RE: 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S | UK Review

[Jon_S_Rally]

This continues to do absolutely nothing for me, just like the old one. Yes it's very fast and very capable, but I just can't bring myself to care. It looks dumpy and awkward on the outside, while the interior is fussy, cluttered and tacky. I'm sure it will be lusted over by many, but I just can't get excited about it. It's flashy without actually being pretty and misses one of the key elements - steering feel. That is everything in a performance car for me, as it's what connects you to the experience. Missing that is a major faux pas.

Pistonheads said:

The latest A-Class is impressive anyway thanks to its widescreen slab of an infotainment system and instrument cluster that migrates into the five-door hatchback from larger models, but the A45 adds all the right tinsel

I think that is very subjective. I think the "slab" is awful and off putting and the "tinsel" makes it looks tacky, busy and cluttered. One of the worst hatch interiors around.

Pistonheads said:

All four-cylinder engines want to be mistaken for something bigger capacity

Do they? I would suggest that's only true if the buyer is small-minded enough to not be able to appreciate engines of all configuration and type. Big does not necessarily mean good.

[BrewsterBear]

I've been looking for a do-it-all car for a while. I nearly went with an M2 Competition, but the boot was too small and given the only other car I have is a very old 911 I couldn't justify it. I'd seen the early reviews of the new A45 and CLA45 and decided I wanted the CLA Shooting Brake. I'd been in touch with my local dealer and eventually in November they called to say it was available to order. I went for one in pretty much this spec;



£55k is a lot of money for a 4 cylinder stretched hatchback in anyone's book, but it is so capable and versatile it made a compelling case. All the reviews sing its praises. The clever 4WD system means it can be driven however you like including in hooligan RWD drift mode. It does 60mph in 4 seconds.

Yes you have to look past its shortcomings, but there will come a time we all have to accept that hairy-chested N/A V8s are going the way of the dodo. It arrives in April and I'm very much looking forward to it.

[eddharris]

Honeywell said:

I did have a VW Polo GTI DSG for a few days recently and rather enjoyed it. Rapid little thing on a country road. More than doubling all its grip torque and power just seems nuts.

And these Mercs are definitely being styled for Asian styling tastes.

That's funny, where I live almost all GT86s are driven by Asians, who choose to lightly mod so perhaps these new Mercedes designs are right up your street.

I'm not Asian but do like some of the new styling, both inside and out. I have an old 190E for those nostalgic moments but do also enjoy jumping into a newer car with all the creature comforts.

[hothatchery7]

I think it’s a cracking bit of kit and the majority of people slating it are just miserable or drive crappy crossovers. as mentioned it’s a cutting edge engine which really is a work of art! Yes it’s a farty dsg, but the argument of being boring is complete nonsense. Anyone that’s a ‘petrolhead’ will have to love the launch capability and acceleration. It will make you grin and feel giddy. Then pile it into a corner with immense grip and slingshot out gathering scary pace. What’s boring about that?

[Slippydiff]

Venisonpie said:

On the one hand it will leave that Cayman GTS for dead, on the other it's a bit on the garish side..

On the other hand, I think you may be missing the point of buying a Cayman GTS 4.0 over a Turbo-nutter, 4wd hatchback ...

[eddharris]

Exactly. I think it can be many things but most definitely not boring with that level of performance, regardless of delivery. Certainly more exciting than a 2CV as was called out by Carlos Sainz.

[MickyveloceClassic]

Old school AMG thrills for me every time!

[Onehp]

BrewsterBear said:

I've been looking for a do-it-all car for a while. I nearly went with an M2 Competition, but the boot was too small and given the only other car I have is a very old 911 I couldn't justify it. I'd seen the early reviews of the new A45 and CLA45 and decided I wanted the CLA Shooting Brake. I'd been in touch with my local dealer and eventually in November they called to say it was available to order. I went for one in pretty much this spec;



.

I really like that. Did something similar in the past, had an M2 on order but was on the edge of being too cramped with a baby coming and waiting time was awful, so went for a Cupra ST looking very similar to the above spec, which I ended up modding quite some. Done again today I would be really tempted for the above, modding isn't something I like to do, it's only when I can't find what I like and this one is already factory (fine)tuned so to speak..

[jdmave]

I appreciate everyone's views and would be boring if we all agreed however always make me chuckle when some of the talk is around how a car drives etc.............and yet they've never driven one.....

[jdmave]

Arsecati said:

Baldchap said:

Very good point mentioning the Mégane... Wonder if this AMG can beat it round a track?

Now THAT is a track test I would love to see: c'mon PH - make it happen!

Happy to bring mine along if PH want to put together with a Megane

[redroadster]

Similar performance to fq400 from years ago without the lag and shirt service intervals ,an everyday day rocket it's actually reasonable price for it's all round use .

