So after 14,000 miles, one service, a minor
gearbox issue, a puncture, numerous comparison tests and 10 solid months
together, do I miss the A45 AMG now that it has gone to someone else in the
office? As someone once asked, do bears do their business in the woods?
When it arrived, the A45 came fresh from a
group test against the then-new VW Golf GTI and BMW’s excellent M135i. It was a
test the A45 blitzed due its combination of all-wheel drive composure and
monster straight-line performance. I also happened to think that it looked
great, inside and out, and drove if not beautifully then at the very least with
the ruthless precision of a marksman picking off targets from afar.
The
Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is a visual standout from every angle, inside and out
Not everyone took so keenly to the A45,
however. There were those on the magazine who rightly pointed out that the
$63,520 price was eye-wateringly high for what is still a four-cylinder hot
hatch. And they were right. Others said they didn’t like the electric power
steering very much and found its handling and throttle response a touch benign,
while its ride was too firm on anything other than glass-smooth roads.
But driving the A45 AMG and getting the best
out of it requires an open mind. More than that, it is absolutely requires that
you press the right buttons and put it in the right mode for the right road.
Otherwise, it can feel curiously aloof.
The
black dials with carbonfibre-effect inserts are one of the A45's distinguishing
features
Thus, my routine on climbing aboard goes
like this: get in, noting how supportive the seats are as I snuggle into them,
stick key into slot, turn, press the Sport button down by the gear selector
(because in default Eco mode the A45 feels like it would struggle to pull the
skin off a rice pudding, which is where its detractors were coming unstuck, I
think) and drive away.
On lumpy town roads the suspension feels
quite fruity, but I got used to it. Then the moment I reached a half-decent
country road I would press the Sport button on the dash to engage ‘Sport
Handling’ mode. Again this transforms the A45’s responses, turning it from
regular-feeling hot hatch into something far more incisive.
It
feels quite tight around your shoulders and head, but there's room enough once
you're on board
About halfway through its time with us, the
A45 went back to Mercedes for a range of upgrades, all of which I’d highly
recommend if you can afford them. The sports exhaust now sounds fantastic,
especially on overrun, while I even came round to liking the various aero pack
upgrades as well. And the 19in wheels, visually if not dynamically, are a must.
Admittedly, this lot did add $2,475 to the price, taking the total as tested to
$72,985, which is probably too much to spend on a Mercedes A-class.
Even so, I miss it like heck. I really
liked the way it looked and, despite the stiff ride, loud exhaust, unresponsive
throttle in Eco mode and small boot, I really liked owning and driving it. But
now it’s time for someone else in the office to enjoy its charms — and its
foibles. And that person will eventually think themselves very lucky indeed.
