Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC 2016 Review

Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC
Road Test

In typical fashion Mercedes-AMG went all out when it entered the hot hatch market with its A 45. And now, it’s added a number of worthwhile improvements as part of a (mild) facelift. In a marketplace that is ever more keenly contested, with very worthy contenders like Audi’s RS3 and Ford’s much talked about and bargain-priced Focus RS, can the Benz pocket-rocket hope to its boy racer title at $77,900?

When Mercedes-Benz shocked the automotive world back in 2013 by thrusting forth the wildest hot hatch the planet had ever witnessed, it put a stop to the global small performance car conversation mid-sentence. With mouths agape, people watched as the Benz crew not only threw a knockout punch to auto rivals everywhere when it came to performance, but indeed followed it up with an uppercut, when it announced price. Yep, it priced the car at an affordable $74k. Performance and price: the two key elements to success or indeed failure. Three years on, it's better again.

The three-pointed star was boldly going where no sane manufacturer had gone before when it first released the A 45 AMG. Indeed, the boldest of risks pays the biggest dividend. Benz had created a masterpiece; one that normal people like you and I could not only aspire to, but, gulp, actually own.

You may well ask just, why was that price so exciting? After all, it placed the car at the very top branch of the price tree for the segment. How can that be considered ground-breaking? Well, you got every piece of add-on fruit you could imagine for that price. And it's an AMG. And, we can't say this enough, it came equipped with the fastest four-cylinder turbocharged production engine in the world.

Further, Benz did it with its very first go. Impressive.

Now, following a comprehensive upgrade, the AMG A 45 4MATIC has again lifted the bar with a peak output figure of 280kW/475Nm; the entry-level model from AMG remains the world's most powerful compact performance car. And, wait for it, the damned thing is still a bargain, priced at $77,900 (plus on-road costs).

It has to be said that the all-new Ford Focus RS is the new giant killer based on price at $50,990. But good luck getting one of those anytime soon. The stampede has finished and the corral is but a dusty void over there at the RS ranch.

The A 45 will sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in a staggering 4.2sec., nearly half-a-second faster than its predecessor. In this segment 0.4seconds may as well be a week. In short, it's a great deal of time to shave off a very rapid first up effort.

The techs at AMG have mainly achieved the improved output with a newly configured valve assembly. In addition, combustion processes have been optimised by reconfigured timing and turbocharging setups.

And, the thing sounds monumental. The exhaust system features an automatically controlled flap as standard, or as Benz puts it "the emotional appeal of the engine sound can be varied depending on driving mode or at the touch of a button". We can vouch for that!

Interestingly, there's all that extra go on tap, but the car is no thirstier than its older brother. Fuel consumption has remained the same at 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined).

More, there's a comprehensively re-jigged seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, that makes almost instantaneous changes. Or, you can do it all yourself via the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

Once you hear that exquisitely timed blip on down-change you'll be racing straight from the test drive to plead at the feet of the bank manager/spouse/boss. You just have to hear that sound. No, really. You do. The whole deal mates to this engine just about perfectly. It's almost seamless; in a sophisticated hooligan sort of way…

Our test example came equipped with the optionally available AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package. The major addition here is a mechanically-controlled front axle differential lock which provides improved traction, especially when pressing on. Basically the diff stops the driven wheel on the inside of the curve from spinning, and it makes for a much more settled cornering experience. It's a $1990 option and we'd be hitting it up all day if it were our quids on the table.

Other components of the package include the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with adaptive dampers and an additional RACE drive mode. RACE mode is designed for maximum driving dynamics on the track. It clicks the steering calibration, throttle sharpness, gearbox reaction and suspension damping up a notch, bringing the A 45's handling and balance into razor sharp focus.

Putting all that thought-out horsepower to the ground is the job of the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, which cleverly allows torque to be spread for maximum grip between the front and rear wheels axles. It makes for slingshot exits from corners, the A 45 remarkably balanced and handling perceptibly optimised.

There is little need for sawing histrionics at the tiller, but the A 45 does reward a precise hand. Of course, if you muck it up, the thing will make you look good anyway, but it really is fun 'getting it right'. If there is a quicker way through tightening mountain bends then I'm yet to find it.

The cabin offers a cosseting race-car look, with the race-style seats (complete with full harness space 'eyes' in the backrest) offering great support and adjustability. Interestingly, rear legroom is enhanced by the front seats, such is the nature of their slim design. Seat cushion depth adjustments are standard and leather upholstery covers most surfaces.

There's also a grippy, multifunction sport steering wheel with a flat bottom, perforated leather, and red contrasting stitching. The air vents are adorned with brushed metal and contrasting colors, and the centrally fitted display screen sits just right.

For infotainment, customers can opt for Comand Online with a WLAN module that offers extended functions. Autonomous features include Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Traffic Sign Assist, and Attention Assist.

In short, the A 45 really is pretty hard to fault. There may be some that find it a little small, but for them there's the AMG-enhanced CLA or C-Class to choose from.

If you're the type of buyer that wants a fast, focused and sophisticated hot hatch of the highest order then the A 45 should be on your shopping list. It deserves to be driven hard and loves each moment of it

It is quite simply the hottest hot hatch of all, especially at that price; unless you can get an RS of course….

2016 Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC pricing and specifications:
Price: $77,900 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 280kW/475Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 171/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Audi RS 3 Sportback quattro (from $78,900 plus ORCs)
>> Ford Focus RS (from $50,990 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen Golf R (from $55,240 plus ORCs)