Hot hatch battle: Focus RS vs Civic Type R vs M140i vs RS 3 vs Golf R vs AMG A 45

Mercedes-AMG A 45 4Matic

AMG is best known for building big sports saloons with equally big engines. As the baby of the family, the A 45 takes a very different approach. It has a four-cylinder turbo engine, seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and 4Matic four-wheel drive.

It looks the smallest in this company – the pocket rocket of the hot hatch crowd. And rocket it does; 0-62mph takes just 4.2 seconds. And having once encountered an A 45 while at the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2, on an empty stretch of dual carriageway, I can attest that the smallest AMG is quick enough to nip at a supercar’s exhaust pipe.

Driving enjoyment 7/10

The engine starts with a bark from the exhaust, the ride comfort is about as forgiving as a racing bike’s saddle and the every prod of the throttle has the car surging forward like a tsunami. This may be a small car but it’s big on attitude.

Our test car came with the AMG dynamic plus package, which bundles a locking front differential and adaptive damping for £1,395, and an AMG performance exhaust (£510) which both influence the driving experience.

The AMG Dynamic Select system ranges from Comfort, Sport, Sport+ through to to Race and Individual, and this is one of those cars where tinkering with the settings is essential. That’s because on the road, the suspension is too unforgiving in anything other than Comfort, but you want the excitement of the engine and gearbox in their hyper-hatch modes. So some fine-tuning is required.

Then the car shows what it’s capable of. It’s fast, sure-footed and feels responsive. You can cover ground, in all weathers, at impressive speed.

However, something never quite gels between man and machine. Where the Civic Type-R, Focus RS and – to a lesser extent – the Golf R all give good feedback to the driver, the AMG is a bit numb. It’s as though it’s had a local anesthetic.

This sensation continues on the track. The car is devilishly fast, clinging to the road with true grit, but the inherent balance and way some of the others react to subtle driver inputs means you feel more like a pilot pressing buttons than a driver rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in.

There’s another problem. The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is often caught napping, especially when trying to change down a gear. It was the only automated gearbox here that we found could be frustrating at times.

Interior and practicality 6/10

The red inserts and faux carbon-fibre on the dashboard and seats rasied a few eyebrows amongst our testers. You expect it from the Honda, but in an AMG? No thanks; it’s like a dad trying to get down with the kids on the dancefloor.

Although the sports seats feel supportive in all the right places, they’re mounted too high from the floor. And in the back seats there’s precious little legroom or headroom, making it feel the most confined. However, the boot offers a respectable 341 litres of luggage space.

Value for money 6/10

We can’t knock this car’s performance, and the driving experience betters the RS3. Yet the Focus RS shows both how it should be done, and it costs nearly £10,000 less than the £41,830 AMG. (Our test car’s price with options was actually £52,435.)

Verdict ★★★☆☆

Like the RS3, expensive and promises more than it delivers

Second opinion

Will Dron says: “For me, this was one of the best all-rounders, combining a slick-looking interior, high-end materials, top build quality and a smart but no-nonsense exterior design. And by god, it’s quick, and it handles superbly, with good levels of grip – more than the Audi and VW. There’s a lovely, quick turn-in with mild understeer but, like the RS3, the four-wheel drive system pivots the car on the power. However, it’s not a car for taller drivers as the rear-view mirror obscures forward visibility and it feels tighter inside, while the low window line brings on a touch of claustrophobia, particularly in the back.”

2017 Mercedes-AMG A45 specifications

• Price from £41,830
• Engine 1991cc, 4-cylinder turbo
• Power 376bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque 350lb ft @ 2250rpm
• Transmission 7-speed dual clutch auto,four-wheel drive
• Acceleration 0-62mph: 4.2sec
• Top speed 155mph
• Fuel / CO2 40.9mpg / 162g/km