The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A 35 is the most cost effective new automobile you should buy from Mercedes’ AMG division. Most cost-effective doesn’t imply low cost; it begins at $46,900. That value nets you one zesty small sedan that doesn’t really feel like a faux or lesser-than AMG product. The 35 sequence of AMGs are shortly rising in quantity — they began with the CLA 35 final yr and have since expanded to its mechanically associated GLA 35 and GLB 35 crossover cousins.
Mercedes-AMG launched the A 35 for the 2020 mannequin yr, however we by no means bought round to driving it. Seems, a lot of our assessment of the 2020 CLA 35 (which we did drive) may very well be copied-and-pasted verbatim for the A 35. The 2 share a ton, which isn’t any shock given they’re two similarly-sized four-door sedans on the identical front-drive-based compact automobile structure with the identical powertrains.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder shoves 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque by a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized gearbox. It’s not the hand-built firecracker beneath the hood of the CLA 45 that’s able to 382 horsepower, however 302 remains to be a decent determine. Additionally observe: there is no such thing as a higher-performance A forty five model out there within the U.S. — it’s A 220 and A 35 solely.
An AMG Efficiency all-wheel-drive system distributes energy to all 4 wheels, sending a most of fifty% energy rearward. There’s no trick rear differential various the torque throughout the rear axle as within the CLA 45. Like different AMG merchandise, this one has launch management and it helps rocket the little sedan from 0-60 mph in a brief 4.6 seconds. That’s equivalent to the M235i Gran Coupe and a contact faster than the Cadillac CT4-V.
This automobile’s largest differentiator to the CLA 35 is its design. The place the CLA is a droopy and lengthy coupe-like fellow, the A 35 seems brief, stubby and tight. The A 35’s rearmost pillar is extra upright and leads right into a shorter, flatter rear deck than the CLA, giving it the looks of a compact automobile — it is a good strategy. The CLA’s 5.3 inches of extra size (each share a 107.4-inch wheelbase) strikes it into C-Class territory for total dimension. Mercedes makes use of the CLA’s further house to present it a bigger trunk than the A-Class, coming in at 11.6 cubic-feet versus the 8.6 cubes within the A (it is extra usable than that paltry 8.6 would counsel). They’ve equivalent (and restricted) rear seat utility, however the A 35 takes a win for taller people attributable to a much less head-infringing roofline (by about 2 inches).
Much like the CLA 35’s driving manners, you should be prepared to decide to an always-on sort of character with the A 35.
This engine is a sport of give and take. Peak torque hits at 3,000 rpm, and there’s at all times a noticeably lengthy bout of lag between foot down and ahead thrust when taking off from a cease. It’s anemic sufficient off enhance and potent sufficient on that driving easily takes extra focus and energy than most boosted four-cylinder engines require. Get too grasping on the throttle ready for the feeling of torque to return, and also you’re gifted greater than you needed within the first place.
On the flip facet, this engine is characterful and entertaining to play with versus different turbocharged four-cylinder efforts. There’s an actual sense of drama to the wait, wait … growth, manner it comes into enhance. Utilizing launch management all however eliminates any ready for acceleration, and it’s lots enjoyable, nevertheless it’s not the way you’re going to be taking off from most visitors lights.
The A 35’s transmission and the noises it makes will deliver fans delight. Its snappy, fast and sensible seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has tremendous shut gearing at low speeds for higher around-town acceleration. You’re in third gear earlier than you even hit 60 mph. It mechanically downshifts into corners and holds gears when it ought to, however large, good to the touch paddles and near-instant response from tapping them encourages frequent handbook gearchanges.
Plus, every upshift is capped with an emphatic pop, and each downshift returns a couple of bangs and crackles in Sport Plus mode. This automobile’s variable exhaust introduced smiles and laughs all week lengthy. You’ll be able to tone it down and remove all of the theatrics by swapping to a much less aggressive mode if the noise isn’t your type. We choose making noise, which, whereas not as scintillating as with the CLA 45, remains to be quite good for the engine.
