Mercedes-AMG A 45 v Audi RS 3 Sportback 2015

Mercedes-AMG A 45 v Audi RS 3
Comparison Test

Pimp my ride
A notch above their siblings and with badges to prove it, the well-respected AMG and RS monikers promise something more. And in this case, they deliver. Larger-capacity engines, higher outputs and better dynamics are just the start.

Under the bonnet of the Audi RS 3 Sportback lives a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 270kw and 465Nm. The Mercedes-AMG A 45 is powered by a smaller-capacity 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, but produces a higher output of 280kW and 475Nm. Needless to say, there's not much in it.

Or is there? The Audi's torque kicks in earlier than the Merc's, and a broader rev range is evident when you move from feeling it to fanging it. But the newer Merc brings attitude in spades too.

Far from your humble hatch, these cars would challenge a Porsche 911 for pace.  On paper, the dash from 0-100km/h is split by just 0.1sec in favour of the A 45 at 4.2sec. Who would notice that sort of difference?

Indoor voices
Quite the exhibitionist, the A 45 screams race-inspired. Its design is dramatic and, kind of over the top for an every-day drive. The Audi on the other hand is the quiet achiever, with a more sophisticated ambiance and subtle hints of spunk – it's almost understated. At first glance they are actually worlds apart. But we know too well that first impressions often come crashing down when you dig a little deeper. So we bought a shovel.

Comfort levels and ergonomics were comparable, with moulded sports-style hugging seats for driver and front-seat passenger. Both offer reasonable adjustability, although neither has adjustable headrests in the front. Audi was thoughtful to include back of seat storage nets – a passing nod to everyday practicality. My co-driver, Bruce Newton, is somewhat taller than me and was more comfortable in the AMG for access and seating.

Second-row comfort was similar, although in the Merc's case the rear-seat headrests were also fixed. ISOFIX points and child seat anchors featured in both vehicles, as did 60:40 split-fold seats and through-load functionality.

The Merc's soft leather and contrast red stitching was in keeping with its brash character, while the Audi's quilted leather inserts and white stitching told a story of mature decorum. It was a quality tale and a tactile feast across both cars.

Tech tart
These days, fancy technology speaks volumes. And in these two examples, it's done well. There was no clear leader in this category; both cars offered much of the same in terms of multiple drive modes, infotainment flair and creature comforts – but masked by vastly different veneers.

The AMG and the Audi were neck and neck for equipment, each featuring its own reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, hands free telephony and so on.

Heated seats were a bonus in the Audi, but seat comfort fell short of the electric-adjust memory seats offered in the Mercedes. But Audi won the ease of use test, with its command-style dial and intuitive pathways. Neither car left you wanting though, to be honest.

The wheel deal
It was easy to be distracted by bling and bravado as these two very closely specified cars did battle. The most defining moments, however, were found behind the wheel.

On the road, the closeness of this battle became even more intense. The difference between good and great was negligible and the baton moved from Audi to Merc and back again, many times.

Both cars presented terrific, capable engines. And they both possessed that noticeable character change in their AMG and RS guise – exactly what you want when you're buying at this level. The Audi offered a more pronounced change in personality, as it started from a more comfortable and manageable base before crossing over to aggression. The AMG, however, was aggressive from the get-go.

So too, the RS 3 Sportback felt the more compliant and the drivetrain finished up a notch above the A 45 – never running out of revs – but it lacked the dynamic connection of the AMG.  The Merc has the energy and athleticism of the RS 3 Sportback and then some, willing you to push harder if you dare.

It felt like the better car when braking late into a corner at high speeds; it was glued to the road. The Audi on the other hand, did exactly the same thing… but with a dose of manners. It was more polite.

At low speeds, the Audi's steering feel and ride comfort were better than that of the Merc, but in the heart-pumping zone where these cars thrive, it's the AMG that offered better connection at the wheel and a greater sense of what was going on below.

Brake feel was fit for the challenge, and the stoppers pulled up each car with little fuss and great confidence.

With both cars riding on 19-inch rubber – Continental versus Pirelli – there was a constant, high level of tyre and road noise. It detracted from low speed driving ambience across the board.

Engine noise was a whole other story. An audible feast, both cars released a beautiful crackle that serves good, not evil. The sound was both heart warming and smile inducing – a common theme on this test day.

Hot and bothered
We got a little emotional on test day – just quietly. It's draining having this much fun at the wheel. The Audi RS 3 Sportback was the supreme sportscar, with the grace and manners of its more civilised siblings. Give it some rope however and greatness unfolds.

Agile, fun, eager and capable – it was a joy to drive, with maximum engagement at the wheel. We spent hours praising the Audi's Jekyll and Hyde character and its broad appeal. It was hard to imagine the A 45 could top that. But it did.

Whatever spirit the RS 3 Sportback had, the A 45 had more. Warm and fuzzies in the Audi, translated as hot and bothered in the AMG.  In a good way.

There's a middle ground – somewhere between playing and punting – where these two were so alike, it was complete nit-picking to call either the superior ride. Either side of this zone however is where allocation of the buyer's bucks will be decided.

With power to all four wheels, grip was consistent across the A 45 and the RS 3 Sportback, both of which clawed their way through tight winding corners with assured poise. But their approach differed. The RS 3 Sportback was sure-footed and well balanced, hugely compliant, turning and diving for corners on demand. The A 45 however seemed sharper and crisper. The Audi can do it... but the Merc was begging for it.

With the two drivetrains in the spotlight, some differences emerged. And it was the Audi that took the win. Seven-speed dual clutch transmissions were fitted in both cars, but the RS 3 Sportback offered the neater spread – never, ever running out of revs or torque. The AMG occasionally lost its way.

On the road, composure varied, despite their common strut/multi-link suspension set up. Optioned with the DYNAMIC Plus Package, the A 45 features a front axle differential lock that no doubt played its part as it edged ahead of the taut RS 3 Sportback. It was tighter and more balanced.

Fuel facts
Our day was not your typical combined circuit, nor was it an average day driving – whatever that would be in these cars.

We clocked many kilometres of challenging country roads with a decent stretch of freeway in between and came up with not-so-surprising results. The Audi RS 3 Sportback returned an average of 15.0L/100km, compared to the mildly thirstier AMG A 45, returning 16.1L. Both sip premium 98 RON fuel, and official combined fuel economy figures had them pegged at 8.1 and 6.9L/100km, respectively.

Hip pocket
As usual, the devil's in the detail. The Audi on test included $1495 of metallic paint (a no cost option on the Merc) pitching it at $78,900, while the A 45 undercut this starting price at $77,900, but it upped the stakes with the DYNAMIC Plus Package,19-inch wheels and AMG Aerodynamics package bringing it up to $82,370.

Five-star safety and 36-month/unlimited kilometre warranties were common, with 12-month/15,000km service intervals for the Audi and 12-month/25,000km intervals for the Merc.

Happy ending
When we think about hot-tuned engines, we want flames!

Sure, the AMG is not as comfortable as the Audi for every day driving, but there's a higher calling in this league than pure comfort.

With this in mind, it's the Mercedes-AMG A 45 that takes the win. Its stonking character edged its way ahead of the insanely capable RS 3 Sportback.