Back in 2013, Mercedes-AMG's first foray into four cylinders and hot hatches couldn't be announced modestly. The A45 was just too significant to make anything less than a big entrance, with 180hp per litre and an entirely new remit for an Affalterbach flagship. So the exhaust made very silly noises, buyers were offered big, shiny wheels alongside attention grabbing aerokits and the template for an AMG hot hatch was set. The fact that the current car is available in yellow and comes with a drift mode is surely no accident; by their nature, hot hatches are a bit lairy, and buyers typically want a spec that reflects that attitude.
Only thing is, the first A45 AMG wasn't that lairy at all, with a drive that focused on incredible speed from here to there. Elements of the experience were quite engaging - the steering and brakes in particular were very nice - but the car was ruthlessly fast as opposed to unforgettably interactive. If not exactly a sombre experience, then it was certainly more muted than the average A45 spec might have you believe.
For an A45 AMG configuration that more accurately mirrors the no nonsense, strait-laced manner of the drive, this might be the best one out there. It's riding on the standard 18-inch wheel, the badges have been taken off and the glass is clear - to all intents and purposes it's just another W176 A-Class, probably an A200 to most. But nothing short of a GT-R is going to be quicker down a road, thanks to 360hp, all-wheel drive and a dual-clutch gearbox.
This quite ordinary looking A45 may not be in keeping with the traditional hot hatch aesthetic, but it plays well to the AMG heritage of concealing potential to all but the keenest eyes. Nobody is going to expect this A-Class to be as fast as it is, which is cool. To be fair, the A45 always had sufficient performance to back up what the bodykits and big wheels were implying, but it's always much more impressive to deliver that with no expectation.
This A45 will be even faster than most, too, as one of the 2016-on facelift cars that boosted output to 381hp. That meant a 0-62mph time of just 4.2 seconds, if required, thanks to shorter gearing than the 2013 original. It isn't clear in the advert for this one - which has covered 52,000 miles with three owners - has the Dynamic Plus Pack, which brought a front limited-slip diff and adaptive dampers. That's worth seeking out if possible but, in hot hatch tradition, might be hard to find - what's the point in an expensive option that nobody can see?
Nevertheless, the combination of this car's mighty performance with unassuming looks make it awfully appealing to those of us less keen on shouting about potential. This A45 is for sale at £25,995, actually making it one of the cheapest facelifted cars out there - probably thanks to the mileage. Clearly those owners found a lot to like about driving a small AMG with huge performance, and it isn't awfully hard to see where they're coming from.
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES-AMG A45 FACELIFT
Engine: 1,991cc, 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 381@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@2,250rpm
MPG: 40.9 (claimed)
CO2: 171g/km
Year registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 52,373
Price new: £40,695 (before options)
Price now: £25,995
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