Mercedes-Benz A45 Reviews

The AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ is known for lots of things - like being ludicrously powerful, blisteringly fast, and utterly smile-inducing every time you so much look at the accelerator, to name but a few. But known as a family car? Not so much. At least, until now...

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ is the best bang for your prestige buck, but apart from its four cylinder making more grunt than many V8s what else is going for it? A lot.

Mercedes-AMG loves power, speed and dynamic response and all three have been rolled into its compact powerhouse, the new, second-generation A 45 S hatch.

The Mercedes-AMG A45 gives lesser hot hatches a blood nose, but it's fair to argue it probably should, too, given its premium price tag. Mercedes handed us the keys and set us loose.

The Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic is the halo car of the new A-Class. In style and substance the compact is in a class of its own, taking the hot hatch to a new level. Getting straight to the nub of the matter, the car is powered by the world's most powerful production four-cylinder passenger car engine.A turbocharged 2.0-litre unit from Mercedes-Benz's performance arm AMG, the engine pumps out 280kW of power and 475Nm of torque. That's enough to spear the car from rest to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds.AMG has had a hand in everything, from styling to safety. The Mercedes-AMG A45 arrives with 19-inch AMG wheels, AMG Performance Seats (heated up front), AMG Performance Exhaust, AMG Dynamic Select, which includes Race Mode, Comand Navigation and Harman Kardon Distronic Plus as standard.The cost of all this whiz-bangery is an eye-watering (for a compact hatch) 80 grand-plus on the road. My time with the test car was priceless.Striking lines, dynamically curved surfaces and coupe-like windows characterise the latest A-Class models. AMG handiwork on the hero A45 includes an added lip on the roof spoiler for increased downforce; AMG front bumper in A-wing design specific to the car; rear bumper with new diffuser insert with four vertical fins and a diffuser spoiler lip.It rides on AMG cross-spoke titanium grey alloy wheels with 235/35 R19 tyres on 8 J x 19 rims;-specific radiator grille with silver-chrome double louvre and ‘AMG' lettering; matte titanium grey front splitter; LED high-performance headlamps; cooling air vents, each with two fins and a black flic for optimal routing of cooling air.As with all good sports cars the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic focuses on the driver and the information and controls he or she needs to enjoy a dynamic driving experience.To this effect, front and centre is an instrument cluster that gives vital details in a clear and concise manner in a two-tube format. The AMG Drive Unit with AMG Dynamic Select controller for choosing one of the five drive modes - Comfort, Sport, Sport +, Individual and Race – is positioned close at hand on the centre console, while an AMG performance steering wheel in black Nappa leather perfectly matches the AMG performance seats in black Red Cut leather upholstery.A Comand Package consists of Comand Online with am 8-inch colour display, HDD navigation with RDS-TMC, single-disc DVD player with MP3 / WMA / AAC compatibility, AM / FM tuner, Linguatronic voice control operation, Bluetooth and internet connectivity and USB connectivity, with two ports in the centre console.The new-generation A-Class is the first Mercedes range to be available with smartphone integration; Apple CarPlay, which runs iPhone, navigation and music, receiving and sending text messages and emails, as well as incorporating Siri voice control.Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, including 12 speakers and Dolby Digital 5, complete the hi-tech credentials of the car.The most powerful production four-cylinder passenger car engine in the world is fitted with an AMG Performance exhaust system producing enhanced sound and motor racing feeling. An AMG Speedshift dual clutch seven-speed sports transmission completes the picture.AMG speed-sensitive sports steering has two characteristic curves working in conjunction with AMG Ride Control sports suspension with two-stage adaptive damping. An optional AMG Dynamic Plus package, including AMG limited-slip differential, can add even more to lateral dynamics.The term 4Matic in Mercedes' speak refers to all-wheel drive. Something that's necessary in a car with this tremendous power output - trying to drive it only through two weeks would have been a tyre-shredding disaster.With numerous driving assistance systems, from drowsiness detection with Attention Assist to Distronic Plus, the A-Class provides occupants with comprehensive protection.Safety technology including nine airbags, pre-safe, blind spot assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and an active bonnet. The Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic also arrives with lane keeping assist (passive) as standard.The Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic crouched in the driveway, challenging any driver to push its limits. Did I do so? I wouldn't say so even if I did. Let's say the engine was blipping enthusiastically on gear changes. Soul-stirring stuff.Playtime consisted of scrolling through the Dynamic Select system, with Comfort well suited to stop / start going. Sport and Sport+ had things bubbling with a pleasing combination of peppy performance and firm and responsive ride and steering, while Race with its bone-jarring stiffness, was better left for a later track days on ultra-smooth surfaces.Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic officially consumes fuel at the rate of 7.3 to 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres, on the combined urban / highway cycle, with carbon dioxide emissions at 171 to 162 grams per kilometre.On test, Comfort mode was just that around town, the car clocking up 10 to 12 litres per 100 in fuel use, while shifting up to the Sport modes had the AMG power feeding on 16 to 20 litres per 100 kilometres, not surprising considering the grunt generated. Best consumption on the motorway was 6.8 litres.Black leather seats were super squeezy, the swoopy roof limited rear-seat head room and the occupants here fell short of leg space if front seat occupants were above average height.

