A-Class (W176) [Official] Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
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The W176 model was introduced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show officially as a subcompact executive / C-segment model for the first time after being a supermini / B-segment for fifteen years.
Autohullut.fi had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in October with the 2013/2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. The 2013/2014 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45 is one of our most favorite cars at the moment and it was great to get behind the wheel of another car equipped with the same world's most powerful two liter four-cylinder engine.
Our testcar was colored Jupiter Red. The A45 is typically-styled for AMG cars, aggressive and low-key at the same time. The appearance of the A45 differs only slightly from the standard A-class AMG sport package.
The car is streamlined with a muscular grille and contoured rear bumper, which hint at it's performance potential. When starting the car, there is no doubt left that this is something special. At the initial start of our test car's engine the effect of the sport exhaust system is instantly visible: everywhere you go heads turn. The red brake calipers, 18-inch AMG wheels, and the AMG Turbo badges hint at what lays under the hood. If the car isn't sporty enough as it is, it is possible to add a big rear wing as an optional extra.
The engine, transmission , and performance:
The engine, transmission and sports exhaust system are the AMG's strengths. When you listen to the music from the exhaust, nothing else matters. Our test car's AMG Performance exhaust system was insane. When releasing your foot off the accelerator, the exhaust releases a snap, crackle and pop cacophony which causes even Ferrari owners to turn their heads at the lights. We like the AMG V8 engine sound more, but it is amazing what has been achieved with such a small engine. The 2-liter engine with its turbocharger delivers a whopping 360 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. Our test car had winter tires, so from that perspective the acceleration time we achieved, 4.8s 0-100 km/h, is below what this car can achieve in optimum conditions. We feel confident that with summer tires a 4.5s run is achievable.
This car does not seem to run out of power in any situation. Power output is constant and the turbo is relatively lag-free. The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox supplements the engine perfectly and in this Mercedes we liked the feel of the manual paddles also. Even with the paddles gear changes were immediate and the right gear came easily upon request. Gear ratios are short so it is easy to run into the rev limiter if one is not vigilant. When the AWD A 45 AMG is in front of you on small B-roads, you will have a hard time following it whatever you are driving. It is that poised and quick.
Driveability, practicality and interior:
The A 45 AMG is a great drive and its interior exudes modern sportiness. The LCD instrument cluster is stylish and our test vehicle's carbon fiber dashboard pleased the eye. The leather steering wheel gives a good grip and we preferred it to the E 63 AMG S's wheel, which consists of a variety of materials. On B-roads this car is in its element. The 50/50-split all wheel drive provides the necessary grip in corners also with electronic assistants off and the frisky engine provides the necessary power when accelerating out of the bends.
On the other hand, the A45 AMG class feels one class bigger and is very stable even at high speeds on the motorway. The leather sports seats are solid and comfortable even on longer journeys providing also excellent lateral grip. The red seat belts and seat stitching complement the sporty, but stylish interior. A good driving position is easily obtainable and we recommend the sport seats also in regular A-class models. There is ample room for a family of up to five. Rear facing child seats fit easily on the back seats, leaving still room for an adult to sit in the front. It is more spacious than one would expect judging from the outside. The CLA's bigger trunk makes it more usable for a bigger family than the A-class (341 vs 470 liters). Our car had the optional rear-view camera and the active parking assist. The rear-view camera is not as important in the A-series as it is in the CLA, because overall visibility is clearly better, but the parking assist function will save nerves and rim edges when parking in tight spaces.
