Although it is certainly more powerful, is it really better?
After taking some time to get used to the new Mercedes AMG A45 hot hatchback, there is no doubt that it’s an excellent vehicle. It’s expensive at PS50,000 (60,808) so that makes it a bit more expensive. Is the A45’s previous generation still affordable enough to be a good buy? We are not going to get the hatchback here in America. However, the carwow team over the pond found a used A45 to give us a true comparison of the old and the new. It’s sort of.
Let’s start with the disclaimer. This feature compares a Mercedes-AMG A45 with a Mercedes-AMG A45S, although it isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. A standard A45 would make a better match but the S-trimmed version is the only one that’s available for UK buyers. The compact sedan version will be available to US buyers. Mercedes may one day stop being selective and open its models to all markets. But that is a topic for another day.
Here’s the information you need. Comparable in terms of power, the third-gen A45 produces 376 horsepower (280kilowatts), thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A seven-speed DCT transmits power to all four wheels, while a large set of disc brakes puts all that power to sleep. The A45 S has the same 2.0-liter turbo engine and all-wheel drive as the A45 S, but it produces 416 horsepower (310 kW) more and has greater peak torque. The new A45 S features an additional cog in the eight-speed DCT. While the brakes are identical, the A45 S’s six-piston calipers are larger.
Although it is comparable, it is enough to give A45 S an obvious performance advantage. It’s almost a full second faster to 60 mph according to carwow’s testing equipment and pulls up even quicker. The numbers aside, the new car’s powerband is better and not quite as peaky. However, we have to admit that the old car had a much more energetic soundtrack.
Is it enough to make the decision to replace your old A45 with a newer model? Watch carwow’s video to see what he thinks about this and other differences.