhp very often, fuel economy will take a considerable nosedive.&nbsp;

Safety is one of the A35’s strong points, too; the A Class faired extremely well in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP's</a> safety tests. To help you to avoid testing its crash-worthiness credentials, though, the A35 comes with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>, lane-keeping assistance and a driver&nbsp;attention monitor as standard.

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If 302bhp in a relatively small car sounds like a potent combination, that's because it is. Even on cold, wet roads, the A35’s claimed 0-62mph time of just 4.7sec (4.8sec in the saloon)&nbsp;never feels in doubt. Put your foot down and the A35&nbsp;simply digs in&nbsp;and goes, its four-wheel drive system transferring all of the engine's power to the road without a hint of wheelspin.

With its neutral, predictable cornering balance and superb body control,&nbsp;the A35 AMG&nbsp;is a car that can cover ground extremely rapidly, regardless of what the weather is doing. But in terms of pure thrills, you’d get far more from the cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a>. In short, that car puts you in the centre of the action, whereas the A35 feels a bit more remote, never fully involving you in the process of driving – even compared to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>.&nbsp;The slightly numb&nbsp;steering is largely to blame.

And while we’re nit-picking, despite a few cracks and pops from its exhaust when one of the sportier modes is engaged, the engine sounds rather tuneless – even when you rev it really hard. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox isn’t as obedient as we’d like in manual mode, either (you pull paddles behind the steering wheel to action shifts).

More positively, switch&nbsp;to Comfort driving mode and the engine settles into a distant hum while you’re cruising, the gearbox swaps ratios smoothly and ride comfort is perfectly acceptable for something this sporty. There is an awful lot of tyre roar, though – especially on the motorway.

It might be the cheapest proper AMG model you can buy, but the Mercedes A35 AMG still boasts some impressive vital statistics.

Yes, it's essentially an&nbsp;A Class, but it's one that's been to the AMG tuning experts from the little town of Affalterbach in Germany, and has come&nbsp;back with not only a more aggressive look and four-wheel drive, but also a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine boosted to 302bhp.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGql0RON6xE"></iframe>

Admittedly, that's a lot less power than the range-topping <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">A45 AMG</a> can muster, but then the A35 is&nbsp;much cheaper to buy and still has enough firepower to worry the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>, with 0-62mph taking well under five seconds. Better still, it's available in both hatchback and saloon body styles.

Read on to find out how the A35 AMG stacks up in all the important areas against its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch">hot hatch rivals</a>, and don’t forget, you could save thousands on your next new car by using our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/hot-hatch">New Car Buying</a> service.

Adding to the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A Class’s</a> already spectacular-looking&nbsp;interior, the A35 gets plenty of racy touches, including a pair of AMG sports seats, an AMG flat-bottomed steering wheel&nbsp;and AMG-specific graphics for the digital instrument dials&nbsp;behind the steering wheel.

The standard manually adjustable driver’s seat combines with plenty of steering wheel reach and rake adjustment to enable drivers of all shapes and sizes to find a comfy seating position. And, if you add the Premium Plus Pack, you get electric front seats with adjustable lumbar support and a memory function.

The A35 comes with a&nbsp;10.25in infotainment screen as standard, and&nbsp;if you add the Premium Package, the digital instrument&nbsp;display behind the steering wheel&nbsp;is enlarged to 10.25in (from 7.0in) as well. Sitting side by side, these two screens give the appearance of one giant widescreen that stretches across more than half of the dashboard. It's quite a sight – especially at night.

Whichever infotainment&nbsp;screen you choose, you can&nbsp;control&nbsp;it by touch using either the laptop-style touchpad between the front seats or another much smaller&nbsp;touchpad on the&nbsp;steering wheel. Overall, it’s a good system with logical menus that's relatively easy to use, even if it can't quite match the iDrive system of the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>.

The A35 is a lot pricier than our favourite hot hatch, the Civic Type R, but you do get a reasonable roster of luxuries as standard. Leather seats (heated in the front), climate control, privacy glass and keyless start are all included. However, by the time you’ve added metallic paint and one of the equipment packs, you'll be paying a five-figure sum that starts with a four. We’d stick with the Premium Pack so you get bigger 10.3in screens, keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors and an upgraded stereo.

Fast and grippy, if not the most rewarding drive. 
&nbsp;

Mercedes-AMG A35

To put it simply, the A35 is just as practically designed 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 optional sunroof, and there's decent oddment storage, too.

A couple of tall mates will fit in the back of both the hatchback and saloon, but can expect to find their knees close to the backs of the seat in front, and their heads near the ceiling. Overall, rear space is broadly on a par with that of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>, so if you&nbsp;need to carry adults in the rear regularly, the more generous rear leg room of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda&nbsp;Civic Type R</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus ST</a> would come in handy.

There’s nothing spectacular about the boot of the hatchback version of the A35, but&nbsp;it’s roomy enough for a big weekly shop or a week away for two. In fact, when we did our carry-on suitcase boot test, it beat&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a>&nbsp;by swallowing six suitcases (the 1 Series managed five), although the Honda Civic Type R swallowed seven. The saloon version of the A35 actually has a slightly bigger boot, but the&nbsp;space itself is shallow and its&nbsp;opening&nbsp;is small, hindering access.

The A35 AMG is seriously fast and grippy, both in hatchback and saloon forms. It isn't especially exciting to drive, though, and there's a lot of road noise on the motorway.



<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;

Hot hatch

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Entertainingly agile handling</li> <li>Eye-widening acceleration</li> <li>Fruity exhaust note</li> <li>Punchy and characterful engine</li> <li>Great driving position</li> <li>Everyday usability</li></ul>

The best performance cars combine sports car-rivalling acceleration with&nbsp;engaging handling. However, they also retain the&nbsp;impressive everyday usability of the conventional saloons and estates on which they're based.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio currently sets the standard. However, the models from BMW's M division and Mercedes-AMG also tend to impress.

Performance car

Mercedes A35 AMG review

Kia Sportage

Toyota Yaris Cross

VW Taigo

Cupra Born

BMW 4 Series Grand Coupé

Nissan Qashqai

Seat Ibiza

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Read the definitive Mercedes A35 AMG 2022 review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars.

It might be the cheapest proper AMG model you can buy, but the Mercedes A35 AMG still boasts some impressive vital statistics.,Yes, it's essentially an A Class, but it's one that's been to the AMG tuning experts from the little town of Affalterbach in Germany, and has come back with not only a more aggressive look and four-wheel drive, but also a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine boosted to 302bhp.,Admittedly, that's a lot less power than the range-topping A45 AMG can muster, but then the A35 is much cheaper to buy and still has enough firepower to worry the likes of the BMW M135i, with 0-62mph taking well under five seconds. Better still, it's available in both hatchback and saloon body styles.Read on to find out how the A35 AMG stacks up in all the important areas against its hot hatch rivals, and don’t forget, you could save thousands on your next new car by using our New Car Buying service.

Available to order now >

Mercedes A35 AMG review

Toyota GR Yaris

Honda Civic Type R

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