There are a few things worth mentioning in the A 45 AMG, that hinder its everyday usability. First of all, the car is very low. The car scraped the ground on a bumpy sand road which has seen a large variety of sports cars over the years without this happening, so its ground clearance might be an issue in parking garages. We didn't have time to test this. The suspension is stiff for daily use, but on the other hand it is less firm than we expected after reading other reviews on the car. The faster you drive , the more you will appreciate how well balanced and agile this car is. The rear hatch is also very heavy to close. It opens easily, but for a lightweight woman it is hard to close. The standard A-series head restraints also protrude far giving us neck problems after long drives. The A 45 AMG does not have this problem because the sport seats have a fixed head restraint. Smartphones do not fit in any of the car's storage compartments, except for the center arm rest hatch. The owner's manual does not fit in the glove box, and therefore occupies the driver's door locker. There could use more storage space. The temperature of the A/C can only be adjusted by just one degree at a time and from time to time the appropriate cab temperature is hard to obtain. A half-degree scale would be more practical. We liked the optional Harman Kardon audio system's sound quality, but at this time we must admit that the exhaust noise interested us far more than any car stereo. We would have welcomed optional extras such as keyless-go and air suspension, but such buyers would probably prefer the E-Class AMG anyway.
The A45 AMG is an awesome package. It is a pocket rocket which is, however, at the same time very quiet and stable on the motorway. Comfort mode smooths the car's sounds, steering and gearshifts appropriately. Consumption drops in C-mode to around 8 liters per 100 km. We have to confess at this stage that our test car stayed diligently in the S-and M- modes for the most part and thus our average consumption of 11.6 l/100 km may be overestimated. We prefer the CLA 45 AMG to the A-Series AMG because of it's larger 470-liter trunk and its design is unprecedented in this class. On the other hand with the exception of the sport exhaust system, the A45 AMG is a very stealthy vehicle and some might prefer this.
The car's only real negative point is the price in Finland, because of our unique tax system. The price starts from 67.982,29 euros and our well-equipped test car was a whopping 81.625,43 euros. The CLA is about 10.000 euros more. On the other hand, cars with corresponding performance cost well over 100.000 euros. The A 45 AMG gives its occupant the same tickle that the Lancia Delta HF Integrale gave its owners in the 1980s. AMG has done it in it's own stylish way. The car is a hooligan, thanks for making it Mercedes-Benz!
Test results (winter tires) :
0-100 km / h (Race start, 3/4 full tank and driver) : 4.8s
0-100 km / h ( 3/4 full tank , two passengers no LC) : 5.2s
Test consumption: 11.6 l/100 km
http://autohullut.fi/etusivu/autohullut-fi-testaa-2013-mercedes-benz-a45-amg/
That is one cool video the A45 can be a rally car for sure!
blistering little monster! I saw one today at Merc dealer and it looks fantastic, much better than M135i and Golf GTI in looks department and interior as well
Wolfgang
Kraftwagen König
A45 and CLA45 from Brabus: 400 hp and 500 Nm
As of February 2014 Brabus offers the performance kit "BRABUS PowerXtra" for the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG - which then offer 400 hp and 500 Nm instead of the standard 360 hp and 450 Nm and come with TÜV certificate.
The Brabus PowerXtra upgrades for the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG (W176) and CLA45 AMG (C117) will become available in the 5th calendar week of 2014, and a corresponding TÜV certificate is already available according to the supplier. The BRABUS PowerXtra CGI consists of an additional controller for the engine electronics of the A45 AMG or CLA45 AMG. The control unit comes with a plug and play wiring harness that allows the BRABUS PowerXtra control to be connected to the original engine electronics. The kit can be shipped and is a very easy to assemble Plug & Play system. On request Brabus can increase Vmax to 270 km/h, if that's not already installed. For this, however, the engine controller has to be delivered to them. Pricing of the Brabus kit is currently not yet available.
http:///2014/01/a45-und-cla45-von-brabus-400-ps-und-500nm/
joyjas77
Diesel Dynamiker
Well for all those 45 owners I've got a question. I've got an A250 that I've had for 5 months. Loving it, but the heart is longing for what it doesn't have. Locally there are no 45's to test drive so questions are as follows.
