By: Damian Adams
What we see here is the beginning of something new at Mercedes-AMG, the brand that has for a little while now offered less hardcore 43 and 53 AMG models for its larger vehicles. Things, however, have taken anther step in the same direction for its smallest cars with the 35 AMG moniker available on this the A-Class hatchback, the CLA and the A-Class sedan. The goal of the Mercedes-AMG A35 is to fill the massive gap between the front-drive only 165 kW A250 AMG-Line and full on A45 which just so happens to be the most powerful four-cylinder production car ever made with a whopping 310 kW sent to all four wheels.
The A250 is not a ‘real’ AMG, it just sports some AMG badges and accents as a C-Class with an AMG-Line package would. The A35 on the other hand is billed the entry-level to the real AMG brand and as with anything from Affalterbach it ought to have the performance to back it up and the A35 most certainly does. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, it’s a modified version of the same engine in the A250 and here it produces a meaty 225 kW and 400 Nm. All this grunt is sent to to all-four wheels via seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This drivetrain puts the A35 in direct competition with the likes of the Audi S3, Golf R BMW and M135i.
The uprated engine is teamed with larger brakes and significant suspension upgrades that include new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars for better torsional rigidity. All these upgrades allow the A35 to put all of its power down in a controlled manner and as a result it accelerates hard and offers high levels of grip, making it easy to drive quickly.
The dash from 0-100 km/h is over in just 4.7 seconds and despite peak torque only coming in at 3 000 rpm the A35 feels responsive and pulls strongly at low revs. Mash the throttle and there is a hint of lag and once above 4 000 rpm the engine gets a second wind, pinning occupants to their seats. The AMG performance exhaust growls and snaps pleasantly in Sport + mode and you can quieten proceedings by selecting comfort mode.
On the road the A35 is not your typical AMG thug, it’s not a frightening car to drive quickly, in fact it’s the opposite. It’s highly composed, offering oodles of usable traction. Like the Volkswagen Golf R is one of the fastest real world cars, the A35 benefits from a very similar recipe. Come rain or shine this is one grippy and precise hot hatch and offers a neutral chassis balance. It’ll understeer on the limit but for the most part you can sense both the front and rear engaging the tar equally.
If you enjoy going quickly in a controlled and precise manner the A35 is fantastic. It’s stylish, has a class leading interior and is effortlessly stealthy. The steering is accurate, the suspension is tuned toward travelling at speed in comfort and the engine is as powerful as any of its rivals. It’s not a car for someone who enjoys driver engagement but as a fast daily drive with some serious performance the A35 makes a load of sense when compared to its significantly more expensive A45 sibling.
In a Nutshell: Mercedes-AMG A35
Highs
Suspension tuned for control and high-speed comfort
Lows
A generic driving experience with a dose of understeer
ENGINE
1 991 cc, four-cylinder turbo petrol
POWER
225 kW @ 5 800 rpm, 400 Nm @ 3 000-4 000 rpm
PERFORMANCE
0-100 in 4.7 sec (claimed)
TOP SPEED
250 km/h
TYRES
235/40/R18 Pirelli P Zero
LUGGAGE SPACE
370 L
ECONOMY
7.4 L/100 km (claimed), 9.6 L/100 km (tested)
TRANSMISSION
7-speed auto, all-wheel drive
CO2 EMISSIONS
169 g/km
PRICE (FROM)
R883 000
