Monstrous power now comes with true Mercedes-AMG handling in a mightily capable but monumentally expensive package

The hot hatch market is insane at the moment, with humble family hatchbacks now boasting engine outputs that put a number of modern Ferraris to shame. None can compete with the Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+ in that respect, though, as Mercedes’ revered tuning arm has managed to extract more from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine than anyone else. In fact, trying to compare the A45 S with the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf R and Renault’s Megane RS is futile, because this rocket ship will blow them all out of the water in a drag race, while its £50,570 price tag puts it in the same league as Porsche’s latest 718 Cayman and Audi’s 400hp TTRS and RS3 - or even a BMW M2 Competition if you are after raw driving thrills.

But for those looking for the absolute pinnacle in hot hatch bragging rights, you have come to the right place, but the latest iteration of this mightily capable machine is now arguably more involving than ever and packs interior technology that is more typically found on Mercedes' flagship saloons. In short, the AMG A45 S is currently in a league of its own.

Based on the current generation A-Class, this fiery version naturally features a bunch of racy touches over and above its more sedate siblings, although customers have a lot of control over how their vehicles end up looking. All cars receive an AMG-specific radiator grille, slimmer headlights and a domed bonnet that appears suspiciously like those found on certain BMW M models. Wider wheel arches, a lower stance and flared front wings also come as standard.

However, the vehicle tested here proved a great example of slightly odd spec. The eye-popping yellow paint job appeared at odds with the lack of boot lip spoiler and aerodynamics package offered in the range-topping (and mouth-garbling) A45 S 4MATIC+ Plus model. With that sort of performance on tap, it feels weird to have chintzy chrome door handles and a slightly understated look, but perhaps that’s how some folk like it.

Personally, I feel that if you’re going to drive a bright yellow hatchback that develops over 400bhp, it feels right to spend a little more and shout about it. With that said, the car manages to make a visual impact no matter the specification and it is clear to all who lay eyes upon it that it has been fettled by AMG.

The latest generation of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system is one of the best yet, incorporating multiple screens that offer pin-sharp graphics and an extremely responsive human/machine interface. But with increasing levels of technology comes a massive amount of distraction.

There are just so many layers of menus and settings to contend with here that it takes a good half an hour to familiarise oneself when sat idling in the car park before the initial test drive. AMG-specific displays, such as a drag race timer and advanced race circuit data screen, makes things even more complex. Although the latter is well worth checking out if you’re a bit of a tech fan or a regular at local track days.

The software features specific track data for a number of famous circuits, such as the Nürburgring and Spa Francorchamps, while clever onboard tech constantly monitors more than 80 sets of vehicle-specific data for the closest experience to a full F1 pit team as you can get. 

On top of this, drivers have full control over the way the vehicle responds and handles thanks to a number of selectable driving modes, but again, there are just so many. Slippery, Normal, /Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Race, to name but a few. As a result, the steering wheel looks like something from the pinnacle of professional motor racing, too, with myriad buttons, dials and selector switches presented to the driver. Customers can’t complain that they aren’t getting enough buttons for their buck.

The rest of the interior is of typical Mercedes standard, with beautifully finished aluminium air vents, leather finishing to most surfaces and plenty of brushed metal highlights that give off more than a whiff of premium. But for me, there’s just too much going on in here, with the smattering of buttons and switches making it look more like a modern aircraft than a performance car. Fans of stripped-out racers will have an aneurism trying to figure this lot out. 

But above all else, the A45 S still manages to do the hot hatch stuff really well, with plenty of room in the rear to comfortably transport adults and a decent-sized boot for shopping and luggage. Aside from the gadgets, it’s an easy machine to live with every day.

In addition to the sharpened exterior styling, the driving experience is the main thing that really set the latest AMG A45 S apart from its predecessor. Yes, former AMG incarnations of the A-Class have been monstrously powerful but that is where the talent has previously run out. Not so here.

A thoroughly revised chassis, a new eight-speed dual clutch transmission and clever torque vectoring technology at all four wheels makes this latest version feel more agile, responsive and keen to corner than ever before. Stick it in Sport+ or Race mode and the Mercedes-AMG A45 S grips through turns like a car possessed. The traction control allows drivers to get back on the throttle ludicrously early, with power neatly distributed to whichever rear wheel needs it most. It feels eager to rotate but rarely scarily so. Of course, it wouldn’t be an AMG product if you couldn’t turn everything off and blaze through tyres, which is why the engineers have thrown in a Drift Mode for such hooligan antics. 

But on the road, it can be as sedate as you like, with a Comfort setting ensuring the vehicle makes a pretty convincing, fairly economical high-mileage cruiser. It manages to crest over larger bumps and broken surfaces without too much fuss, while Mercedes’ excellent sound-proofing ensures it is quiet and comfortable.

The £50+k price tag ensure drivers are also treated to a top of the range Burmester surround sound system for complete isolation from the outside world. But then the clever AMG exhaust tech means the engine sounds great when you do fancy a spot of sporty antics. Yes, there is some artificial noise pumped into the cabin but it is executed well and still sounds good from the outside when cycling through the manual, paddle-shift activated gears or cheekily letting off the throttle for a few pops and bangs.

The price tag might feel like silly money to hand over for a sporty family hatchback but there are very few cars that offer such an enticing mix of performance, driving thrills and everyday practicality like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. One minute, it is happy taking the family to the shops, the next it can be devouring a race circuit.

That said, there are rivals the offer a more engaging, all-out driving experience, but none of them can compete in the practicality stakes. This is the true essence of a hot hatch in so much that it does the everyday mundane stuff really well but here, it is presented it in a typically Mercedes primo package.

Ludicrously quick and immensely fun to drive every day, the A45 S sits a the very top of the current hot hatch league. Just make sure you spec the Plus kit so fellow motorists know about it.

Model tested: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+

Price: £50,570

Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

Transmission: 8-speed dual clutch transmission

Power / Torque: 415bhp / 368lb-ft

0-62mph: 3.9 seconds

Top speed: 168mph

MPG: 32.5mpg

CO2: 192g/km

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