[uncleluck]

Is it me or is the steering wheel staggered to the left of the drivers centre (seat)

[NGK210]

Great car that ticks so many boxes for so many reasons. Love it! Until I noticed all the very lovely 2-year- / 18-month-old RS4s for sale at c. £50k.

[Glenn63]

BrewsterBear said:

I've been looking for a do-it-all car for a while. I nearly went with an M2 Competition, but the boot was too small and given the only other car I have is a very old 911 I couldn't justify it. I'd seen the early reviews of the new A45 and CLA45 and decided I wanted the CLA Shooting Brake. I'd been in touch with my local dealer and eventually in November they called to say it was available to order. I went for one in pretty much this spec;



£55k is a lot of money for a 4 cylinder stretched hatchback in anyone's book, but it is so capable and versatile it made a compelling case. All the reviews sing its praises. The clever 4WD system means it can be driven however you like including in hooligan RWD drift mode. It does 60mph in 4 seconds.

Yes you have to look past its shortcomings, but there will come a time we all have to accept that hairy-chested N/A V8s are going the way of the dodo. It arrives in April and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Perfect daily for me and lovely spec there. Fast, get my dogs in, still relatively small for an estate what more could you need! This and a caterham in the garage would be job jobbed for me.

[Panjy]

I like it, a hell of a lot of performance from a four cylinder hot hatch.

However, the price and weight are both far too high for me for the type of car it is.

To put the weight in some form of context, this car weighs more than both the BMW M4 and Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio, cars with more powerful six cylinder engines and of the next segment up.

[Olivera]

Panjy said:

To put the weight in some form of context, this car weighs more than both the BMW M4 and Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio, cars with more powerful six cylinder engines and of the next segment up.

I suspect your not comparing like-for-like weights. I.e. EU vs unladen etc. This is not a lightweight but it will be less than those two cars.

Evo magazine actually put an M4 and Gulia Quadrifoglio on a weighbridge, the M4 was IIRC about 1670kg, the Gulia a bit more.

[uncleluck]

Panjy said:

I like it, a hell of a lot of performance from a four cylinder hot hatch.

However, the price and weight are both far too high for me for the type of car it is.

To put the weight in some form of context, this car weighs more than both the BMW M4 and Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio, cars with more powerful six cylinder engines and of the next segment up.

It is a bit of a lump!

I was thinking of getting an sti hatch until I read they’re nearly 500kg heavier than my classic. When you take that into consideration it kills the idea especially and would equate to my classic being 50-60bhp down on power now which would be terrible. Then you think mod it more but you’re talking whole different levels (bigger turbos etc)

[Wills2]

Olivera said:

Panjy said:

To put the weight in some form of context, this car weighs more than both the BMW M4 and Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio, cars with more powerful six cylinder engines and of the next segment up.

I suspect your not comparing like-for-like weights. I.e. EU vs unladen etc. This is not a lightweight but it will be less than those two cars.

Evo magazine actually put an M4 and Gulia Quadrifoglio on a weighbridge, the M4 was IIRC about 1670kg, the Gulia a bit more.

What makes you think the Merc would be any different in terms of weighing more than the quoted 1635kg?

[Onehp]

Wills2 said:

Olivera said:

Panjy said:

To put the weight in some form of context, this car weighs more than both the BMW M4 and Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio, cars with more powerful six cylinder engines and of the next segment up.

I suspect your not comparing like-for-like weights. I.e. EU vs unladen etc. This is not a lightweight but it will be less than those two cars.

Evo magazine actually put an M4 and Gulia Quadrifoglio on a weighbridge, the M4 was IIRC about 1670kg, the Gulia a bit more.

What makes you think the Merc would be any different in terms of weighing more than the quoted 1635kg?

The 1635kg is incl 75kg driver, that said german mags weighed the hatch, with options obviously, at 1645kg fuelled without driver. Likewise, the Giulia QV auto weighed in at 1734kg and an M4 comp dkg is around 1650kg irl no driver, full tank. So the hyperhatch is the lightest and does sport awd instead of rwd... And two cylinders and a booty less.

Edited by Onehp on Wednesday 19th February 21:54

[Pommy]

Honeywell said:

Jonno02 said:

It’s just the blokeish fallacy of more benign better

my GT86 with a sports exhaust and mild remap

Oh the irony...

More revs and eliminating the emissions torque dip were the primary aims. I have a wafty V8 in the garage and a BMW535d (also remapped) for thrust competitions. For a thrash through Wales for fun a GT86 (lower centre of gravity than a Cayman don't you know) is by far the best choice.

These overboosted crazy power massive grip auto box hatches just leave me baffled as to where the driving fun is?

A GT86 is by far the best choice for a country road blast?

I would say a Ferrari F40 would be the best choice but its overboosted, crazy power and massive grip might just rule it out, or is this a selective argument?