Sadly, Mercedes-AMG has turned a knob too far with the A 35’s suspension tuning. Our tester had the $990 AMG Journey Management Sport Suspension, and there’s a bit an excessive amount of sport (learn: teeth-clenching stiffness) in it for regular roads. The usual suspension is mounted, however this elective AMG suspension is adaptive. The system will mechanically modify damping always, however there are three preset ranges you may put it in: Consolation, Sport and Sport Plus. Consolation is greater than able to doing the job on a twisting highway, and whereas Sport Plus does tidy up physique actions by a smidgen, its journey stiffness feels extra acceptable for a racetrack than a highway.
This chassis really does shine once you wish to drive shortly, although. It’s strengthened versus a normal A 220, including an extra aluminum plate beneath the engine and two diagonal braces on the entrance of the underbody to extend rigidity and stiffness. The entrance finish turns in shortly and eagerly, hiding its 3,461-pound curb weight properly. Sport Plus mode weights up the steering to our satisfaction, and the variable ratio rack means it’s fast to react when pushed quick. It’s like a Golf R in the way in which it assaults the highway: small, tossable, refined. And there’s no motion from the rear in anyway. The CLA 45 and its trick torque vectoring rear differential will wag its tail like a rear-drive automobile because it shoots round turns, however there is no such thing as a such enjoyable hiding within the A 35 and its extra pedestrian all-wheel-drive system. That’s effective for technical grip, much less so for pure enjoyable. Mercedes will brake the within rear wheel in corners to assist turn-in, however that’s it for neat dealing with tips. The four-piston entrance calipers and single piston rears tug the automobile down from pace shortly and assuredly with nice pedal really feel.
As soon as the great pavement ends, the bracing for affect begins. We could be extra forgiving of this harsh journey in an AMG 45 sequence automobile, nevertheless it’s simply not suited to a automobile that’ll more than likely be somebody’s mildly spicy each day driver. West Coast Editor James Riswick discovered the same problem with the CLA 35, and he drove that on pristine Arizona highways. There’s a greater journey and dealing with stability that may be struck right here.
The remainder of the A-Class — inside high quality, tech, styling — is as much as Mercedes’ present excessive requirements of excellence. Adequate bolstering is supplied on the A 35’s seats for all of your cornering shenanigans. Visibility is acceptable out each glass panel, and the pair of 10.25-inch screens staring again at you run Mercedes’ responsive and fast MBUX infotainment system. There are fewer menus and screens to dig by than in a extra richly-equipped higher-class of Mercedes, which truly makes the system barely extra manageable and fewer intimidating. The elective Burmester sound system was nowhere close to the standard of Burmester sound methods in these dearer Mercedes fashions. You’ll be able to spend large bucks and choice up all of Mercedes’ wonderful driver help methods, which is an efficient name in case you’re planning on highway journeys or dreading being caught in gridlock.
Merely put, not one of the A 35’s rivals can match it in driving drama or inside luxurious. The M235i Gran Coupe is like dried toast comparatively. Each the Golf R and Audi S3 are appreciable alternate options, however each have new-and-improved variations on the way in which. A Cadillac CT4-V is the dynamic wunderkind of the category with its shockingly good all-around driving efficiency and rear-drive platform at a really aggressive value. Lay off the choices listing for the A 35, and it begins to make sense as an fanatic’s sizzling compact. The worth argument drifts away as the worth rises excessive above the $50,000 mark (our tester was $56,020), as far more spectacular efficiency sedans come into play like a properly geared up Alfa Romeo Giulia, or perhaps a base BMW M340i.
In the event you’re within the sport for an inexpensive AMG Mercedes (comparatively talking), although, the A 35 is a splendid option to step into the sub-brand. You’re paying a pair thousand lower than the CLA 35, and we do not purchase the argument that the “coupe” model is the better-looking automobile. Fairly the alternative. When Mercedes will get round to creating it extra comfy and daily-driver-friendly, then we may give it an much more enthusiastic two thumbs up.
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