Craig Jamieson road tests and reviews the Mercedes-Benz A-Class with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

The world's fastest all-wheel-drive hot hatches have Porsche-beating performance for a fraction of the price, says Joshua Dowling.

...each one personally signed by chief Horst von Sanden. Letters like this are often about a safety recall or mechanical drama. Not these.They are a personal apology because Benz cannot supply cars to the 500 Australians on the waiting list for its A45 and CLA45 AMG. It's not good news for the frustrated buyers, but it's a reflection of the way Benz has changed from an elitist brand for the right people with no crowding to a prestige company that's running and growing close to the mainstream.Benz still does ultra-luxury and ultra-costly cars like its S-Class limousine and the SLS gull-wing supercar, but more and more people are shopping the brand against a VW Golf or a Holden Calais or something from the middle-class mainstream. So you're more likely to see a three-pointed star on the road, a giant change.There was a time when that emblem on the nose was worth about $15,000 to the group, and a similar bonus for the owner at second-hand time. That's different now, with starting prices from $35,600 for an A180."Think Mastercard. Priceless," company spokesman David McCarthy says of the current value of the Benz badge. "Luxury is not just about price. It's about how the product makes you feel, how well it's made and how well it works." He argues the company is still a prestige brand, even though Mercedes-Benz is currently ranked 12th overall among the 60-plus makes selling in Australia."We are a premium brand in every way. That means premium equipment, premium safety and premium performance. Does that justify a premium? Yes," McCarthy says. "Luxury car buyers in Australia choose Mercedes-Benz more than any other brand, and there is a reason. It's because of the product we offer and where we are positioned. I don't accept that premium and some volume don't go together."How many seats on a plane are first class? Two or three per cent. That's about where we sit, too. We're premium, not premium economy." Lots of top-end stuff technology trickles down through the range after starting life in the S-Class flagship. That's already true of the impressive E-Class, which got a major update in 2013.But it's also true someone driving an S63 AMG that cost $385,000 - before dipping into the extras - is unlikely to be totally happy about the number of three-pointed stars hitting the road in Australia. "I don't agree it's devalued. Someone buying an S-Class might not be in market for an A-Class, but there could be someone else in the family who wants one," McCarthy says.And there is one other point, which also works for the company and its customers. Back in the 1990s, the average age of a Benz buyer was 57 and many had one foot in the grave. These days the average is in the 40s and there are plenty of 20 and 30-somethings in the A-Class family. "Our customers have the choice of luxury, and the luxury of choice," McCarthy says. Price: from $74,900Star rating: 4/5Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 265kW/450NmTransmission: 7-speed twin clutch auto; AWDThirst: 6.9L/100km  THE LOWDOWN Carsguide's Prestige Car of the year is fun at every level. Though powered by the usual AMG V8, but its turbo four is hugely impressive and the go-faster division has tweaked almost everything to ensure it sits comfortably in the range with cars like the C63 and SLS gull-wing. Price: from $59,990 (C200)Star rating: 4/5Engine: 1.8-litre 4-cyl turbo, 135kW/270NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, RWDThirst: 6.8L/100km  THE LOWDOWN You can get a great deal on the current C-Class and it tops the 3 Series from BMW without much trouble despite hitting its run-out period. But it's the new one you really want. The new C is a condensed S-Class and that means it will easily lead its class as well as delivering more luxury than anything ever seen for its size and price. Price: from $82,900 (M250)Star rating: 3.5/5Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel; 150kW/500NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, AWDThirst: 6.4L/100km  THE LOWDOWN When Benz dropped the price of its M-Class starter into the $80,000 range it made a BMW X5 look pricey. The BlueTEC diesel engine loses nothing in performance and provides remarkable economy, while the rest of the package is exactly what you'd expect in a Benz.SECOND-HANDAUSTRALIANS love SUVs, but the best bet in a second-hand Benz is a wagon. The C-Class and E-Class haulers have been remarkably good cars for decades and the latest models bring everything from AMG go-faster ability to a seven-seater cabin in the E-Class.The choice is not as broad because fewer people buy them new, but the rise of SUVs also makes a second-hand wagon a good-value buy. Best of all, when you're driving one you would never know you were driving a wagon and not a sedan - until you reach the supermarket or go to load up the kids' bikes.

We are totally smitten by this car on a whole range of fronts, not just performance and handling at which it excels. The Mercedes-Benz A45AMG promises much and delivers more at a price that makes it the best value hyper-performance car on the road right now let alone the hottest hot hatch. Price The $74,900 ask might

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and BMW M135i go head-to-head in this comparative review.