I'm not overly overweight but am on the bigger side. How comfortable are the seats for those a little on the larger size? I find the seats in the 250 comfortable enough I could drive all day, but not sure how adjustable or comfortable the recaro style racing seats are in the 45.
The other thing is that while my dealer is giving me what I consider to be a good deal AU$27k changeover, I'm still losing about $7k for 5 months of driving. When I asked my dealer whether there is a sweet spot time to trade up he told me that if I trade now it is good, but as in a few months the GLA will be launched there will be more choice for customers. This did tend to make sense to me.
While I drive pretty responsibly and probably baby my 250, I just love every now and again being able to give the accelerator a squirt and feel the car respond. I like the idea of having a car that accelerates faster than MOST cars on the road. But I'm not interested in racing people either. I also like the sound of the 45, the 250 doesn't quite sound as mean.
The other thing I like about the 45 is the ILS which I would have loved to have had it been an option when I purchased the A250.
I do plan on keeping the car for 10-15 years so the longer I leave it to changeover the more it is going to cost me if I do upgrade in the future.
Well what are your thoughts, should I go for it? Or am I just being a bit immature and should be happy with what I've got?
I'm not overly overweight but am on the bigger side. How comfortable are the seats for those a little on the larger size? I find the seats in the 250 comfortable enough I could drive all day, but not sure how adjustable or comfortable the recaro style racing seats are in the 45.
The other thing is that while my dealer is giving me what I consider to be a good deal AU$27k changeover, I'm still losing about $7k for 5 months of driving. When I asked my dealer whether there is a sweet spot time to trade up he told me that if I trade now it is good, but as in a few months the GLA will be launched there will be more choice for customers. This did tend to make sense to me.
While I drive pretty responsibly and probably baby my 250, I just love every now and again being able to give the accelerator a squirt and feel the car respond. I like the idea of having a car that accelerates faster than MOST cars on the road. But I'm not interested in racing people either. I also like the sound of the 45, the 250 doesn't quite sound as mean.
The other thing I like about the 45 is the ILS which I would have loved to have had it been an option when I purchased the A250.
I do plan on keeping the car for 10-15 years so the longer I leave it to changeover the more it is going to cost me if I do upgrade in the future.
Well what are your thoughts, should I go for it? Or am I just being a bit immature and should be happy with what I've got?
kaktusdigital
Turbo Tüftler
If I were in the financial position and didn't have any other responsibilities such as family or what not I'd go for it. The heart wants what the heart wants, having said that though - there's always going to be something better and when the NEW A-Class arrives in say 10 years, its going to be the same mental struggle.
I agree on all points on why you want the A45 and really, its a bloody desirable little pocket rocket. For me it would be very difficult to justify simply based on the fact I drive to work every day in 'ok' traffic. Little squirts here and there give me enough joy, come the weekend drive - ok I could do with more power. But where does it end? For me, the A250 was already quite a financial stretch so im very happy with what I've got.
Last time I didn't get what I really wanted, I really regretted it. Only you can decide.. good luck mate.
KiwiRob
Autotechnik Ace
It's not that marvelous, it's just the Germans catching up with the Japanese a couple of decades after the arrival of the EVO and WRZ.
gun16
Tarmac Traveler
Having owned a "WRZ" (LOL sorry I had to...) and remembering how cheap it felt inside and how average the build quality is I don't know that they are that comparable at all.
Have you driven one out of interest? Just your statement feels a little generalised, you could be missing out on something pretty special
Having owned a "WRZ" (LOL sorry I had to...) and remembering how cheap it felt inside and how average the build quality is I don't know that they are that comparable at all.
Have you driven one out of interest? Just your statement feels a little generalised, you could be missing out on something pretty special
I looked at buying both an EVO and Impera about 3 times over the years and it was their cheap interior quality and general finish which stopped me but I do agree with KiwiRob that for a very long time these brands had the jump on the Germans. But what the Germans have done is bring the cross country speed of these Ricers with their undoubtedly superior fit and finish.
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