Mercedes-Benz A-Class A35 AMG 4MATIC W177 (2018-2026)

You don't need the A45 to have fun – We’re starting with one of Mercedes’ strengths and selling points: build quality. It’s one of the foundations of the brand and the A35 holds true to that legacy. Mercedes has taken the right steps to restore that sensation of heavy doors that sound that satisfying ‘thump’ when closing them, an expectation of a well-built German car. It wasn’t just the overall sensation of build quality that I enjoyed, it was also the infotainment system, known as ‘MBUX’, which felt like it was the forefront of development for this interior, rather than a laggy afterthought.

I will note that the rear spoiler offers an audible rattle when you close the boot, which may be off-putting to those unfamiliar with having boot-mounted spoilers on their hatchbacks.

Starting from $71,609.00, before on-road costs, which should land a base A35 AMG just below $80,000 drive away, is right in the ballpark of its competitors; the BMW 135i xDrive and Audi S3.

Mercedes are known for high servicing costs, but their long term servicing support and transparency proves to be a plus here.

To combat this perception, Mercedes have since March 1st 2020 started including a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty for all passenger vehicles, which includes AMG vehicles.

Mercedes wants to encourage you to commit to a pre-paid servicing plan (called Mercedes Benz Service Plan) for 3 service visits. Service intervals for the A35 AMG are indicated to be either 25,000km/1 year and this plan costs $2,150 for the 3 services.

About that 'AMG' motor. Engines in modern cars are so quiet that most manufacturers are augmenting the sound of the engine into the cabin. Some people are easily annoyed by this, but others simply don’t notice or mind.

The engine sound is even more pronounced in ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’ with overrun crackles and ‘farts’ on upshifts when you decide to bury your foot on that accelerator pedal.

When in ‘Sport Plus’, suspension can become a bit aggressive on bumpy roads, where you will feel and hear the entire car shake over these sections.

Braking has also been improved. A setup sure to impress any driver, this car sports 350 millimetre, 4 pot front brakes - on a vehicle that weighs 1570kg. Especially useful when driving the A35 AMG as it was intended, these brakes are cross-drilled and ventilated to help keep them cool.

On paper, the A35 isn’t as impressive as its headline-making big brother, the A45 AMG.

But after being behind the wheel, you realise that the A35 is indeed near the top of the pack in its segment, only being beaten by the BMW M135i xDrive.

Possessing 235kW and 400Nm is enough to make launching off from the lights great entertainment for you and your passengers.

It’s enough to rocket the A35 through to 100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds and will send you all the way through to 250km/h.

A note on the power delivery, I found our tester to be a bit lackluster at launch. In any drive mode, I found that the car seemed to bog down for a moment before pushing you back in your seat.

I’m unsure whether this was due to turbo lag, or a gearbox preservation feature, to avoid damage when being presented with 400Nm at 3,000rpm.

Thanks to the 4-Matic AWD system, the A35 remains planted, but even with AWD, the front wheels give a slight chirp, indicating that it is predominantly a front-wheel drive system, that can send power to the rear, and not a fully mechanical system, as found in the Toyota GR Yaris.

With this amount of power, all you want to do is take it to your closest track and unleash the gobs of torque and power, paired with an AWD system, to pull you through corners and straightaways at triple-digit speeds.

This is where the A35 really does earn its AMG badge.

Pair the performance we just discussed with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and you should have a recipe for success.

I say should, as I was sadly let down by the responsiveness of the paddles on the steering wheel. This isn’t an uncommon phenomenon, where a manufacturer develops a fantastic dual-clutch transmission, which is better paired with its own complex computer program that knows that gearbox better than you do.

So, when you decide you want to shift up/down with those silver paddles behind the wheel, you’re met with a feeling of being disconnected.

It was a weird sensation, as I felt how lightning quick the dual-clutch could feel, and how responsive it was to sudden acceleration or how it prepared the car coming out of corners, I was left disappointed when I tried to replicate this feeling with the paddles.

The A35 AMG offers what Mercedes has branded as ‘AMG ride control’, a set of adaptive shocks that help transform the AMG between hot hatch and just plain old regular hatch.

There are three distinct drive mode settings here, Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus.

Each mode slowly increases the stiffness and aims to improve road feel. With Comfort offering the traditional Mercedes plush ride you’ve come to expect.

Mercedes advises that the A35 AMG will get 7.4L/100km in its consumption figures.

The A35 AMG has to tick a few boxes for buyers looking for the perfect all-around hatch, which means it has to cater for those who bought an AMG, but don’t necessarily want to drive a sports car...yes, really.

You'll want to activate Sport Plus as this is where you want to be to experience the A35 to it’s the fullest extent.

This is the full fat flavour of the A35, with a rock hard suspension setup, barking exhaust with its valve open, and gear changes that slap you in the back of the head.

This interior certainly offers a sense of occasion too. There's a lot to get your head around when customising screen-layouts and drive modes, but once you do that this AMG feels far more personalised than other hot hatches in the segment. Plus these AMG seats just look epic and feel extremely supportive.

I found the 370L boot A35 to be a nice surprise after witnessing the cramped and compromised space of the GR Yaris only a few weeks ago.

A deep boot floor and decent entry height means you’ll be more than fine loading everyday items in here.

If you're one for a car that can do the daily drive, and the weekend cruise, this is one of the better large hatches you can buy.

It might not be for everyone, but if you take one for a drive and love the how it handles, and have always wanted to own an AMG, it's a great introduction to the AMG family.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.