Used Mercedes AMG A45 2019-present review

Less is more with the Mercedes AMG A45. Its engine has just four cylinders, yet it produces more power than a Ferrari 360's eight-cylinder unit. In fact, as of its arrival, the A45 possessed the single most powerful four-cylinder engine in production.

You want the number, right? It's 415bhp and, sat aside other hot hatches, only the Audi RS3 comes close to matching it. The clever people at Mercedes pulled out all the stops to make it happen, from some hefty turbocharging to fancy fuel injection.

Pair that amount of muscle with a capable four-wheel-drive system and a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox and the result is 0-62mph in 3.9sec. Even the Porsche 911 Carrera isn't that quick.

Astonishing stuff, as we've hopefully conveyed, but straight-line speed isn't all you're offered here, because the A45 entertains in the bends. The steering isn't hyper-quick, but it gives you a good, confidence-inspiring sense of connection with the front wheels – more so than you get in the RS3. Body lean is minimal, helping it corner with great ferocity.

Despite being four-wheel drive, the rear wheels always seem happy to receive plenty of power to prevent the nose running wide through corners. There is a Drift mode, although it doesn’t make the car fully rear-wheel drive – which the equivalent setting in the larger Mercedes-AMG E63 does.

Overall, you have a superbly sharp, precise driving experience here that, while not quite as engaging as some more traditional hot hatches like the Honda Civic Type R, is incredibly thrilling.

Ride comfort has taken a hit in turning the Mercedes A-Class family car into this performance-focused machine, but (if you have the AMG S Plus with its adaptive suspension) Comfort mode shouldn't leave you tired and uncomfortable – the standard suspension creates a rougher ride albeit one that's not unbearable. The Sport + and Race adaptive suspension settings stiffen things up a bit too much for all but the smoothest of roads, but you can opt to apply these most extreme modes to the engine and exhaust without affecting the ride.

Inside, there are plenty of AMG touches to let you know you bought the fast A-Class, including heated, figure-hugging front seats and flat-bottom steering wheel. Some cars get smaller screens, but you'll find most examples have a 10.3in digital driver display and an adjoining 10.3in infotainment touchscreen. Both have sharp graphics and the ‘virtual’ instruments are highly configurable yet easy to read.

The A45 is just as practical as any other A-Class. That means plenty of space up front for a couple of 6ft-plus adults as well as decent oddment storage. A couple of tall mates will fit in the back, but can expect to find their knees fairly close to the front seat backs and their heads near the roof.

There’s nothing spectacular about the boot, although it’s quite a bit bigger than the RS3's and capacious enough for a big weekly shop or a week away for two. In our tests, we managed to slot six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, compared with only four in the RS3.

If you're interested in finding a used Mercedes AMG A45 or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

There's the A45 S and A45 S Plus to choose from, with the latter variant being more common but more expensive.

The standard S goes for £36,000 and that'll likely be a 2020 car with around 35,000 miles on its clock. This price rises to around £40,000 for a 2021 model.

The Plus demands at least £41,000 and that'll likely be a 2020 or 2021 model with the mileage previously mentioned.

After 2022, you only have the Plus and these cars go for upwards of £50,000, rising to around £55,000 for nearly new 2023 models.

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MPG

The Mercedes AMG A45's official 31mpg fuel economy figure isn’t bad for a car this quick. Plus, in our real-world tests it still averaged a respectable 28.5mpg.

Road tax

Like all petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017, road tax will be £180 per year. For years two to five of the car's life, you'll also be paying £390 in luxury car tax, because its original price exceeded £40,000.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from 40 to 41 and that's not horrendous for a car of its pace. Similarly quick rivals are often found in groups closer to the maximum 50. All new A-Classes will get an unlimited mileage and three years’ free servicing plan, while a flexible servicing plan called ServiceCare allows buyers to spread the cost of servicing across a series of payments, or simply make a one-off payment, although it's worth noting that Audi offers a similar plan for a lot less money.

The main reason to get the A45 S Plus is its adaptive suspension, letting you relax or sharpen the ride at will. It's a great feature, but you'll need an extra £5000 (at least) to get it. If you have the money to spend, go for it, but we'd say stick with the regular A45 S if you're on the fence.

Our favourite Mercedes AMG A45: S

The Audi RS3 is the A45's closest rival. It's unique in that it houses a five-cylinder engine under its bonnet (and one with 394bhp, we should add). It's easier to live with, thanks to its more compliant ride, but it isn't quite as thrilling to drive as the A45 and you'll need at least £50,000 to pick up a used one of its current generation.

If you can live with four seats and no rear doors, the previous-gen BMW M2 is a great choice. Being rear-wheel drive, it's more engaging to drive than the A45, although it isn't as quick (by a small margin). You'll need around £33,000 to pick up the recommended Competition version.

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If you're interested in finding a used Mercedes AMG A45 or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.