Review: Mercedes A45 AMG (2016) claws back title

This new Mercedes A45 AMG is the most powerful hatchback on sale and according to data supplied by Performance Motor Media it successfully uses the extra horses to pip the Audi RS3 – only GPS tracking is able to truly tell them apart.

New Mercedes A45 AMG beats RS3 to 100km/h

We’d like to believe this hotter A45 is here because the Audi RS3 forced its hand, conceived solely to bring the title back to Stuttgart after momentarily relinquishing it to Audi’s brawny 5-cylinder.

The 2.0-litre engine is clearly running into the very real limits of capacity and fuel quality and this time there’s only a slight increase but it doesn’t matter if you beat them by an inch or a mile…

Communicating this under bonnet muscle is a design that gathers up every AMG detail to build a sense of occasion. Bumpers have grown along with the front splitter, lights gain intricate LED detail, the grille is another piece of architectural jargon. These pale in comparison to the heavily structured rear wing, 19-inch lightweight wheels and a meaty diffuser… people gawk and secretly question your mental health.

Unless someone points out the clearer dials, anodised switches, frameless infotainment screen, the cabin is the same snug layout as before with lovely circular vents, grippy seats, cluttered dashboard and some awkwardly positioned controls. The new Dynamic Select dial for Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual is conveniently placed but the one operating the main screen is pathetically simple.

There are some nice features like electric seats and push button start, neither you’ll find in an RS3, and the gear lever doesn’t hang off the steering wheel column but is better located between the seats in a short AMG SpeedShift DCT 7-speed shifter

When not exploding fuel at 15l/100km (the thirstiest hatch we’ve driven), a quick look around the cabin leaves one with mixed thoughts. There’s not much cohesion because the design is simply too busy, an abundance of dark materials creates a sombre cabin which never seems to have enough natural light. On the converse, build quality is excellent and not even low profile rubber and stiff dampers make you think otherwise.

Unfortunately our test model omitted the optional Dynamic Plus Control, a rather peculiar decision given that it makes up the bulk of the car’s newness. Bundled with the two-stage adaptive damping (maximum sportiness or prolonged comfort) is a front locking differential to catapult the Mercedes A45 AMG out of corners. Our only comment is to say that we found the A 45 possessed admirable ride quality without the active dampers and outshone the Audi RS3 while the 4MATIC system is so good at finding grip that it’s hard to fathom a time, other than on the track, when you’d need the locking differential.

The 2.0-litre turbo charged engine in the Mercedes A45 AMG with 280kW and 475Nm is 15kW and 25Nm to the good and this power increase has been achieved through optimised valve and combustion chamber technology as well as an internal upgrade to the turbo charger, still blowing 1.8bar boost. Coupled to shorter gear ratios the new version will do 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds and if you tick the AMG Driver’s Package, top speed is lifted to 270km/h.

While it achieves the goals laid out before it, the engine’s small capacity, big turbo formula can come across as being a one-trick pony. Even with the exhaust set to its loudest brrps you will miss that breadth offered by a BMW straight six turbo in say the M235i or even Audi’s 5-pot turbo in the RS3. In comfort mode gear changes are lethargic so you’re better off sticking it in Sport or using the paddles. Like its big wings and wheels suggest, you need to drive it with a flash of anger.

When the Mercedes A45 AMG was first launched in South Africa in 2013 at around R650 000, it was the most expensive hatch you could buy. Now with Audi’s RS3 (R800k for a decent one), the upcoming Ford Focus RS (R700 000 estimate) and BMW M2 at similar money, a 4-second, 5-door hatch with Mercedes DNA is easier to accept among new car prices.