Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 2013 Review

Not so much:
>> Big $$$ premium over A 45
>> Ride is sharp
>> Not a lot else

If the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG is the performance car surprise of the 2013, the CLA 45 gets almost equal billing.

I guess that's logical given the two super-compacts share almost every part of their mechanical and philosophical make-up. Indeed, it's only the body that set the two apart. Even closer than the relationship between cooking-model CLAs and A-Class variants, the two AMG-developed compact Benzs aren't even separated in terms of standard equipment (see below).

That means that the same (minor) criticisms we had for the A 45 carry over to the hottest CLA. But so too the plaudits -- these smallest-ever AMG models are big in terms of their real world pace and in their ability to humble much more expensive and much more often lauded equipment.

The secret of the CLA and A AMGs' success is their significant reserves of poise and performance. Almost anyone can drive these cars fast. Very fast!

At high levels of commitment there are chinks in the CLA/A-Class' simple front-biased all-wheel drive system's armour and, yes, the standard Dunlop rubber goes away quickly when the pace is really up, but in the patchy (at time, downright wet) conditions of the CLA AMG's local test drive in the Yarra Valley this week, I can think of few cars that would have been so effortlessly quick.

Although the work of the AMG crew is impressive, key to this idiot-proof performance of the CLA 45 is the competency of the core car. Our CLA 45 AMG drive was preceded by a few hours in a standard CLA 200 and the front-drive 'donor' car impressed with a blend of reasonable steering feel and precision, neutral handling and great natural chassis grip.

The AMG team built on these strengths in its development of the CLA 45 and delivered the same encouraging and engaging performance characteristics. In the case of the 45, however, (with apologies to Spinal Tap) they are turned up to 11.

There's little point in regurgitating the technical specs of the 45 AMG mechanical package here (check out our local A 45 AMG launch coverage for detail). For the record, however, it is worth reiterating that the turbo four’s 265kW and 450Nm performance figures aren't all that far away from the output Benz V8s delivered just a few years ago. And the car’s sub-4.6sec 0-100km/h time is firmly in the heavy-hitter league.

Yet the world's most powerful production 2.0-litre petrol engine never feels high-strung in the A 45 and in the CLA 45, by virtue of lower wind noise and better controlled exhaust and road noise, it seems even more polished.

Never fear, there's still enough music from the AMG Performance Exhaust that's standard on all Aussie CLA 45 AMGs, but now there's less of a drone when you're cruising at legal speeds on the highways. Least that's what we were told. I don't have that much self-control.

Priced at $86,900, the CLA 45 AMG is a hefty $12,000 more than an A 45 AMG. In the standard CLA range the ‘sedan’ premium is around $9K -- but that’s offset by up to $5000 worth of extra equipment, depending on engine grade. It’s this $12K extra that requires the ‘almost’ in my opening paragraph.

Sure, the top-shelf CLA is equipped at a high level. In addition to standard A/CLA-Class safety kit (which includes nine airbags and Collission Prevention Assist), the fastest CLA gets 19-inch multi-spoke AMG wheels, the AMG Driver’s Package (with derestricted 270km/h top speed), AMG night (black-out) package, AMG Performance exhaust, Distronic Plus radar cruise, lane keep assist, metallic paint, AMG performance seats in black ‘red-cut’ leather, AMG performance steering wheel, COMAND navigation and Harman Kardon Logic 7 audio with digital radio -- BUT so does the A45. Indeed, unlike the lesser variants there are no equipment differences between the AMG 45s.

Mercedes-Benz Australia says the price difference is in part based on volumes. It expects to (eventually) sell two A 45s for every CLA 45. On the surface, however, the $12K extra looks more like a grab for cash on a model that is already a sell-out.

The old adage that you pays your (extra) money and takes your choice has never been more apt. We’ll save the $12K for decent tyres and take the hatch...

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