Mercedes A45 AMG: huge performance and classy build quality

Price:£37,845

Pros: Powerful petrol engine, four-wheel drive, practical hatch-back shape

Cons: Expensive to buy/run, steering lacks feel, sloping roof limits space

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3.7/5 Car buyer “The fastest version of Mercedes’ A-Class hatchback, the A45 AMG offers attractive looks, a classy interior, and a practical hatchback body shape. Four-wheel drive and a 355bhp petrol engine also add enough performance to rival many sports cars. To set it apart, the A45 AMG comes with a distinctive body kit and inside there’s plenty of expensive trim, a pair of sports seats, and fancy ambient lighting. The steering could do with a bit more feedback and stiff suspension may impinge on comfort, but the power and gear box make the A45 extremely quick on twisting B roads. As with all Mercedes the A45 comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty and Service Care.”

4.0/5.0 Auto Express “When it comes to raw power the Mercedes A45 AMG currently rules the hot hatch roost. Featuring a thumping turbo-charged engine, four-wheel drive, and rapid-fire twin-clutch gearbox, it can rocket to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds. But all this performance doesn’t come cheap and the A45 carries a hefty price tag. That being said, if you’re looking to attract attention the Mercedes should be at the top of your shopping list. Even the standard A-Class turns heads and the AMG version comes with a muscular body kit, twin exhausts and 18-inch alloys. Give its humble hatchback origins, the A45 also offers decent practicality. The interior is roomy, there’s plenty of useful storage and the boot offers a solid 3412 litre carrying capacity.”

4/5 Evo “The new Mercedes A45 AMG, is a car determined to push the boundaries of hatchback performance. To call it radical is something of an understatement. The turbocharged 2-litre engine is hand-built by one man and produces an astonishing 355bhp at 6000rpm and 332lb ft from 2250 to 5000rpm. The bucking ride quality is a little off-putting, but the drivetrain is anything but . The twin-scroll turbocharger ensures that the engine isn’t particularly laggy and there’s real fun to be had extending it beyond the richly torquey mid-range. The A45 is blisteringly quick everywhere but it’s more exciting through quicker turns, where you can feel the tail start to come into play.”