2016 Mercedes-AMG A45 first drive review

The most powerful four-cylinder hot hatch gets more power.

December 11 2015

Stephen Ottley

Drive rating	7.5/10 Scoring breakdown
Owner rating	0/10 See all reviews
Price	$75,700
Body type	hatchback
Safety	Rating: Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Ancap rated
Engine size	2.0L,4 cylinder
Performance	Power: 265kW Torque: 450Nm
Fuel economy	6.9 L/100 Km
See Mercedes-Benz A45 2015 full specs

Scoring breakdown

How is this calculated? Hide scoring breakdown

Value	5/10
Performance	9/10
Economy	5/10
Safety	9/10
Handling	9/10
Comfort	7/10
Connectivity	9/10
Space	7/10
Servicing costs	5/10
Resale value	8/10
Overall rating	7.5/10
See Mercedes-Benz A45 2015 full specs

How do you make the world's most powerful four-cylinder hot hatch even better? Simple, add more power.

That has been the mantra with the updated Mercedes-AMG A45 which has managed to elevate its already potent 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.

The updated A45 is now packing a whopping 280kW of power and 475Nm of torque - a 15kW and 25Nm bump.

But that isn't the only change with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission revised too and a mechanical front differential lock is available as an optional extra.

The other significant change is the addition of adaptive suspension as standard. The AMG Dynamic Plus Package is another new addition to further improve handling and comfort and the aerodynamics have been refined along with the restyled bodywork.

On the safety front Distronic Plus (Mercedes speak for active cruise control) and lane keeping assist are also new.

They are subtle changes but the A45 didn't need reinventing.

The power and performance of the smallest AMG remains breathtaking. The all-wheel drive system, which can channel as much as 50 per cent of the drive to the rear wheels, has little trouble getting all that grunt transmitted to the tarmac. You can just stomp your right foot and the A45 builds speed at a neck-straining rate.

AMG is renowned for making some of the best sounding engines in the world with its V8 and V12 units. But the little four-pot holds its own in the soundtrack stakes with all the growl, pops and barks you usually associate with a highly-strung racing car. It is a very different noise to an AMG V8 but equally impressive.

If there was a significant criticism of the old car it was the ride comfort, with the standard non-adjustable suspension offering a firm, bordering on harsh, experience.

The addition of the adjustable set-up gave the AMG engineers the option to introduce multiple characters to the way it drive. While even in the softer setting it still transmits the majority of imperfections in the road surface directly into the cabin, it is much more compliant than before.

On the flipside, it is a car that has phenomenal road-holding and almost instant responsiveness. Unlike its bigger, brasher AMG brothers the A45 feels lithe and agile in the bends. That is also helped by the compact dimensions of the A-Class, which sits at the smaller end of the small hatch segment.

Compared to the likes of the Audi RS3 and BMW M135i the A45 does feel smaller on the inside making it a slightly less practical choice.

But the quality of the presentation of the interior cannot be argued. The design looks modern and sophisticated and the A45 gets just the right amount of sporty touches, like the Alcantara-wrapped chunky steering wheel, body-hugging sports seats and carbon fibre trim.

It may be smaller inside than its siblings but the A45 feels every inch a Mercedes in terms of quality and presentation.

Standard gear for the updated A45 includes 19-inch AMG alloys, AMG performance exhaust, AMG Dynamic Select (which adds Race Mode), upgraded navigation and heated leather front seats.

But these upgrades come at a cost, a $2100 increase in the list price to be precise. That means the A45 starts at $77,900 plus on-road costs, which is a lot of money for such a small car.

Luckily it packs plenty of punch for the price.