Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG Test Drive Review

The A-Class is a relatively new addition to the greater Mercedes-Benz family, having been with us for less than 20 years with only three model generations to date. The original A-Class was something of an oddball, being simultaneously noted for its innovative ‘sandwich construction’ layout and for infamously tipping over in an elk test, incurring additional development time and costs for the model.

Now in its third incarnation, the latest W176 A-Class is far-removed from its progenitor model. It continues being the most affordable entry point into the realm of Mercedes-Benz ownership, but it now follows a new path of greater popularity, by being conceptually conventional but aesthetically sporty. Mercedes now shapes the A-Class as a regular two-box hatchback and suits it up in sharp-looking sheet metal.

Together with the CLA and GLA, the A-Class is part of Mercedes’ New Generation Compact Car family developed with the objective of lowering the average age of a Mercedes owner. Built from the same MFA transverse engine platform, these models are designed to be overtly sporty in both appearance and driving characteristics. Logically and consequently, it gives rise to the first occasion where Mercedes-AMG takes an interest in fettling with an A-Class.

Prices & Variants

The W176 A-Class range in Malaysia starts with the A 200 powered by a 156hp 1.6-litre engine that can be had on the road at less than RM200k before insurance; an A 45 AMG as tested here, meanwhile, asks for considerably more, to the tune of RM343,888 – the kind of money that would otherwise put an E 300 Hybrid on your driveway.

Your hard-earned (and fast depreciating) ringgit is going to be spent on some serious mechanical pedigree, however. In addition to its hard-hitting engine and drivetrain, the A 45 also comes with a raft of AMG-specific ornaments including but not limited to front sports seats and an aerodynamics package with various fins, foils, and splitters covered in high gloss black finish for effective visual differentiation.

Commendably, the GPS-enabled Comand infotainment package includes a reverse camera, but we would have expected a car at this price range to also include keyless entry as standard. Neither did we anticipate the omission of self-lifting bonnet struts – if you want to have a look at that handbuilt AMG engine, be prepared for the mundane task of manually putting the old-fashioned bonnet strut in place.

Specifications

Internationally, Mercedes has actually facelifted the W176 A-Class range, with the A 45 now officially adopting a new moniker identifying itself as the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic. Mere semantics, of course, and not a matter of huge concern to us at the moment, as the Malaysian market has actually yet to receive the refurbished A-Class, meaning our test vehicle here goes by its old Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG name.

At the time of its launch in 2013, the A 45’s handbuilt 2.0-litre mill claims the honour being the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine in series production, generating 181hp per litre of displacement, adding up to net outputs of 360hp, complemented by 450Nm of torque spread from 2,250 to 5,000rpm. The yet-to-be-launched-in-Malaysia facelifted model pushes the stakes even further to 381hp and 475Nm.

Drive from the engine is deployed to all fours via the combination of a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and an AMG-tuned performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Claimed to be 25 percent lighter than comparable systems from the competition, AMG’s AWD setup features a two-part prop shaft that sends power astern to a rear diff which incorporates an electrohydraulically control multi-disc clutch system that as capable of instantaneously varying front-rear power distribution anywhere between fully front-wheel drive or a 50:50 split.

As with all AMG-fettled models, the A 45’s enhanced performance comes hand-in-hand with accordingly beefed up chassis components. Suspension hardware are not only stiffened, but their geometries thoroughly revised with emphasis to provide high cornering grip and reduced body roll. Supporting the enhanced hardware is a specially-tuned three-stage stability control system with brake-actuated torque vectoring.

Exterior

In its basic appearance, the current A-Class is already the sportiest-looking member of the lineage; befitting its status as a full-fledged AMG model, the A 45 comes with all the usual touches that you would expect of such a variant to create sufficient visual differentiation from the regular model. You get bigger alloy rims with painted brake calipers peeking from behind along with bigger air vents than an A 200, for example.

Additionally for Malaysia, the A 45 comes standard with the AMG’s Aerodynamic Package, which includes additional fins on the front bumper, enlarged front spoiler, and tail-gated mounted aerofoil spoiler. Also included is the AMG Night Package, which drips high gloss black finishing onto the front splitter, side sill panel inserts, rear apron trims, and side mirror housings. Both these packages, it should be noted, are cost options overseas.

Interior

Besides transforming it to becoming a sportier vehicle, Mercedes’ comprehensive re-think of the A-Class’ product concept has resulted in wide-ranging consequences for its interior as well. In general, it follows a similar direction laid by recent Mercedes-Benz cabins in blending an attractive appearance with solid build quality.

Unique to the A 45, the dashboard is trimmed with carbon fibre inserts and its seats upholstered in leather that is claimed to be a special AMG grade. Reflecting its sporting aspirations, the steering wheel sports a flat-bottom design and gripped with Nappa leather and red contrast stitching along its perimeter. Noticeably, the regular A-Class’ steering column-mounted gear lever shifts back to where most of us would expect it to be – along the centre console.

The broader picture, however, is that by ditching the previous A-Class’ pseudo-MPV silhouette in favour of a regular two-box hatch, the current model is faced with new packaging constraints that Mercedes is not accustomed to handle. It is, for starters, not as spacious as its predecessor and there are limited compartments in which we can store our small items. These qualms are admittedly more relevant in the context of a regular A-Class that will be more commonly used for the day-to-day commute, than it is for the performance-focused A 45, although it doesn’t make them any less real of an issue.

Driving Experience

If the A 45’s appearance did not quite clue you in on its aggressive tendencies, a twist of the ignition (yes, no keyless entry) should leave you in no doubt what it’s made of. The engine’s burbling note at idle emphatically gets the message across that you’re dealing with a monster and, once you hit the road, you’ll be in for quite a ride.

And it’s quite a ride; even in their plain vanilla flavours, members of Mercedes’ MFA-based New Generation Compact Car family have, let’s put it this way, never been known for their pliant ride quality. We don’t expect a derivative posited as a full-blooded AMG model to offer an improved compromises on that front and, make no mistake, the A 45 doesn’t.

On poor roads, the A 45’s combination of big-rimmed low-profile tyres with a stiffened version of an already stiff suspension setup unavoidably lets in a fair amount of surface disturbances. If you plan to gun it around corners, be wary that although grip is aplenty thanks to its AWD traction, any disturbances mid-corner can potentially unsettle the car’s composure.

In keeping with the best AMG traditions, however, the highlight of the A 45’s driving experience inevitably is the sonorous roar of its engine, and what an engine it is. Boasting one of the highest specific outputs in the business, the handbuilt 2.0-litre turbo not only delivers its outputs as advertised, but does so with some gusto.

In empirical terms, the engine is convincingly muscular and impressively flexible in its power delivery. Its talents are sufficiently broad-ranged that it does a passing job pottering at pedestrian speeds with dignity at one end; yet, it is utterly capable of running riot when the roads open up and you choose to plant the throttle to the floor. Put the transmission control in ‘Sport’ mode, it’ll even pop a crackle on overrun.

Verdict

If your impression after reading this review is that the A 45 is ill-suited for drivers of matured tastes, then you’ve interpreted our intentions correctly. Simply put, the A 45 lacks the all-rounded sophistication of the Volkswagen Golf R, which offers better day-to-day usability whilst being no less faster when driven hard.

Still, this is not a vehicle without its charms. There are those of us who like a dose of butchness of savagery in our vehicles, and that’s the A 45’s preposition. It is rough and unashamedly loud; as your day-to-day commuter, it can be tiresome, but if you’re the type that deem the modern day more refined interpretation performance motoring as too spoon fed and too sterile for your liking, the A 45’s raw unadulterated character is your prescription.